Hi all, So yeah just signed in and yeah not a bible study its a TOB group. Thats cool but what book are you guys useing and what is the one you guys plan to use? Mike
Sorry it's been a little (long) while since I posted anything. Here are some thoughts I had about the most recent chapters listed for week 3:
The most striking things to me were the reinforcement of the idea that chastity is, contrary to popular belief, a freeing practice (discussed in "Objectifying the Body"). Our society recognizes most addictions as destructive behavior and is increasingly intolerant of destructive behaviors (i.e. smoking, alcoholism, etc). Yet, we haven't recognized lust as sexually destructive. If we are a slave to sexual desires, we are essentially addicted to sexual pleasure. Chastity is freeing in that we can say when and where rather than being held hostage by our own selfish urges.
Also, what did you guys think of the idea that adultery can take place within marriage? Most people, including a great number of Christians, feel that so long as you are married, you are not living in sin when you hvae sex with your spouse. But this teaching makes it clear that just because you are married doesn't mean "anything goes." Sex should always have life as its object, and when a man objectifies his wife, the act ceases to be sacramental and becomes sinful.
Finally, in the path to purity, I loved what Paul had to say about purity. It goes along with the line in the Our Father about "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." I was thinking that God isn't the only one who has to lead us not into temptation. God equips us for spiritual battle, but because of our free will He will not pick us up and literally carry us away from temptation. We have to do that for ourselves, with God's help. If we avoid sinful situations, that is the best way to allow God to deliver us from evil.
Next time we'll be reading:
Embodied Morality The Value of the Body The Heritage of the Heart Passion and Purity The Hidden Spring
2 comments:
Hi all,
So yeah just signed in and yeah not a bible study its a TOB group. Thats cool but what book are you guys useing and what is the one you guys plan to use?
Mike
Hi Everyone,
Sorry it's been a little (long) while since I posted anything. Here are some thoughts I had about the most recent chapters listed for week 3:
The most striking things to me were the reinforcement of the idea that chastity is, contrary to popular belief, a freeing practice (discussed in "Objectifying the Body"). Our society recognizes most addictions as destructive behavior and is increasingly intolerant of destructive behaviors (i.e. smoking, alcoholism, etc). Yet, we haven't recognized lust as sexually destructive. If we are a slave to sexual desires, we are essentially addicted to sexual pleasure. Chastity is freeing in that we can say when and where rather than being held hostage by our own selfish urges.
Also, what did you guys think of the idea that adultery can take place within marriage? Most people, including a great number of Christians, feel that so long as you are married, you are not living in sin when you hvae sex with your spouse. But this teaching makes it clear that just because you are married doesn't mean "anything goes." Sex should always have life as its object, and when a man objectifies his wife, the act ceases to be sacramental and becomes sinful.
Finally, in the path to purity, I loved what Paul had to say about purity. It goes along with the line in the Our Father about "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." I was thinking that God isn't the only one who has to lead us not into temptation. God equips us for spiritual battle, but because of our free will He will not pick us up and literally carry us away from temptation. We have to do that for ourselves, with God's help. If we avoid sinful situations, that is the best way to allow God to deliver us from evil.
Next time we'll be reading:
Embodied Morality
The Value of the Body
The Heritage of the Heart
Passion and Purity
The Hidden Spring
Peace!
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