WHAT’S WRONG WITH SEX?
IS ABORTION murder (Exodus 21 :22-25)? Is HOMOSEXUALITY an alternate life-style? Why did Abraham and Jacob practice POLYGAMY (Genesis 16 & 19)? Does the Bible condemn PORNOGRAPHY? Under what conditions did Christ allow DIVORCE and REMARRIAGE (Matthew 19)? Let’s answer these questions. The Bible says HOMOSEXUALS deserve death (Leviticus 20:13). Regarding PORNOGRAPHY, Canaanite images of female forms were to be destroyed (Deuteronomy 7:5). Notice the link between “PORNOGRAPHY” and David’s adultery (2 Samuel:11). The law therefore commanded priests to wear DRAWERS when they sacrificed (Exodus 28:42), and not use steps up the altar lest their NAKEDNESS be uncovered (Exodus 20:26). Regarding ABORTION, ancient Israelites made their sons and daughters “pass through the fire to Molech” to ABORT them (2 Kings 23:10; Ezekiel 16:20).Today we use ABORTION clinics. Abortion is murder and no murderer will inherit eternal life (1 John 3:15). Regarding sex with a MENSTRUANT, it is forbidden, till seven days after her flow stops (Leviticus 15:24). Regarding POLYGAMY Sarah said, “My WRONG be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom” (Genesis 16:5). God later commanded Abraham to CAST OUT the bondwoman (Genesis 21:12). “No man can serve TWO masters” (Matthew 6:24) and “Neither shalt thou take a wife to ANOTHER” (Leviticus 18:18, Berkeley; Deuteronomy 17:17). “A bishop must be … the husband of ONE wife”. (1 Timothy 3:2). Regarding ADULTERY Christ said that whosoever looks at “a woman to lust after her hath committed ADULTERY with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). The meaning of “WOMAN” here is “MARRIED WIFE” since that is the only way a man could commit “ADULTERY”. If she were UNMARRIED it would be “SEX APPEAL.” The Greek word “gune” can mean “woman” or “wife” depending on the context, and a man must necessarily lust after an UNMARRIED woman in order to be attracted to her. Only MARRIED women wore VEILS (Genesis 24:65). Regarding MARRIAGE, a LICENSE is not required. Marriage is a RIGHT, not a PRIVILEGE! Jewish marriages were held in the father’s house, not the synagogue or church, and there was no officiating minister or rabbi – just the parents. Regarding DIVORCE, the Pharisees alleged that Deuteronomy 24:1-4 taught divorce for “every cause” (Matthew 19:3) — like our “no-fault” divorces of today. Jesus corrected this liberal Hillel school by saying that Deuteronomy 24:1-4 refers only to “PORNEIA” (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). All of the following causes use the same Hebrew word for “UNCLEANNESS” as is found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4: INCEST (Leviticus 18:6), RAPE (Genesis 34:7), WHOREDOM (Ezekiel 23:18), HOMOSEXUALITY (Genesis 9:22), SEX during MENSTRUATION (Leviticus 15:24; 18:19) PUBLIC SEXUAL DISGRACE (Deuteronomy 25:3), PERVERSITY(1 Samuel 20:30), and INSUBORDINATION (Ezra 4:14). In the LXX, “PORNEIA” is used for MURMURING AGAINST GOD (Numbers 14:33), NOT FEARING GOD (Isaiah 47:10), APOSTASY (Jeremiah 2:20), IDOLATRY(Jeremiah 3:9), and WITCHCRAFT (2 Kings 9:22). In the New Testament we find DESERTION also (1 Corinthians 7:15). He could put “her away privily (privately)” (Matthew 1:19) as Deuteronomy 24:1 allows (see Mishnah Sotah 1.5), or he could make “her a public example” (Matthew I: 19) as Deuteronomy 22:13-14 allows. The mercy option would prompt any unfaithful WIFE to immediately tell her husband if she had contracted V.D. to keep him healthy. The justice option would prevent any spouse from merely committing adultery to obtain DIVORCE, or hurt her husband. If the HUSBAND were guilty of unlawful sex, there was no DIVORCE option. He was automatically executed (Deuteronomy 22:22-27). Biblical CAPITAL OFFENSES are another reason for divorce in our modern society since the guilty rarely get executed. Also,the wife can divorce her husband if he FAILS TO PROVIDE food, clothing and shelter (Exodus 21: 0-11; Deuteronomy 21:10-14). The marriage vow “for richer or POORER till death” therefore has limits. The vow, “for better or WORSE, in SICKNESS and health, till death” also has limits. What if she becomes WORSE to the point of IMMORALITY or SICK to the point of INSANITY? Even the wife’s promise to “OBEY” should be qualified. Wives should OBEY husbands (TItus 2:4-5) as much as husbands OBEY God (Colossians 3:18). No more, no less. “Better is it that thou shouldest not vow” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). Marriage is a CONDITIONAL agreement rather than a doctrine of demons which “forbids (anyone) to (re)marry” (1 Timothy 4:1-3). But the biblical right to DIVORCE (Deuteronomy 24:1-4) is denied any husband who prosecutes his wife falsely for fornication (Deuteronomy 22:13-19) or who got her pregnant when she is a virgin (Deuteronomy 22:28-29) (“shot-gun” marriage). Today in the case of divorce, ALIMONY (temporary maintenance) is determined by his ability to pay and her necessity –not who was at fault. The Bible method is for the DOWRY to be paid only if the wife is innocent or widowed or the husband becomes permanently injured. The DOWRY assures the bride of a secure future for herself and her children’s inheritance as long as she fulfils her terms of the marriage contract. Her husband shows her he is responsible by furnishing this pledge or claim to his property as security up front in trust rather than ALIMONY at the end. But this mortgaged property provides incentive for both parties to remain faithful to their terms of the marriage. Otherwise the DOWRY is forfeited. This “prenuptual agreement” would take the place of a divorce settlement. The innocent spouse should get CHILD CUSTODY and SUPPORT should be equally shared.
If you’d like to know more, we publish a 130 page booklet called What’s Wrong With Sex? ($5.00). Write to: Harold Hemenway, Box 88401, Tukwila, WA., 98138, U.SA.
