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Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Theological Q&A > (No Subject)
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ReasonableDoubt
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 655
| Posted 5/16/2003 10:29 AM (GMT -6) |   | OK, I"m guessing most people here believe marriage is a covenant relationship- you may or may not choose to enter it (eg, arranged marriages)- but once you're in it, you should be in it for life. This is not just "as long as we are in love" we will stay together. It's an obligation-
So God entered into a covenant with his people, the Jews. After Christ, he has also allowed for Gentiles to enter into it with him. He has bound himself to that covenant, and will not break it. Even if he wants to- he will not go back on his word.
When people keep harping on how love has to be freely chosen- I keep thinking how feelings change dramatically - and how you may not freely love your spouse anymore, but out of your moral duty you stay together.
I think of Paul in Romans talking about how all Israel will be saved- that GOd will not forget his covenant, EVEN if the nation's hearts have been hardened for a time. EVEN though they are not freely choosing Christ-
so of course you can see where i'm going here - aren't there more important things than love? And isn't it better to stay the course, do your duty, even if you don't feel like you're freely choosing it anymore? | | Back to Top | | |
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DLW
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 2457
| Posted 5/16/2003 10:39 AM (GMT -6) | | I think the operative problem is with what is meant by the word love.
After the passage of no-fault divorce laws in the US in 1982, it made it easier for divorce to occur when one partner didn't want a divorce. The idea was to help women get out of bad marriages that their husbands refused to end.
However, what ended up happening was that it was a lot easier for successful middle-aged men to shuck their housewives for a younger woman so that many female divorcees ended up being quite poor, since they had not taken the time to invest in market-related skills.
So now you see it is much less likely that males and females upon marrying will agree to specialize, since whether or not the marriage will last is less certain.
I think it is mistaken to say that the OVT advocates maximum freedom and holding to the need to be "in love" to stay married.
From the problem of order perspective, legally discouraging divorces can give more leverage to churches in trying to help couples pick up and put together the pieces of a failing marriage.
dlw
Prayer from Kenya
From the Cowardice that dare not face new truth,
From the Laziness that is contented with half-truth,
From the Arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
Lord Deliver Me. | | Back to Top | | |
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John Earp
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 1715
| Posted 5/16/2003 7:39 PM (GMT -6) | | Speaking of Israel, God says:
Rom 11:17 ¶ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,
18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, {remember that} it is not you who supports the root, but the root {supports} you.
19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."
20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural {branches} be grafted into their own olive tree?
Seems to me like human choice could not be much more clearly stated than the Apostle Paul has done in the above.
"The Discovery of new truth will modify old views and opinions, and there is perhaps no end to this process with finite minds in any world." Charles G. Finney, Systematic Theology.
revivaltheology.net
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