MRC
Puritan Board Freshman
I have a young-in-the-Lord brother that I have been shepherding for the past few months. Through this process I have come to understand that he is engaged in a common-law relationship where sexual immorality is a sin. I have rebuked him, gently, on this issue. He does feel convicted about it for the sake of others that might look at them and stumble, but argues that they are "married in the heart" so he has been comforted by God that it is not a sin against Him, per say.
My response was a) sexual immorality is the old fornication word which is any sexual contact outside the covenant of marriage, b) marriage must be a formal affair that respects the law of our government as per Rom 13, and c) that Jews, as our spiritual forefathers clearly respected "official" marriage as the only holy place to conduct in sexual relationships as evidenced in Joseph and Mary not having sex even when betrothed and Jesus making it clear that the Samaritain woman was in a common-law relationship with her fifth "husband" as per John 4:17, 18. I also pointed out that any "voices" that are speaking to him on this issue that contradict scripture is not the voice of God.
He responded by asking about concubines, I responded that they are a sinful sexual relationship as they are adultery.
Of course I did this gently and in love, I am writing quickly to get the facts out. Can anyone think of a better biblical argument for the command prohibiting sex before legal marriage? I asked him to pray about and study his Bible on this issue so that we could connect on it again later this or next week - he agreed. Any advice would be appreciated.
My response was a) sexual immorality is the old fornication word which is any sexual contact outside the covenant of marriage, b) marriage must be a formal affair that respects the law of our government as per Rom 13, and c) that Jews, as our spiritual forefathers clearly respected "official" marriage as the only holy place to conduct in sexual relationships as evidenced in Joseph and Mary not having sex even when betrothed and Jesus making it clear that the Samaritain woman was in a common-law relationship with her fifth "husband" as per John 4:17, 18. I also pointed out that any "voices" that are speaking to him on this issue that contradict scripture is not the voice of God.
He responded by asking about concubines, I responded that they are a sinful sexual relationship as they are adultery.
Of course I did this gently and in love, I am writing quickly to get the facts out. Can anyone think of a better biblical argument for the command prohibiting sex before legal marriage? I asked him to pray about and study his Bible on this issue so that we could connect on it again later this or next week - he agreed. Any advice would be appreciated.