Irmela

6.1 The purpose of the "eye for eye" and "tooth for tooth" regulation was justice was being served and revenge was being restrained. Man's vindictiveness was not being encouraged, but restrained. 6.2. This law is designed to be administred by a court or judge 6.3 Judicial action ..

You should not need to only be believed if you take an oath. You should be believed because you are known to tell the truth (without adding tails to it) Your words should be known that they are not full of deceit but true and then there would be no need to swear an oath and we would easily be believed.

The best is to be there for them and do not judge them or the other party. Pray together. When the person is ready, work through what Scripture says about the topic. Repentance brings healing and also enables one to forgive and lay aside. With this topic as with every other, allow God to do the revealing. Be available to hold up the hurting and to love uncondisionally

5.1 No. I think that after seeking forgiveness for whatever sin caused the separation from the first marriage, that Christ does forgive and you do not live in adultery. It could also be that one spouse moves in with another person after the divorce, then automatically the other partner is free to remarry as the oneness is then broken by another. 5.2 No 5.3 Ask for forgivenessand stay in the second union

4.1 I think it was quite different to the idea they were used to. A certificate could be written out and that was the end of it. God's way was that a man should leave father and mother and be joined to the woman and the two would be one. This should be a lifetime union. 4.2 I don't think misunderstand but rather shocked at the finality or seriousness of it

3.1 No, the Mosaic Law does not command divorce. What it did command was a legal severing of the marriage, i.e. with a certificate and financial implication and the ability to re-marry. 3.2 It allows it (but there a 'buts' to consider) 3.3 It allows divorce because of hardness of man's heart (selfishness, self-centredness and lack of communication). 3.4 It was not for divorce but marriage to be for a life-time.

2.1 No. Anyone that has had "sexual union" was joined as one flesh. 2.2 By "natural law". What I understand becoming one flesh is "sexual intercourse". 2.3 I guess many got 'joined together' by **** and driven together by loneliness and not even taken into consideration if that was the partner God had in store for them

I think Jesus sided with God's original plan, viz., what God has put together, let no man separate, this being a picture of Gen 2:24 of the man leaving mother and father and cleaving to his wife and they shall become one flesh. The exception that Jesus gave is unfaithfulness or sexual immorality. Deut 24 speaks about something "indecent" about her ... this being the "nakedness of a thing". This nakedness could possibly mean uncovering something of the husband's behaviour, speaking about him, not keeping their private things "private" but sharing them with all and sundry - having a "loose" tongue - this can be taken as unfaithfulness and also includes sexual unfaithfulness or immorality.

Matth5:28 But I tell you that everyone who looks upon a woman to **** after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So according to Jesus' words **** is akin to adultery, which is sin. According to 2Tim2:22 , flee from youthful desires; instead pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and shal, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 1 Thess 4:3-8 This is the will of God .... abstain from sexual immorality .... gain control over your body in holiness and honor ... for God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 1 Timothy 5:1+2 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to Him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, to older women as mothers, younger women as sisters - with complete purity. So agape love is pure love and not selfish. We can refer to 1 Cor 13 and there we read about what love is and verse 5 states love does not behave inappropriately

4.1 As a woman, I would assume that he had come to me because he saw me as a mother or sister and I would encourage him to speak to a man (maybe a pastor, or someone real close to the Lord, whom he can be accountable to) alternately to join a programme like Covenant Eyes. In James 5:16 we afterall read .... So confess your offenses (sins) to one another and pray for one another so you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man/person is very powerful (availeth much). I would point out that the first step for healing of addiction is repentance (which he had now taken). Calling the sin what it is, viz. adultery of the heart and acknowledging it as a spiritual addiction is very important. I would further encourage him to get rid of anything in his home, which is actually leading and encouraging him to ***********, i.e. anything which triggers the addiction. Point out Scriptures of "forgiveness of sin" eg. Prov 28:13 .... One who covers up his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them finds mercy. Encourage him to accept God's grace and forgiveness and also to forgive himself. I would suggest a time of fasting together with whoever he has chosen to be accountable to. Further I will encourage him to stay in the Word. 4.2 Do not use the internet. If you have to, I guess there is some kind of blocking system which can be put in place, for stopping the **** sites to appear on the computer. (I do not know how to do this but have heard that they do put a programme in place to prevent children from accessing the **** sites) Also as an accountability practise one can see which sites have been "visited" by you. 4.3 Do not go to the beach or pool-side on your own. 4.4 Choose to watch TV programs which you would be comfortable to watch with the children

