Charity and Chastity: Conjunctive and Consequential Phenomena

Charity and Chastity: Conjunctive and Consequential Phenomena

The Hebrew word for the name of the first man, Adam, is

The Hebrew word for the name of the first woman, Eve, is

The first letter for each of the words makes the word

which means "brother."

This word is also one of the words used to mean "friend," as used in Job 6:15; 19:13, and in 1 Kings 9:13.

The word is also used to signify any kinsman (regardless of gender)

Indeed, as part of a Jewish wedding ceremony, the following is said:

"May they be friends and lovers"

This tracks quite well with the following: Catechism of the Catholic Church, element 2347.

The virtue of chastity blossoms in friendship.....Chastity is expressed notably in friendship with one's neighbor.

Indeed, charity and chastity do seem to go hand-in-hand. If you lack one in any way, then you'll also ultimately lack the other as well.

Offenses against chastity in the use of the sexual faculties invariably lead to acts that are not open to life (ie, contraception, abortion; etc).

NOTE

In Leviticus 18:21, it says that you shall not cause your off-spring to pass through the fire to Moloch. In other words, if a child results from illicit sexual unions, you shall not get rid of the results of your shameful activity in order to make it more convenient, or to cover it up. Why do we know this?? Because this prohibition falls immediately after several prohibitions concerning sexual unions (ie, heterosexual) for which a child could result, and immediately before a set of prohibitions of sexual unions for which a child cannot result (ie, homosexual or bestial). This further supports the contention that a contraceptive culture carried to its logical conclusion eventually degenerates into an abortive culture.

Indeed, such are actually offenses against charity (ie, love). All true love (the ultimate source of which is God, the Lord of all Life) between a man and a woman must be life-giving love, either physically or spiritually between one another and/or toward any new life that results from that union. The lack of chastity in some way, therefore, cannot fail to eventually destroy or inhibit the giving and nurturing of life, both physical and/or spiritual.

Chastity requires self-control. Gluttony in one area (be it sexual or with regard to food or drink) invariably indicates gluttony in other ways. Such gluttony is actually a form of idolatry. Idolatry in any form is a "no no" and as such will, if left unchecked, invariably lead to the worship of false gods, above all that of self, or some kind of addiction that is essentially a co-dependent "relationship" with a false god. This in no way can lead to a worship in Spirit and in Truth (cf John 4:21-24) of the One True and Living God. Such idolatry can only lead to a lack of charity both toward God and our fellow man (cf Ezekiel 16:49-50). This idea will be examined further at the page titled:

Sodom and Gomorrah: A Lack of Social Justice

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