Not only is this article hilarious, but it makes you rethink your stereotypes a little bit. It also fits in with this lecture, though I’m not sure how Reverend Young would feel about homosexual sex and other not-so-Christian things.
The best part? If you’re single, well, have some chocolate cake. Also “How to move from whining about the economy to whoopee!”
The New York Times – Pastor’s Advice for Better Marriage: More Sex
(Visited 8 times, 1 visits today)
Okay, sure. I was being a little flippant. I agree with what you are saying, but the pastor in the article is still misreading Paul pretty badly, even given your comments about Paul. Try inserting the line “married couples should engage in sex every day for the next week!” anywhere into 1 Corinthians, and it still isn’t going to fit.-12:13
Okay, sure. I was being a little flippant. I agree with what you are saying, but the pastor in the article is still misreading Paul pretty badly, even given your comments about Paul. Try inserting the line “married couples should engage in sex every day for the next week!” anywhere into 1 Corinthians, and it still isn’t going to fit.
-12:13
I meant to say “the problem with the *old* NLT translation” (the new NLT translation fixes the problem)
I meant to say “the problem with the *old* NLT translation” (the new NLT translation fixes the problem)
That translation of 1 cor 7:7 (God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness) is from the old version of the New Living Tranlation. It’s a modern phrase, invented by the NLT editors in the 70’s (back when the NLT was the Living Bible) one that has no resemblance to the original Greek of that passage. Because there were complaints, they have since dropped it, so it now reads:”But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.”So what Paul is really saying is not that it’s better to be single, but that he wishes everyone could be as sexually contained (see verse 8), which is his gift (because we all have some kind of gift). It’s a preamble to verses 8-9, where he’s saying that it’s fine for the unmarried to choose to remain as they are, but it’s better for those (most of us!) burning with passion to go ahead and get married.In no way was Paul trying to give the impression that God lines us up and gives us singleness or marriage. The language he uses is entirely about personal choice and human volition.Elsewhere in the chapter when Paul suggests that it’s better to remain single, it’s in the context of the “present distress”, whereby the Corinthians were experiencing some kind of tribulation (persecution? famine?), but mostly Paul’s message is expressed along the lines of “I have no commandment from the Lord” (verse 25), here’s the advantages and disadvantages (verses 27-35), so think about that and “do what you want” (verses 26-39). Essentially, he’s offering his personal opinion as a servant of God.The problem with the NLT translation is that it give the impression that Christians should be passive and let God do all the work in finding them a mate, as if personal effort is somehow caving into the flesh. On the other hand, Paul is actually giving a much more practical and humane message to consider both fleshly and spiritual needs — kind of like that 7-up ad “Obey your thirst” from a few years ago.
That translation of 1 cor 7:7 (God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness) is from the old version of the New Living Tranlation. It’s a modern phrase, invented by the NLT editors in the 70’s (back when the NLT was the Living Bible) one that has no resemblance to the original Greek of that passage. Because there were complaints, they have since dropped it, so it now reads:
“But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.”
So what Paul is really saying is not that it’s better to be single, but that he wishes everyone could be as sexually contained (see verse 8), which is his gift (because we all have some kind of gift). It’s a preamble to verses 8-9, where he’s saying that it’s fine for the unmarried to choose to remain as they are, but it’s better for those (most of us!) burning with passion to go ahead and get married.
In no way was Paul trying to give the impression that God lines us up and gives us singleness or marriage. The language he uses is entirely about personal choice and human volition.
Elsewhere in the chapter when Paul suggests that it’s better to remain single, it’s in the context of the “present distress”, whereby the Corinthians were experiencing some kind of tribulation (persecution? famine?), but mostly Paul’s message is expressed along the lines of “I have no commandment from the Lord” (verse 25), here’s the advantages and disadvantages (verses 27-35), so think about that and “do what you want” (verses 26-39). Essentially, he’s offering his personal opinion as a servant of God.
The problem with the NLT translation is that it give the impression that Christians should be passive and let God do all the work in finding them a mate, as if personal effort is somehow caving into the flesh. On the other hand, Paul is actually giving a much more practical and humane message to consider both fleshly and spiritual needs — kind of like that 7-up ad “Obey your thirst” from a few years ago.
shit son, you know your bible. good call too. guess we don’t need to rethink any stereotypes.
shit son, you know your bible. good call too. guess we don’t need to rethink any stereotypes.
He has to misread Paul pretty bad in order to make his argument. He is using the text from Corinthians, “do not deprive each other of sexual relations.” (1 Corinthians 7:5). But if you read two lines down, Paul goes on to say “I wish everyone could get along without marrying, just as I do. But we are not all the same. God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness. Now I say to those who aren’t married and to widows–it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry.” (1 Corinthians 7:7-9)So Paul is really saying: it’s better to be like me and not have sex, but if you can’t keep it in your pants, the least you can do is get married.
He has to misread Paul pretty bad in order to make his argument. He is using the text from Corinthians, “do not deprive each other of sexual relations.” (1 Corinthians 7:5). But if you read two lines down, Paul goes on to say “I wish everyone could get along without marrying, just as I do. But we are not all the same. God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness. Now I say to those who aren’t married and to widows–it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry.” (1 Corinthians 7:7-9)
So Paul is really saying: it’s better to be like me and not have sex, but if you can’t keep it in your pants, the least you can do is get married.
Yeah, if you think chocolate cake is a substitute, you’re doing it wrong.
Yeah, if you think chocolate cake is a substitute, you’re doing it wrong.
Chocolate cake is not a substitute.
Chocolate cake is not a substitute.