3.1. What is wrong with ***********? Women are viewed as sex objects. The moral values are lowered in that all sorts of sexual perversion is accepted or legalized, eg. prostitution, fornication and adultery. Sexual fulfillment becomes something selfish. *********** can become addictive to such an extent that men crave bizarre/weird sexual fantasies to stimulate themselves. These same scenes are then tried to be copied, whether the spouse or partner is willing or not. In a nutshell, *********** can be summed up as being degrading and dangerous to women. (actually degrading to all involved .... you live in the shadow of guilt and shame and feel so unclean and trapped). 3.2. It is committing adultery. You are encouraging the person in a path of sin. You are using someone else to gratify your sexual desires. She might become pregnant. You are putting your and your spouses life at risk as you could get infected with one or other disease (vinereal diseases , HIV, etc). 3.3. We are all victims (1) The women who pose (2) The men who view and become addicted (3) The wives who suffer isolation and shame (4) The children who are abused (5) The women who are raped (6) The families who are broken up by divorce, crime and disorder

2. How do we distinguish between God-given sexual desire and forbidden ****? Sexual desire is normal and healthy/good if fulfilled within boundaries that God has set. **** or unrestrained sexual behaviour, is undisciplinef sexual desire, which , when fulfilled can lead to broken families, fatherless children, broken relationships and general chaos.

1.1 What is the point of similarity between adultery and ****? The similarity is that both are trying to fulfil a desire to have something that is not yours. Both are "deeds" committed, of the same thing, one physically and one mentally. 1.2 What is the difference? Adultery is the deed itself and **** can lead to the action. **** is an unhealthy desire for someone or having power over someone. Adultery is fulfilling that dedire. 1.3 How does **** break the 10th commandment? **** breaks the 10th commandment because it is coveting/wanting/desiring something/someone that belongs to someone else.

In this passage we learn to repent, forgive and be reconciled to our 'brother'. To do this we need to follow what Jesus is teaching, viz. to "love". Love the Lord your God ..... Love your neighbour as yourself. ... Even I myself am not excluded in this love. To live this we will be living the "heart of the law".

4.1 What is the point of Jesus' parable of settling out of court? Jesus is saying to settle differences out of court. To reconcile quickly and not to put it off. If this is not done the punishment will be harsh. In His day the one who owed a debt was thrown into debtors prison until the debt was paid. Often family and friends would club together to get the person's debt resolved. So for many-a-year the deptor would be indebted to others until he had paid the debt in full. This would often sour relationships. 4.2 Who are we to settle with, according to this parable? We are to settle with the ones we have wronged. 4.3 What does "settling" entail? Settling means to reconcile and sort out and come to an agreement. 4.4 What are the reasons we should settle? We are accountable for our actions. Justice will have to be served. If we do not settle we will have to stand before God for those sins, unless we repent.

