Signs of the Times (August 25th, 2016)
This blog is LOADED with the latest MADNESS from the MODERN world!
Single Christians Can Have Sex as Long as It's 'Mutually Pleasurable and Affirming,' Pastor Says!!
Citing 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, many Mainline Protestant and evangelical churches like the Assemblies of God Church, advise against sexual relations among single Christians.
"Today within our society singles exist for one of two reasons — by choice, or by circumstance. In either case the Bible's mandate is clear for all unmarried individuals: they are to remain sexually pure (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)," the Assemblies of God church warned.
For McCleneghan, however, whose views are comprehensively captured in her new book, Good Christian Sex: Why Chastity Isn't the Only Option — And Other Things the Bible Says About Sex, single Christians don't need to abstain from sex to remain pure since being chaste is about moderation.
"American Christians sometimes conflate celibacy and chastity, too, which is a problem. Chastity is a virtue, related to temperance — it's about moderating our indulgences and exercising restraint. We're all called to exercise chastity in a variety of ways, though the details will vary given our individual situations," McCleneghan said in an op-ed for The Washington Post.
"In the official teaching of the Catholic Church and some other churches, however, chastity requires restraining oneself from indulging in sexual relationships outside of the bounds (and bonds) of marriage. That is, chastity for singles means celibacy — no sex. … I'd argue that we can be chaste — faithful — in unmarried sexual relationships if we exercise restraint: if we refrain from having sex that isn't mutually pleasurable and affirming, that doesn't respect the autonomy and sacred worth of ourselves and our partners," she explained.
McCleneghan believes it's unfair to ask single Christians who haven't been called to a life of celibacy to refrain from sexual intimacy when both men and women need sex.
image: http://images.christianpost.com/full/99684/bromleigh-mccleneghan-sex.png
(Photo: Facebook) image: http://graphic.christianpost.com/images/homepage11/enlarge4.png
"There
are those who feel that they are called to seasons of celibacy, or even
years of celibacy, and if answering that call is life-giving and
purposeful, then they should take it up as a spiritual discipline. But
no call can be forced on an unwilling person, especially not if they
find themselves single only by virtue of circumstance," she wrote.(Photo: Facebook) image: http://graphic.christianpost.com/images/homepage11/enlarge4.png
"Plenty of women and men love sex, and need it — we need bodily pleasure, remember — and the abundant life for them will involve seeking out relationships of mutual pleasure. Chastity, or just sex, requires that whether we are married or unmarried, our sex lives restrain our egos, restrain our desire for physical pleasure when pursuing it would bring harm to self or other," she added.
The Christian Post reached out to McCleneghan to further discuss her book on Monday but she was unavailable for comment at the time this story was published.
While some Christian scholars have offered praise for McCleneghan's views, not everyone thinks her advice is sound.
"We are to be Holy people, blameless and spotless unto Jesus Christ. One man and one woman married until death, not extra-marital affairs (adulterous behavior) even fornication. That is sin that will lead anyone to eternal Hell. Please show me Scripture that backs up your belief," wrote Trish Nastasi, a longtime married Christian woman on McCleneghan's Facebook page.
McCleneghan, who began her ministry at Hinsdale in July 2015, is responsible for worship, pastoral care, ministry leadership, teaching at the church. Her special focus is on helping people with children at home better their ability and commitment to raising those children in the Christian faith, according to the Church.
You can read an excerpt from her book by clicking here.
