Although you are new to dealing with adultery, it is not new to mankind. Mankind has wrestled with adultery for centuries. Despite the many instructions in holy books against adultery, many people continue engaging in it. They know right from wrong, yet continue choosing to do what they are not supposed to do. Such writings are designed to force you to be honest with yourself and with God about what is actually going on. Rather than honestly deal with the adultery issue, what some ‘enlightened’ theologians over the centuries did was either ignore the issue (which was often called pericope de adultera). By claiming that the passages in the holy books were not supposed to be included in the collection of writing called the ‘Holy scriptures’, they gave themselves license to continue adultery. The choice by scholars in early centuries (I am talking third and fourth centuries here) to proclaim the adultery passages as ‘not to be included’ has tarnished many churches who know believe that these passages were not included in the original Holy Scriptures are are therefore not authoritative concerning adultery. When the adultery passages were discussed, church leaders made the choice to leave them out since they thought the story of the woman taken in adultery is best ignored “lest their wives be given impunity in sinning”.
It is hard to be honest with yourself, when those you look to for honesty have not dealt with the issue of adultery in total honesty either. The topic forces both husbands and wives to be held to high standards and remain committed to each other. When voices are squelched because they make people uncomfortable concerning adultery, you can rest assured that they are hiding something and that this issue, which needs honesty is not be dealt with honestly.
Sadly, many churches continue avoiding the issue, whether do to ignorance or ‘tradition’. By remaining silent on the issue, they are giving out de facto licenses for adultery and adulterous issues.
Best Regards,
Jeff Murrah
