Quote Of The Day
Having played my first game of football in 10 months tonight, I was later watching the second episode of Inspector Morse, Series 1 (The Silent World Of Nicholas Quinn). At the end of the episode, Morse is talking to someone from the case who had been to see a soft-porn movie at the local cinema and discussing that tough question: should he tell his wife? What does Morse say? Only this:
Adultery of the heart is not the same as adultery.
Of course, strictly speaking, he is right, in a literal sense. However, if Morse were a theologian, he'd struggle to back up his point, for it says, in Matthew chapter 5:
27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (30) And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."
Oh dear, old Morse: you need to read your Bible more! This does not in any way "reduce" the sin of physical adultery, but instead remind us that it is the result of our sinful desires - seeking what we can't or shouldn't have; what is not good for us and will bring us down; reducing other people of things for our own gratification; exalting ourselves above others. Whilst I am not guilty of going to see movies such as those at the cinema, I am guilty of desires in my heart which are contrary to the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, what is best both for myself and others.
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