Gay clergy to appeal to Anglican bishops for ‘full equality in the Church’
A new report from Christian Today is indicating that a Church of England clergyman who married his gay partner is to publish an open letter signed by at least 12 married clergy couples calling on bishops to relax the rules against gay marriage. The Rev Andrew Foreshew-Cain, who married his partner Stephen last year and who was also elected to theGeneral Synod, the Church’s governing body, on a liberal pro-gay ticket, is still finalising the text of the letter which he hopes will ultimately help the Church move towards full equality for LGBT people. He told Christian Today that about half the signatories are happy to be named because they have already gone public about their marriages. There will be a second category of “anonymous” signatories from gay clergy who might have told their bishops they are married but whose bishops are keeping this information private. CONTINUE
Bibles Removed From College Hotel Following Complaint From Atheist Activist Group
It said that an employee, who remained unidentified, had contacted FFRF to express their objection to the presence of the Bibles at Thunderbird Executive Inn. FFRF also asserted that the Bibles violate the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, which reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” CONTINUE
Elementary School Bans Teachers From Calling Students ‘Boys and Girls’
This appears to the first example of something that started as a bathroom issue now expanding into daily life in the classroom. A letter sent to teachers at Carlos Rey this month titled “Gender Identity Procedural Directive” states teachers can no longer refer to their students as boys and girls starting this month, telling them to eliminate gender in their classrooms. CONTINUE
Muslim inmate sues Indiana sheriff over halal diet
It accuses the Boone County Jail of violating Thomas’s First Amendment rights and his rights under Indiana’s Religious Freedom and Restoration Act signed by Gov. Mike Pence in 2015. The state law says government entities cannot pose a substantial burden to a person’s exercise of religion. CONTINUE
MD School District Admits it Won’t Inform Parents if Transgenders Bunk With Daughters on Field Trips
What’s more, he said that respecting the privacy of the transgender student means parents of daughters bunking with that student would not be informed. The instructions were laid bare during a training video (featured above) recorded in June and posted online July 12 featured above. The Times parsed the relevant portion from the 43-minute instructional video, with Mosier stating: CONTINUE
Jesus to Star in New Virtual Reality Film
Movie-goers will be able to see the Jesus story up close and personal with special virtual reality glasses or headsets instead of on the big screen. Viewers can purchase virtual glasses like Oculus Rift or Google Cardboard, anf investment Director David Hensen believes is well worth it. CONTINUE
W.V University Defines You as a Criminal If you don’t use “transgender approved” language
— says he “identifies” his gender as female, then all other students must refer to the man as a “she,” or else be treated as a law-breaker. WVU says using the wrong pronouns is a crime because the United States departments of justice and of education insist that transgender people are protected by decades-old sexual discrimination law. So remember if you din’t comply with the approved language you are deemed as a “Law Breaker” and as guilty as a criminal. CONTINUE
Syphilis Cases On The Rise
The 2016 Public Health England (PHE) syphilis report has shown that infection rates are on the up, with disproportionate rates in London. In 2015, the capital accounted for 56% of all cases in England, with a 22% increase in diagnoses in the year 2014-15. Since 2010 the number of cases of syphilis in Londoners has increased by 163%, with a 22% increase in the year from 2014 to 2015. The borough of Lambeth has the highest rates, closely followed by the City of London and Southwark. CONTINUE
Parents Outraged Over All-Nude Shakespeare Performance In Park…
The all-female cast will be all nude come showtime next month inside Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The group also performed earlier this year in Central Park. “We were really interested in getting an audience to be able see nudity as non-sexual, non-threatening, and eventually not even strange,” said director Pitr Strait. “By the end the play, it’s normal.” CONTINUE
Record Number Of Americans Giving Up On God and Miracles
Pew Research Center said Wednesday that 49 percent of what they term “nones” left their church and religion because they “don’t believe.” Another 20 percent said they don’t like organized religion. Other reasons included “common sense” and a lack of believe in miracles. The survey is the latest from Pew that demonstrates a growing trend in America: More and more people are junking religion, and many are giving up on God. CONTINUE
‘Pokemon Go’ Causes Stampede in Taiwan
down a street to capture a Snorlax. The video shows a crowded Taiwanese street with many people walking along sidewalks and multiple vehicles stuck in traffic. All of a sudden hundreds of people begin to sprint en-masse down a side street. CONTINUE
When is that comet coming again?