Fidelity

Honouring God with Our Bodies

Faithful Living

In a Sex Saturated Word

Fidelity is faithfulness. Fidelity in marriage is a foreign concept apart from a Judaeo-Christian ethic. God created the first union of husband and wife. He declared that marriage was His vehicle for the continuation and ultimate salvation of humanity. In the NT, we learn just how deep the symbolism of marriage is, as it unveils the beautiful and mysterious picture of Christ and the church. - Ephesians 5:31-32

Satan saw that God created marriage and devised a means to attack God's plan. Rather than tempt Adam and Eve together, he first came to Eve and wedged temptation into their midst. The forbidden fruit is alluring and tempts us all. When both Adam and Eve sinned, not only was their relationship with God severed, but selfishness and conflict became temptations in marriage.

Even in Moses' day, divorce was a scourge on both the family unit and social cohesiveness. So when God gave the 7th commandment 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' - Exodus 20:14, He set a basic standard to help protect and honour marriage. In a rules bases society, a clear cut rule of only have sex its your spouse was easily understood. Sexual faithfulness was required. In the pagan world, prostitution was part of temple worship practices, so abstaining from immorality was a sign of worshipping a different and greater God. But keeping the law did not change the heart. So when Jesus came, He preached the sermon on the mount and elevated the 10 commandments to matters of the heart. When Jesus spoke of adultery, He said"

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart

Matthew 5:27-28

This is such a high bar, that none of us can meet - particularly in the age of internet pornography. That is partly the point that Jesus is making. While we may keep the law legally, none of us can keep the spirit of the law. We are all guilty and thus need the same amount of Jesus blood to atone for our lusts as those who actually commit adultery. This should give all of us pause as we consider Jesus' admonition to not judge others before considering our own sin. - Matthew 7:1-6

Nevertheless, God is also calling His people to a new and higher standard than just not sleeping around. Eros is an urge which runs through all our veins. When we resist the impulse to put ourselves first by indulging the flesh, we are following God's call to worship Him as well as love one another. He calls us to put to death the sin of lust by continuing to flee temptation, regularly confessing our sin and daily putting on the new man - Ephesians 4:22-24

Faithful Living

In Light on the Coming World

Faithfulness in marriage is more than a list of things to avoid. It is also more than a beautiful wedding day. Fidelity is a exclusive commitment to love, honour and cherish our spouse. This involves dwelling with each other according to knowledge. Building a healthy marriage takes time and involves caring for each others physical, spiritual, sexual and emotional needs. Deliberately failing to meet the needs of our spouse is abusing the vows we made before God and that impacts our relationship with Him. But when we do meet each others needs, we grow deeper in our understanding and appreciation of God's love for us.

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7

If God brings children into a marriage, believers are also called to fulfil roles as parents. In today's world, patriarchy and even matriarchy have become dirty words. Wokeism loudly calls for them to be torn down. But God created the unique roles of father and mother to provide for and to nurture the continuation of life and civilisation.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

Proverbs 31:27-28

Both Father's Day and Mother's Day are fundamentally Christian holidays. In a world that says that gender and roles are interchangeable, believers should remember and honour the purpose of the roles that God established and our parents who have that role. God promises a direct life blessing for those people who do this.

Honour your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12

When considering social policy, Christians want to support political platforms that uplift and align with God purposes for sex, marriage and the family. We recognise that God's plan for healthy families is not only good for us an individuals, but also for us for the longevity of us as a nation.