Age of Marriage

Luke 16
14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus. 15So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

16The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.c 17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

18Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

1 Corinthians 6

The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.

15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”b 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.

18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.c

Actually....
Everyone in my family knew better....
It took an act of congress for my father to be made a deacon about a decade ago....up till that time he refused.

But then he quit that church a few years later and joined another.
They wanted to do Him the same way but settled for him working in the sound booth as he had done for years...as I have done.

The family tradition is to avoid positions of authority and leadership in churches. I see no need to be self-abused from that tradition.

Doesn't mean that we haven't been qualified...but church politics being what they are....never wanted to get involved in those cesspool.

It is to be hoped that the 14 year old pregnant girl receives proper pre-natal care and that all concerned are aware of physical problems that can occur in one so young.

Pregnant teens have a higher risk of getting high blood pressure -- called pregnancy-induced hypertension -- than pregnant women in their 20s or 30s. They also have a higher risk of preeclampsia. This is a dangerous medical condition that combines high blood pressure with excess protein in the urine, swelling of a mother's hands and face, and organ damage.

These medical risks affect the pregnant teen, who may need to take medications to control symptoms. But they can also disrupt the unborn baby's growth. And they can lead to further pregnancy complications such as premature birth.

No joke folks. Not funny at all.

If they held your spirit, 100% they were not qualified.

Ad hominem attacks?
Now that you have proved that you have lost the argument are you going to actually learn something? Or are you going to continue to try to stir up strife?

I did learn something. People who have been comforted with lifelong "Salvation" seem to have little restraint when it comes to sin.
Do you remember when you begged of God for forgiveness in your filth, for the cesspool in you?

Apparently stir up strife.

Sorry, did the NT define that, I'm too ignorant of that series of letters to know?

Yeah. My own family has been very much involved in church activities. No one has to tell me about behind the scenes and how crazy some church folks can be. My husband chose another 'line of work' while one of his brothers became a missionary. I am not now nor have I ever been impressed by that man. How do so many of those involved in or with church become so stinking self righteous?

Personally, I never had any sort of falling out with a Pastor, elder or other such. However, if you can believe this, was frowned upon for not becoming the lead singer in a band travelling across the country. I always prayed about becoming involved in things and if I heard no do not do that, I did not do that. You really can get to know people when you turn down what they assume is such a privilege.

Today, I think the so called Christian music world is pretty corrupt for the most part. I had a number of invitations to exploit my musical abilities that I never felt I should partake of. I also taught Sunday School, was a camp counsellor, taught Bible studies, led worship etc. I've been a busy girl And biblical counselling as well.

I am no stranger to the harm one Christian can inflict upon another. And Christian marriages? Not much better than the world these days. People jump in and assume it's all going to be great because both parties claim to be believers.

Don't get me started! sorry. end of rant.

Jesus himself goes further in condemnation of sexual sin than Moses did.
And here we are, 1990 years later, or so, and we're going to undo that condemnation. We're going to express that despite Jesus being clear on the point, actually our God is carefree on how we union our flesh?

Jesus died for our sins. You seem to focus on sin. How ya doin today? Perfect yet?

Jesus was actually focused on forgiveness and the fact that God sent Him because of His love for His fallen creation.

You are sin focused and while sin is no joke, you have no answer for it other than to create more of the same.

Good thing you blow your horn so loud. That way, people are aware of your presence and can avoid you.

I don't suppose I will get an answer here, but what contribution have you made to your manly church convening, to decide the fate of the forlorn teen couple ? Have you had a say? You certainly expressed what others said if we are to believe you.

Dad was asked more then once to go to a small town church and clean up the mess the former pastor had made. Your dad smart man !
Letter to the editor small town California

Cares for the flock

There is a great shepherd in our town. He watches over his flock day and night with great love and devotion. He will take in any stray lambs he finds or who come to him with out question or a second thought.
He condemns no one , he just loves and cares for his own lambs and any strays.
No, he is not our great Blessed Savior Christ who is here, but a very Christ -like man . He may be small in size , but he has a heart that out weighs his body. We how know him are very blessed .
We thank you shepherd Jack , for your love and devotion through this year.
A believer

alot of blowing, but in the end?

Philippians 3
If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.

7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ,a the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

10I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Here are some more facts about teen pregnancy. The fact is, a 14 year old teen is not meant to be pregnant. Fourteen now does not really compare to 14 a few thousand years ago. You can also come to understand why so many young girls died in childbirth and why babies born to such young women were in danger of death also.

Teens are at higher risk of having low-birth-weight babies. Premature babies are more likely to weigh less than they should. In part, that’s because they've had less time in the womb to grow. A low-birth-weight baby weighs only 3.3 to 5.5 pounds. A very-low-birth-weight baby weighs less than 3.3 pounds. Babies that small may need to be put on a ventilator in a hospital's neonatal care unit for help with breathing after birth.

Pregnant teens may be at higher risk of postpartum depression (depression that starts after delivering a baby), according to the CDC. Girls who feel down and sad, either while pregnant or after the birth, should talk openly with their doctors or someone else they trust. Depression can interfere with taking good care of a newborn -- and with healthy teenage development -- but it can be treated.

But how about the boys involved? Not too good there either.

Teen fathers are up to 30% less likely to finish high school than other teenage boys. Worries about their partners’ health, limited money, educational challenges, and other stresses can take a mental, physical, and financial toll on some would-be teen fathers.

But you know, you don't love God, you disrespect the Bible and you are a friend of the devil if you point any of that out according to some folks in the forum here.

Messengers of God? Not so much.

I'm not exactly sure how or why so many turn leadership into authority for dictatorial behavior. Leadership is just that....servant leadership.

Now granted churches consist of cats and not too many dogs. Herding dogs is possible but definitely not cats. There are no sheep anymore. Haven't been any for a long time now. Dogs bark and bite and cats scratch and claw after giving you judgemental howling.

And since the infusion of politics into church affairs in the late 70's its been in decline.
Used to be that you couldn't not find a "teaching pastor" that taught all the hermeneutical skills...especially the sciences and the associate pastor taught the artistic side because he was the music minister as well...he knew all about the use of language in poetic fashion....both men would be fluent in original language and did their parts well.

Today we got morality lite pastors teaching morality lessons after reading a passage that has nothing to do with the passage. It's what the itching ears want to hear....and membership equates to salaries.
You can find a pastor preaching anything you want to hear anymore from liberal to legalistic within 20 miles from your home.

I've caught my pastor preaching diametrically opposed sermons from two different theological points of view and believing neither. But he won't admit it to anyone consciously. Meh....ain't there for or because of him anyway.

But it's difficult to find a conservative church anymore...they want to do anything but facilitate the membership connecting through small group.

Oh well....
I can dream.

Oh dear. Another 1st World Believer who doesn't really know.
Woman Shepherd gets trampled by Her own Sheep... Wow - YouTube

We actually have a couple of good churches within 20 min of where we live. We have the type you describe as well. Church has sure changed since when I was saved...as a child. Sometimes I long for that simplicity and the genuine fellowship of those days.

Speaking of twisting scripture, using this forum gives a person a pretty good taste of that and leaves you questioning where they go to church, if they go to church or fancy themselves a prophet/teacher/gifted homogeneous never before heard of, gift to all of humanity and aren't we lucky to have them instructing us.