Is This A Sin? dot com

You shall not commit adultery. – Exodus 20:14

Here is another one that seems pretty straight forward until you look a little deeper.  I, personally, have been married for over 15 years to the most wonderful woman.  I cannot really understand why anyone would want to throw away a marriage for the pleasure of an affair.

However…

I have viewed pornography during my marriage, leading me to lust after a woman other than my wife.  Is that a sin? Well, just ask my wife!  It cost me so much trust with her that I thought we would never get back to the way things were.  This, of course, opens the door to a myriad of other questions about just what adultery (marital cheating) consists of.   For instance, can my wife have dinner with another man without me being there?  If both partners approve of an “open” relationship, then is it really adultery?  At what point is the line actually crossed into an adulterous relationship (intercourse, kissing, hanging out)?  What about polygamists?

All of these questions are interesting, but let’s look at some facts:

• In Matthew 5, Jesus says that a man that looks at a woman with lust in his heart has committed adultery with her already. (Notice there is no mention of either party being married…interesting)
• 90% of Americans proclaim adultery as wrong, while 60% of Americans have had at least 1 extramarital sexual encounter in their lifetime.  Over 85% of adults say that they routinely “flirt” with the opposite sex.
• The ancient practice of polygamy is never addressed in the Old Testament (although many of its central persons had multiple wives), while the New Testament specifically mentions “husband of one wife” on 3 distinct occasions.
• 53% of men attending a Promise Keepers rally admitted to viewing internet pornography during the week prior to the event.
• Over 70% of people will eat lunch with a co-worker of the opposite sex.  Over 85% of adulterous relationships are with someone from work.
• The Hebrew text for the Adultery Commandment refers specifically to the married woman, since males of that day were not considered bound to their marriages.

It seems that most people feel that cheating is wrong, but do nothing to curb their behavior.  Whether it is a belief that “it won’t happen to me” or a simple refusal to care, we are left with a society that finds more and more unique ways around this 7th commandment.  Of course, this is nothing new.  People have been finding ways to sleep around for centuries.  But, all of the technicalities do not answer our question about cheating, adultery, and sin.

What do you think?  Is this a sin?  Cast your vote now!