Unity is our natural and ideal state of being. That which promotes it is natural law, (natural law being man’s participation in God’s eternal law). That which destroys unity is sin. No thing is good or bad in itself. If something is done right it is good. Badness or sin is simply a corruption and perversion of a good thing.
For example, sex. When sex exists outside of the bounds of the natural law it brings disunity. Extra kids are created without the benefit of both parents, there is jealousy between lovers, hurt and brokenness, addiction, devaluing in the form of pornography (which reduces a human being, an eternal soul, to a collection of body parts), people introduce pain into sex, and force others (including kids) to have sex. Sex outside of the natural law is a corruption of a good thing that brings destruction.
But when sex is contained to the boundaries of natural law (when it takes place only in marriage), it becomes a thing of beauty and promotes unity and harmony. It strengthens the love between man and wife and out of this love new life is produced. It builds up and encourages. One can be more free and honest and live without the fear of losing their lover. One may be themselves and not have to put up front to attract someone. Further, because it is a given, one need not to be consumed and obsessed with the pursuit of it.
Remember the story of the Garden. Disunity in all its forms (between God, nature, and other men) was the consequence of sin. Adam and Eve no longer had perfect intimacy with God, rather afterwards they had to toil against nature, and murder quickly entered the world.
God bridged this disunity by uniting Himself with mankind in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ took on the consequences of man’s sin and provided a way for man to live in unity.
As it relates to Hell, Hell is not merely a punishment but also a consequence. God has not been mean; he has been merciful and provided a way that all men may be saved. If a man persists in disunity with God in life disunity will continue in death in the form of Hell. But man may only persist in disunity by rejecting God’s gracious offer of salvation. We need not live with the consequences of our sin, but if we choose to hold unto them, God will let us.
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3 comments:
let's not forget the diseases that spread as a "natural consequence" for existing outside of the bounds of natural law. people that are so immature and selfish are the most promiscuious and don't want to take precautions because wearing a "condom doesn't feel as good". I'm not just talking men, there are some stupid women, too. Sex outside of marraige isn't human nature, it's animalistic.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE CHANCE OF CONTRACTING A DISEASE WOULD MAKE ONE WANT TO ABSTAIN FROM SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRAIGE, BUT IT SEEMS TO MAKE IT ALMOST MORE ENTICING,RISKY, OR JUST GET MORE DRUNK SO YOU FORGET ABOUT IT WHICH IS SO MESSED UP. AND THEN WHEN PEOPLE OWN UP TO THERE MISTAKES AND ASK FORGIVENESS FROM GOD, SETTLE DOWN-GET MARRIED-STILL HAVE A DISEASE-AND THEN THEY CAN'T HAVE THE SAME INTIMACY WITH THEIR SPOUSE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AS TO NOT INFECT THE LOVED ONE, SO THERE'S THIS BARRIER BETWEEN THEM THAT IS NOT AT ALL NATURAL.
Good thoughts, both of them. In having quick, cheap forced 'intimacy' we in fact put barriers between ourselves and our spouses in that we must put artificial barriers between each other to prevent spreading to one another the natural consequences of our natural love.
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