Why don't priests/ministers/etc save mariages (and sometimes even lives) this way?

Question

Many marriages end because the husbands suspect their wives are unfaithful. Sometimes the husbands even murder the wives.

But the bible, specifically Numbers 5:11-31, describes the proper way for husbands to find the truth.

If a man suspects his wife of being unfaithful, he reports it to the priest. The priest then makes her drink some "bitter water." If she is guilty, the water makes her thigh rot and her belly swell. If innocent, no harm done -- the woman is free and will "conceive seed." In any case, "the man shall be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.

Why don't more christians follow the bible? It seems very strange to me. And it would certainly be cheaper than paternity tests. It seems like one of the most useful services a priest/minister can perform for his community.

Fireball - I'm sorry you were abused, but it really has nothing to do with the question.

Giraffe - again, that's not an answer.

I'm afraid I might have to ask again in a few days...

Answer 1

You are truly misunderstood by many, but I get your point you sly guy. I have never met any Christian who follows the Bible word for word. Of course, they will argue that they are only human and will sin from time to time, but that is not the behavior tho which I refer. I am talking about doing what the god in the Bible tells people to do on at least a regular basis. When was the last time you read about someone stoning their neighbor to death for working on the Sabbath? Well, you're supposed to do just that. But Christians know that such an action would be wrong, even though their precious book commands it of them. There are no strict interpretations anymore; there's only the philosophy of pick and choose.

Answer 2

Ya know, Lev 20 says if a person curses his mother or father he should be put to death...That chapter goes on to list a bunch of infractions that a benevolent God says a person should be killed for.....Read it and then ask again.."Why don't more Christians follow the Bible?" You will find that we all pick and choose only what we want to follow from the Bible. If we "followed the Bible" Lindsay Lohan, Britany Spears and the wonderful Paris would have been stoned by now...with rocks not drugs.

Answer 3

So is she getting pregnant from drinking this bitter water? Or is she drunk on the bitter water and then goes home and gets pregnant, or what? And what does a paternity test have to do with a woman who may have had an affair, but didn't get pregnant from it?

Questions to answer a question, sorry about that dude...

Answer 4

On our own we cannot. The Priest/ Ministers alone cannot. But “with God all things are possible” . It’s no coincidence that these words of Christ from the Gospel of Matthew appear shortly after Christ’s teaching on the permanence of marriage . When Christ’s disciples learned what the permanence of marriage demanded of them, they though it would be better not to marry at all . Jesus responded, “Not all men can receive this precept, but only those to whom it is given”

To whom is this teaching on the permanence of marriage given? To men and women who remain slaves to their weaknesses? No! To men and women who have been given the power to love as Christ loves through the Holy Spirit!

This is the GOOD NEWS of the gospel. Christ’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit . This means husbands and wives can love one another as Christ loves. How did Christ love the woman who commited adultry? If I'm not mistaken he said, "Go and sin no more." saving her from being stoned by other sinners.

Again, salvation is for those who break the shakels of addictions to sins and let their heart get reconstructed by Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

Answer 5

This particular bit (Numbers) is total nonsense, without factual foundation of any sort. Anyone who tried this would be properly denounced as an idiot. And, most marriages that die do not do so because of unfaithfuless -- they die because people's needs change over time.

Answer 6

as soon as you said

"but the bible says..."

my head exploded.

sorry, i just can't drop my IQ low enough to understand your lack of knowlege and logic.

class dismissed!!

Answer 7

sometimes and usually it starts with the man forgetting about cherishing" which he promised to do!! or abuse or both....they try but noone couldve stopped what was happening when i fell for someone after being threatened ignored abused etc....