3.1. What's wrong with worshiping while a brother has something against us? (or us against a brother?) Worship means to honor God. If we try to do this with known sin in our heart, eg. being angry with someone, it is a mockery. In the same way if we know that someone has something against us, we need to get that cleared out of the way because it can easily become the root of bitterness (sin) in our own. If there is sin (which is a blocker) be it either me holding something against someone or someone having done something against me, there is a hindrance in my thinking or action, there is distraction, and I will not be able to come before God. There is a contamination, as it were. 3.2. What is the appropriate action for us to take? We need to humble ourselves and repent and be reconciled to the person or persons. 3.3 How far should we go to bring about reconciliation with someone whom we have offended? We should humble ourselves and go all the way to bring about reconciliation. In the prayer we know as the LORD'S PRAYER, we say, ... forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who sin against us. ... So if we do not forgive, we cannot be forgiven, for we are only forgiven in the same way (measure) as we forgive others (or for that matter, ourselves). 3.4 Are there any situations that we shouldn't try to resolve? Or that we can't resolve? We should try and seek reconciliation at all time, but should the offender or offended not seek or accept reconciliation from their side, know that from your side you have sought to make things right and have forgiven the other party for their side of the offense and know that God had forgiven you. Accept God's forgiveness and leave it at that. Further than that you can only show love from your side, i.e. let go and let GOD do the rest.

3.1. What's wrong with worshiping while a brother has something against us? (or us against a brother?) Worship means to honor God. If we try to do this with known sin in our heart, eg. being angry with someone, it is a mockery. In the same way if we know that someone has something against us, we need to get that cleared out of the way because it can easily become the root of bitterness (sin) in our own. If there is sin (which is a blocker) be it either me holding something against someone or someone having done something against me, there is a hindrance in my thinking or action, there is distraction, and I will not be able to come before God. There is a contamination, as it were. 3.2. What is the appropriate action for us to take? We need to humble ourselves and repent and be reconciled to the person or persons. 3.3 How far should we go to bring about reconciliation with someone whom we have offended? We should humble ourselves and go all the way to bring about reconciliation. In the prayer we know as the LORD'S PRAYER, we say, ... forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who sin against us. ... So if we do not forgive, we cannot be forgiven, for we are only forgiven in the same way (measure) as we forgive others (or for that matter, ourselves). 3.4 Are there any situations that we shouldn't try to resolve? Or that we can't resolve? We should try and seek reconciliation at all time, but should the offender or offended not seek or accept reconciliation from their side, know that from your side you have sought to make things right and have forgiven the other party for their side of the offense and know that God had forgiven you. Accept God's forgiveness and leave it at that. Further than that you can only show love from your side, i.e. let go and let GOD do the rest.

2.1 Why does Jesus treat calling someone a fool in the same classification as murder? The motivation behind murder and calling someone a fool, is anger. Both start at the same place. They have the same root. Calling someone names in anger can have devastating, life-long effects. (Basically you are murdering a part of that person). 2.2 Does this mean that murder is no worse than an angry insult, in God's eyes? Yes. In God's eyes sin is sin. Because of sin you fall short of the glory of God. There is no big sin or minor sin. All have the same consequence. 2.3 How would we react differently if we actually believed that angry attitudes towards others are viewef by God as murder? We would be slower to lash out. We would think first.

1.1 Can you see any tendencies in the church today to effectively "abolish" the O.T. from the Christian Faith? It does not matter how hard one tries, but the O.T. is part and parcel of the Christian Faith and it will never be successfully be abolished. The Christian Faith is built on what the law teaches. .... Jesus Himself said: 'I came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill them'. 1.2 What does a "Christian" legalism lool like in a church? "Christian legalism" is following rituals. I understand from that, that there are laws, upon how to keep the laws or rules, upon the original laws. (eg. thou shalt love thy neighbour is understood to hate thy enemy, whereas Jesus interpreted it as loving thine enemy) i.e. there are extra rules and regulations almost 'explaining' what the original ones were interpreted to say (sometimes it was not correct). Putting it plainly I guess one can say, legalism is concerned with the external keeping of the interpretation of the law rather than the spirit of the law. 1.3 What does it look like in a church where there are no moral standards and no obedience expected of Christians? There is no difference in that church than in the "world". Not "true believers". The "Light" would have pointed out the wrong lifestyles/ immoral behaviour.

