The Bible, Premarital Sex, and Marriage

There is and has been much talk about dating and marriage by Christians. Books abound on the subject. A topic that reminds me of the words of Solomon, “of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.”

What cracks me up is that most of these books claim to tell us “what the Bible says” about marriage.

At best, these books focus in on one or two passages, the one or two passages the author believes sums up everything the Bible has to say about marriage.

1 Corinthians 7 is typically ignored, for instance, “the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none.” Kind of throws a wrench into Jesus wanting you to have Date Night doesn’t it?

Few take into account all that the Bible says about marriage.

Yet strong moral pronouncements are made using Scripture to declare the author’s pet opinion.

For instance, many believe pre-marital sex is out of the question. Christians should not do this.

It’s bad. “The Bible says so.”

Except, of course, the Bible never says so.

This is where a guy can get himself in trouble, but alas, the Bible never says so.

The Bible implies if you have sex with someone you are married to them.

In fact, in a verse I’ve never heard anyone mention when it comes to “how the Bible says to get a wife,” there is Exodus 22:16:

“And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.“

The Law of God, as revealed to Moses, says pre-marital sex is a lawful way to get a wife!

Now, I’m not saying people should have sex before marriage, what I am saying is that we need to be careful how we link our opinions with supposed Scriptural authority.

Before launching on me and how horrible I am for saying pre-marital sex is lawful, go ahead and deal with the passage in an honest fashion.

I can, but I’m not worried about me. I’m more worried about those parents and pastors who speak to youth about stuff like this and tell people they are “speaking biblical truth,” when in reality a kid who has a concordance can argue quite well against such points.

Many a youth has wandered from church because a supposed Scriptural authority was detected playing games with Scripture.

Let’s be honest and careful with the Bible. Let’s not lead people astray by changing, or dishonestly ignoring, what the Bible says, just so we can buck up one of our favorite points.