BarlyGurl: [/SIZE]
We must keep in mind that living together brings about the very appearance of evil and temptation is set before us always.
I am sorry, I thought I was pretty clear in defining cohabitation as people sharing housing... any people, a family cohabitates... Simply living under the same roof does not implicate a sexual relationship or present a temptation for one. I am sorry your logic is faulty and the theology is legalistic. If by cohabitating people are guilty of creating an evil appearance by implicating a sexual realtionship then NONE but a man and a woman who are married should or could EVER live together. Siblings or cousins or anyone with any sort of familial relationship would be appearing incestuous, two men or two women cohabitating would be displaying homosexuality, even worse implications for groups of more than 2 persons and mixed gender, Single foster parent or caregivng arrangements would be demonstrating pedaphilia or other offensive exploitive sexual realtionships. I was also very clear to define "SHAKING-UP" as the cohabitating as man and wife without the benefit of marriage which IS a sinful practice... so in making those distinctions I think I have presented well, the mistake of your logic. YOu can set whatever boundaries for yourself... but using your personal restriction as a measuring rod of others is legalism and prohibited by scripture.
]Now God commands us to abstain from all appearance of evil.
If we were to follow through with your presented argument that no one but a married man and woman could live together as all others give appearance of evil... than NO ONE would live together and EVERYONE would be living in FEAR of presenting an evil appearance. God has no given us a spirit of fear but a sound mind... I am hoping the the audience shall reason rightly here and not be decieved or imprisoned by the enemy to wrong thinking regarding the argument and scenario.
1Thes. 5-9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Living singly isn't necessarily in anyone's best interest when considering the communality theme of these verses...is it?
]If we are commanded to avoid even the very appearance of evil then co-habitation with the opposite sex is sin because there will always be the appearance of evil.
And so as I have tried to point out... so it would also be for two men, or two women... etc. This thinking LEAPS to presumptive conclusion... IN your case a heterosexual one... in another mind any variety of illicit sexual sin conduct according to the prejudice, lust and/or conceits of the observers heart.