@dalepartridge Dale, are you not concerned that with a “Sin Tax” the state is far less likely to ever abolish porn entirely? They would benefit from it.
@haymes_joshua I have concern that with a “Sin Tax” the government will then never ban pornography. Why would they want to when it will be another source of revenue? Sin Tax will tickle the ears of conservatives but be catastrophic to the abolition of pornography.
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” —George Washington, 1789
@parlance2025 @RedWave_Press God grants power and authority to Civil magistrates (governments) on earth to exercise righteous justice. One of those ways is justice to crime. It is good for Christian’s to call for justice, and also repentance that will be granted by God.
Because Beth graciously responded publicly, I want to do the same. Beth, couple quick things...
1) The creation mandate to "be fruitful and multiply" is given as sort of the "default mode" of humanity. This was the general *command* (not suggestion) given to mankind as a general whole.
So yes, it is *definitely* a good thing to encourage people in general toward marriage and children, and marrying a cute girl who loves Jesus and having lots of kids is *definitely* a way to live a consequential life.
I didn't say it was the ONLY way, but I definitely think it is not only *a* way, but the *primary* way God would have most people do it.
2) I'm speaking as a man to young men, and I can tell you with a very high degree of certainty the vast majority of men need to apply the command, "It is better to marry than to burn with passion" more than trying for Paul's singleness, which even he acknowledges will be the exception rather than the rule.
3) Probably just an accidental oversight, but you omitted in your reply the "who loves Jesus" part of my encouragement to young men when looking for who they're marrying. I did not say "just look for a cute girl"
4) I surely don't think you're saying this, but for any onlookers who are - good grief. Surely, we're not scolding young men for wanting to find a woman he's attracted to to marry?
If anything, the Bible sets forward the example that a man should be and stay passionately, joyfully attracted to his wife (Prov 5, SoS, Gen 2)
We have got to stop scolding young men for virtually any drive, desire, or masculine instinct they have. Those are God-given, and should be harnessed for his glory.
5) I fear this is a good example of CS Lewis' admonition that Satan is always confusing Christians to try to solve the opposite NET problem they are facing and "bringing a fire extinguisher to a flood."
We have generationally-low marriage rates, generationally-low birthrates, the collapse of the family, people waiting until their 30's to get married (long past their biological clocks and most fertile years), cultural population collapse, and the rise of "stay single, wine-down-Wednesday, and travel, YOLO culture"...
I don't think the primary problem we are facing is that young men are too focused on marrying godly women when they are young and having big families.