A couple of random passages in today’s post. No general theme, just some scripture that I found interesting. The first quote is a verse from the Prophet Baruch:
And the women, with cords about them, sit along the passageways, burning bran for incense; and when one of them is led off by one of the passers-by and is lain with, she derides the woman next to her, because she was not as attractive as herself and her cord was not broken.
(Baruch 6:43)
This verse got my attention because it reminded me of some of the petty (and malicious) behavior that seems especially prevalent these days in women. In particular I was thinking of “virgin shaming.” While the reference to a cord being broken was to the specific cultic practice of cult/religious prostitution, I suspect that it has a metaphorical component as well. Which suggests that the odious practice of virgin shaming is not novel to the present day.
That brings us to the second verse of today’s post, from the prophet Hosea:
I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot,
nor your brides when they commit adultery;
for the men themselves go aside with harlots,
and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,
and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.
(Hosea 4:14)
It always disturbs me to see Christians, or at least those who call themselves Christians, defend PUAs, at least on a moral level. Some even go so far as to claim that they are doing the Lord’s work. This is blasphemy, pure and simple. The Lord doesn’t abet or encourage evil, even though he can use it towards its purpose. Hosea here makes it clear that evil begets more evil, and the evil of women won’t be corrected when men are no better. Our response as men shouldn’t be to encourage other men to become as depraved as modern women, but instead encourage them to a higher road. In the present environment, such a road means either hold out for a “good” woman, or go their own way.
The final passage is from the first letter from St. Peter:
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. 2 Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, 3 not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
(1 Peter 5:1-5)
Perhaps someone with a good understanding of the Greek here can clarify things for me, but when the word “elder” is used here, does it mean Presbyter? If so (and I believe that is the case), this passage reminds those in religious leadership to lead well, and those not to obey. This passage got my attention because I have long been confused by the double standard some Christians have when it comes to religious leadership. They will obey civil authorities, and preach the Gospel there, but won’t obey or respect religious authorities whom they disagree with. Such creative interpretations are anything but consistent with Scripture.
Donal Graeme 
Elder = G4245 — πρεσβύτερος — presbuteros — pres-boo’-ter-os
Comparative of πρέσβυς presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter”: – elder (-est), old.
They will obey civil authorities, and preach the Gospel there, but won’t obey or respect religious authorities whom they disagree with. Such creative interpretations are anything but consistent with Scripture.
Well, civil authorities have the power to bind and loose (imprison or fine) so it’s easy to figure out why people obey them!
Regarding religious authorities: minus a few denominations like Catholics-Orthodox (granted, that’s nearly 70% of Christianity, but most of them don’t even believe their own doctrine on authority anyway), the majority don’t really have “authorities”. as such. Hard to argue that switching churches when one guy is teaching something you disagree with is somehow wrong when you switche to the first guy in the beginning…
“Our response as men shouldn’t be to encourage other men to become as depraved as modern women, but instead encourage them to a higher road. In the present environment, such a road means either hold out for a “good” woman, or go their own way.”
That is some excellent advice. Unfortunately, some men allow themselves to be trapped into dwelling on their perceived predicament of missing out on something. Their attitudes are adversely affected(by their own making) with the additional consequence of becoming less desirable to women. These man-boys think women owe them something but in extreme cases they don’t care who pays. Your advice is simple and I think exactly the right prescription.