Jesus warns us that if we do not expose our light, we will make our lives ineffective in his service and endanger it to be snuffed out. {Light (fire) needs air to breathe as it were.}

4.1 Just as salt and light can bring about "good" it also exposes the "bad". We read in the Bible about prophets who often had to say something that did not "sit well" with the recipient(s). In spite of this they brought the message God had sent them with. They did not hide it as it were, under a bushel. The light exposed the darkness. Often they then underwent torture or even death. In the same way, in the present, if we are persecuted for living a righteous life or for exposing evil, we are letting light shine in the darkness and allowing the darkness to be exposed. 4.2 Our deeds and words must point to God and bring glory to Him. If we hide our "light", it is as it were that we are agreeing with the evil instead of exposing it by our light and thereby allowing God to receive glory. 4.3 Suffering is bound to be the consequence of exposing evil. In ecposing evil, it can be dealt with and the situation can change and glory for that is given to God. 4.4 Yes. If He had not suffered, we would not have been set free. By suffering, He took our iniquities upon Himself and then foed in our place. The debt for sin was death and Christ paid that debt for me. 4.5 Yes. Christ our Lord and Master was persecuted, so it is only natural to assume that we too will undergo some persecution. 2Tim 3:12 All who live a godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution. 4.6 By distancing ourselves from the world i.e. by not conforming to it, by being different (almost sticking out like a sore thumb) we are standing out, as it were, from the norm. Our standards are different. Our lifestyle is different. We live as we believe that God would have us live, by His standards. Again we see in darkness a light will stand out and may it be to God's Glory. I am just reminded of a chorus we used to sing .... It only takes a spark to get a fire going and soon all those around will warm up in its glowing. That's how it is with God's love Once you've experienced it You spread His love to everyone You want to pass it on. No matter the persecution. That is sideline, the most important is that God's light is reflected and passed on.

Jesus warns us that if we do not expose our light, we will make our lives ineffective in his service and endanger it to be snuffed out. {Light (fire) needs air to breathe as it were.}

2.1 What might be the symptoms of a Christian who has lost his saltiness? Enthusiasm for living a Christ-like life is no longer noticeable. It is like you have become luke-warm. The world has crept in and participation in "church" activities grow to a minimum. 2.2 Is it possible for a believer to detect such symptoms in himself or herself? Yes. If the believer were honest and looked at himself with Christ's mirror, he would notice the lack of zeal in attending church, reading God's Word or praying. 2.3 What do secular people notice about a "desaltified" Christian? Secular people might notice that the believer is now attending places ohe would never have attended before; the talk is different; jokes are made and language is used that previously would have been an absolute no-no. 2.4 What do other Christians notice about you? Other Christians notice that excuses are made for not joining in, in activities previously enjoyed. 2.5 Is it possible to re-saltify your life? If in sincerity, you repent and with God's help your attitude and lifestyle are changed, yes, I do believe God can re-saltify our life.

If we use the preservation analogy we can say that as Christians we preserve society (the world) and hold back God's wrath against it. Examples we find for example Moses pleading for the Israelites, Abraham pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah, which would have been spared if 10 righteous people would have been found there etc. To be good seasoning means that our lives are to be exemplary, our conversation is to be wholesome, even if 'tangy' (certainly not insipid / compromising / luke-warm). Our lives are to affect others around us in such a way that they too seek God and become Christians.

If you are not aware of any lack, you do not recognize a need. Once you are aware of your spiritual poverty you will seek a means to fill that or to change the situation and are then ready to change your spiritual situation, i.e. hopefully becoming a Christian and not turning elsewhere to try and fill the emptiness. Mourning for your lost state. Mourning for (feeling sorry about) the sins you have committed or put plainly, for the lifestyle you are living in. Our mourning should not be without hope. We should indeed mourn for the sins we commit and be full of hope, knowing we can come to Christ for forgiveness. We should also mourn for the atrosities committed in the world at large (eg. the abortions) also for those who are lost and without hope of a Saviour. Our praying for their deliverance should be filled with hope for a positive answer and a change of lifestyle for them also.