fasting period also covers not having sexual intercourse with your spouse

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joyfuljoy

Guest
#1
In some churches, during a period of fasting and prayers, they discourage married couples from having sexual intercourse until after. Personally, I don't think it's right because if your spouse wants it and he/she is being deprived, it's a sin. Their bodies are now one. What are your views?
 
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zaoman32

Guest
#2
I agree with you, that's garbage. Even the Paul says in the bible not to abstain from sex with one another except for a short time and by mutual agreement, and come back together again as soon as possible. A lot of people downplay the sex topic, but I think it's extremely important in a marriage, the more frequent the better in my opinion, and I don't just say that because I'm a guy. I say that because some of the closest married couples I've seen have sex often. Not because I wanted to know, but because the guys, being guys, wore it like a badge of honor. And if they're married there's no reason they shouldn't
 
Jan 24, 2009
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#3
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not of command. Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. -1 Cor 7:1-7, NASB

I included some extra to help with context.

:)
 
Jan 24, 2009
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#4
I agree with you, that's garbage. Even the Paul says in the bible not to abstain from sex with one another except for a short time and by mutual agreement, and come back together again as soon as possible. A lot of people downplay the sex topic, but I think it's extremely important in a marriage, the more frequent the better in my opinion, and I don't just say that because I'm a guy. I say that because some of the closest married couples I've seen have sex often. Not because I wanted to know, but because the guys, being guys, wore it like a badge of honor. And if they're married there's no reason they shouldn't
She didn't indicate how long the period would be.

How long is "a short time"? We don't know.

I think it's extremely important in a marriage, the more frequent the better in my opinion, and I don't just say that because I'm a guy I think it's interesting how guys talk a mile a minute about sex before marriage, and then after marriage either become really quiet about it or complain about it...

I agree that it is an important part of marriage. As for the frequency part, I couldn't tell ya.

Being a never-married guy and one who hasn't yet experienced it, I suspect my bride and myself will, to everyone else, seem to have vanished from the face of the earth for a while after we tie the knot.

:)
 
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zaoman32

Guest
#5
She didn't indicate how long the period would be.

How long is "a short time"? We don't know.

I think it's extremely important in a marriage, the more frequent the better in my opinion, and I don't just say that because I'm a guy I think it's interesting how guys talk a mile a minute about sex before marriage, and then after marriage either become really quiet about it or complain about it...

I agree that it is an important part of marriage. As for the frequency part, I couldn't tell ya.

Being a never-married guy and one who hasn't yet experienced it, I suspect my bride and myself will, to everyone else, seem to have vanished from the face of the earth for a while after we tie the knot.

:)
I've been married, I know it's importance. I don't post things here without having previous experience just having heard second hand stories.

Again, the bible says a short time for prayer, and again, in context there seems to be an importance that it's not a very long time. It's dependent on the couple and what their needs and temptations are.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
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#6
No sex with your wife?

That's a terrible idea for a fast.

Isn't it enough to give up bacon?
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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#7
In some churches, during a period of fasting and prayers, they discourage married couples from having sexual intercourse until after. Personally, I don't think it's right because if your spouse wants it and he/she is being deprived, it's a sin. Their bodies are now one. What are your views?
I was listening to a kind of documentary while watching something last night. It talked about how the English in the middle ages had many days of the year where meat was forbidden, but not fish, and how monks were discouraged from eating too much meat because they thought it made them more virile. I was thinking about Paul's warning that in the last days men would forbid others to marry and tell them to abstain from certain foods.

I'm not a fan of leadership-enforced fasting. On the other hand, I can see the benefits of fasting. Israel did have some commanded fasts and fasted on certain specific occasions. But Jesus taught about keeping fasting secret. If a church leader wants people to fast and pray for something, I think it should be more along the lines of a suggestion that's voluntary.

As far as fasting sex goes, that's fine if both agree to it beforehand. If only one agrees to it and tries to force it on the other, I think that's wrong.

