The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

DB writes:


I find this a truly incredible statement. I was thinking it might help to find some parallel items:
Closing your eyes to become blind and long term blindness are alike in that they are both blindness. The only thing that differs is the duration.
Skipping lunch and starving to death are alike in that they are both hunger. The only thing that differs is the duration.
Holding your breath for a short time and long term deprivation of oxygen are alike in that they both result in gasping for air. The only thing that differs is the duration.

Duration is not the only thing that differs. Duration and the commitment to the duration is what makes it celibacy. No one engages in sexual intercourse 24 hours a day seven days a week.

These rules of men, that men and women serving God deny themselves the great help and benefit of a believing spouse, are not found in scripture and were fabricated later. I find it sad that good people who want to serve the Lord have this burden placed on them. It reminds me of Matthew 23: They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others

_________________
Cobra (the car, not the poisonous reptile)
all scripture is NRSV unless otherwise noted

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

So, since the married priest is performing priestly duties is he expected to be celibate?

I didn't understand why the reference to the old testament priesthood and the practices in the temple unless even the married priest was expected to be celibate since sex would make him unclean for priestly duties.

_________________
Marv
Forum Code of Conduct
The Bible NETWork Doctrinal Statement
The NeXt Bible Learning Environment
The Bible NETwork Blogs

BeneSHOP: Help support Bible.org at no additional cost to you when you shop!

I'm surprised no one mentioned the VOWS of celibacy. You are bound to them in good conscience unless released from them by petitioning the pope, as I understand it. Maybe DB can clarify.

S

_________________
Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,"
behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION" --
The apostle Paul, NASB

"I find it sad that good people who want to serve the Lord have this burden placed on them. "

There is nothing that requires any Catholic to be celibate in order to be good people who serve the lord just as well as any minister or elder, for example. If you want to be a priest and administer sacraments, then you take certain vows. Voluntary. Same with many RCC religious orders. These orders often have lay members who don't take vows and are not bound to Poverty, Chastity, obedience, etc... I think the degree of vows varies even among priests (say poverty). Celibacy is still required. Of course, the RCC has all sorts of rules that in certain cases allow exceptions. Now, this may all have changed last week, so I'll listen to DB if he cares to go into it.
S

_________________
Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,"
behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION" --
The apostle Paul, NASB

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

I suppose what I wrote was silly, because I was trying to answer your comment in kind.

This is one of the silliest statements I have read in a long time.

_________________
Cobra (the car, not the poisonous reptile)
all scripture is NRSV unless otherwise noted

(On topic): I actually love and read the apocryphal writings (though I would say that I have my favorites for devotional purposes and less than favorites ). I have even on a rare occasion read from them for a sermon (but have slightly more regularly only referred to some particular statement or story in one). Having said all of this, I do not recognize them as truly belonging to the Canon of Scripture (as authoritative and binding on the Church). I believe that there is sufficient evidence in favor of their exclusion from an official Canon, but recognize that they still remain beneficial for reading and edification. IMO the evidence is in favor of the 22 books of the Hebrew Scriptures (which make up our 39 in the Protestant Canon)...even though I would recognize that there is considerable evidence of the idea of a Canon which does include the apocryphal works.

I encourage the reading of the apocryphal books, but I also encouraging the reading of the Pseudapigraphal ones, the Church Fathers, Commentaries and Theologians both liberal and conservative/ both agreeable and disagreeable, etc. I would rather that the congregations that I have been would read widely and find encouragement and works that challenge their faith and deepen their understanding.

Having said all of this...I am probably (once again) an anomaly among Protestants (and particularly among Pentecostals of which I am a minister)...

_________________
Everyone is equal at the foot of the cross...just some are more equal than others.
Forum Code of Conduct
Bible.org Doctrinal Statement
rickwadholmjr.wordpress.com
iheartbarth.wordpress.com
bluechippastor.org
Twitter: @RickWadholmJr

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.