Some Indonesian Christians fast often. But they typically fast food and water, and a lot of them will do daylight hour fasts. That's got some basis in the Old Testament, and it's the fast of the surrounding culture which is predominantly Muslim. (A Papuan Christian I spoke to in the far east where they were influenced by American missionaries and Islam has not had much of a presence historically said they fasted food only. I don't think they do the sun up to sun set thing. I'm thinking of Christians on Java.) No sex during daylight hours isn't that heavy of a burden.
 
Jan 24, 2009
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#8
I've been married, I know it's importance. I don't post things here without having previous experience just having heard second hand stories.

Again, the bible says a short time for prayer, and again, in context there seems to be an importance that it's not a very long time. It's dependent on the couple and what their needs and temptations are.
I've been married, I know it's importance. I don't post things here without having previous experience just having heard second hand stories. Who is suggesting it isn't important?

I don't post things here without having previous experience just having heard second hand stories. Experience isn't necessary to comment on a topic. Fact is, we often have to base our opinions on observations.

Again, the bible says a short time for prayer, and again, in context there seems to be an importance that it's not a very long time. It's dependent on the couple and what their needs and temptations are. I posted the Scripture. How long is the period of time for fasting and prayer? We don't know. Nonetheless, you immediately concluded it was garbage.
 
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mystikmind

Guest
#9
From day one of my failed marriage of 6 years, i could have easily fasted without sex and my wife would not have even noticed, or if she did, she would be happy not to have to be the one to come up with all the excuses for no sex every day.
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
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#10
Fast Day #23, wife is giving me that look again...must...find...energy...
 
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isolated

Guest
#11
Having fasted before you become so weak in your body you can barely get out of bed. Sex? Are you kidding me? You must have never truly fasted before is all I can think to type. Fasting depletes your body of the ability to do anything. People die from fasting.................
No food, no energy, no water, no energy, where do you get the energy for sex while fasting?
 
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NewWine

Guest
#13
Okay, joking aside....Some believers think we shouldn't eat certain foods, or we shouldn't eat certain foods on certain days. Some believe the Sabbath is on Sunday, others on Saturday, and some believe honoring the Sabbath means simply to allow ourselves to rest in God. All can find A scripture to back-up their views. Who's right? Personally to me it doesn't matter. I do what's right for me based on my knowledge of the Bible, my strength and closeness to God through prayer and praise, my experience and my own wisdom. As my eyes are opened to different things my views on things change....for me. Because everyone is an individual, on their own journey through life, in their own place in events, and with their own experiences and wisdom, we are all free to decide what's right for ourselves. That's the beauty of free will....I don't HAVE to live my life exactly like everyone else.

To me this applies to fasting also. There are so many different types of fasts, that to me, as long as we are living our lives for God, we can't go wrong. God sees our hearts: He sees our struggles and strengths, and He still loves me the same as you, so eh, is the preacher correct? I'll ask God one day if I think of it, but I doubt I will worry about it much until then.
Peace :)
 
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cmarieh

Guest
#17
You must find the energy within yourself. Or drink a Red Bull. It has wings.
I don't understand energy drinks. I would never drink one and I would never buy one either. To be honest, I think they are a waste of money.
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
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#18
I don't understand energy drinks. I would never drink one and I would never buy one either. To be honest, I think they are a waste of money.
they totally don't work..it's basically soda under an energy drink label... :/
 
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mystikmind

Guest
#20
Having fasted before you become so weak in your body you can barely get out of bed. Sex? Are you kidding me? You must have never truly fasted before is all I can think to type. Fasting depletes your body of the ability to do anything. People die from fasting.................
No food, no energy, no water, no energy, where do you get the energy for sex while fasting?
Funny, when i fast i feel like i have more energy! I fasted for four whole weeks in January and never felt better, and i was doing heavy exercise as well, no problem at all.... However, i was quite a bit overweight at that time (120kg), Obviously this is what makes all the difference, if your already on or near your healthy weight, well then that is different. Incidentally, in that 4 weeks i lost 15kg, and another 10kg up to now with controlled diet.

The reason for my fast... It is the case that my wife is divorcing me, so i am trying to rebuild myself both physically and mentally, and proving to myself that i can do all these things that my ex convinced me i could not do.