Lily Philips - can she be a 'true' Christian?

[mids2019]

https://www.premierchristianity.com/opinion/lily-phillips-has-been-baptised-i-pray-its-accompanied-by-change/20772.article

This article made me think about what it means to be Christian especially about the concepts of sin, judgment and redemption.

In my view Lily of course is a Christian being baptised but to not give up a lucrative adult film career possibly does cause angst amongst more traditional Christians.

We are taught not to judge 'Let those without sin cast the first stone' and to accept the universal unconditionally of forgiveness. (We pray every day about the forgiveness of sin) so it is difficult thologically to condemn others.

However does any fellow Christian need to remind Lily she makes money from a profession where many women with less choice are coerced and manipulated for thr gratification of men? Wr have moved away from a less judgmental Christianity but how do you view participation in Christian life with such a job?

A "brother" biblically speaking, is a fellow believer, not people who don't believe and/or are out to mock, goad, persecute etc.

Again, misinterpreted and misquoted like, "judge not, lest ye be judged,"

We are not called to extend forgiveness in the way that pop culture implies to insinuate that we should be passive about abuse or risk being called hypocrites.

I would say that sexual compatibility goes beyond that. It includes good communication, shared values, and emotional intimacy, ensuring both partners feel satisfied and connected.
Good communication, shared values, and emotional intimacy can be ascertained before any sexual activity takes place. The mechanics of sexual activity can be worked on and are really secondary.
IMO it's bad communication (or no communication) that make problems in relationships not a dearth of orgasms.

My way sounds much more fun! Neither DC’s are married but happy with their long relationship partners. Am very glad they didn’t settle with their earlier partners

If both people come to marriage with no prior experience then they can learn and grow together, surely?

Chacun à son goût

Quote : "I am having trouble following your convoluted argument."

What convoluted argument have I made in this thread ? I think most of what I have posted is what is in the Bible, with observations.

It was actually because of convoluted arguments that I de-converted from being an evangelical Christian. My starting point after my Acts 5 and Mark episode, was that I decided to stop making convoluted arguments. I started with "what about". I decided not to use it ever again. And you know what, once that process starts, and you stop the convolutions, you realize absolutely none of it makes sense.

Look at posts above. It is Christians who are saying incest was ok because that gave a good reason to genocide other tribes and take their land. Or it was God doing his things that only true believers understand. While the true believers who claim to understand it can't explain it.

That response is just "whataboutery".

I won't be engaging with you any more as I don't think you are posting in good faith.

I challenge you to find any "whataboutery" in any of my posts.

Good faith ? On a thread about if a porn actress is a real Christian or not ? And you post how many posts attacking me personally, or so it seems.

Have I misquoted the Bible anywhere ? I have been respectful when I quote the Bible, as I always am. I Cut and paste direct from my collection of E-Bibles, and I always add in brackets what version I am using, Because I care about accuracy.

My thing is what does the Bible says. Not what I want it to say, or what does a Pastor say it says. How does that make me a bad faith poster ?

Are all the Christian posters in agreement on anything by the way ? Not from what I am seeing.

@MrsHubbardhasnoshoe ... exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ... May the Lord bless you and keep you for your Faithfulness on this thread. There is a time to shake the dust from your feet. 🙏

Why take the risk when it’s not necessary?

I don't see it as a risk. Besides, how many frogs do you need to sleep with to find your prince? That also seems a risky business.

Bestiality ?

Only jesting.

On this whole sex thing though, would you agree that the Bible does come across as biased against women ?

I don’t see not settling as risky. Why settle for anything less than the best? I knew on my second date with DH that he was the best - we didn’t spend another night apart.

Well, each to their own I guess!

There were only positives - can’t think of anything negative about it

Christ makes us a Christian. We are justified by faith (in Him) alone and not through any good works.

And @Parker231

Just as a matter of interest, what do the divorce stats say ? My first hit gets this.

Christian Divorce Rate Statistics (2026): Latest Research (worldmetrics.org)

It's a rubbish site, but there might be a site Christians see as reliable ?

"In the US, Christian women aged 25-34 have a 48% divorce rate"

"Christian couples cohabiting before marriage have a 60% divorce rate, vs. 35% for those who did not cohabit"

That one defo leans towards GentleSheep. Any data ?

I've heard about the stat that the divorce percentage is generally higher for those who've cohabited before marriage rather than those who have not. It has always baffled me as to why, because surely cohabiters know each other well before tying the knot?

The statistics on that site are mind-boggling. Basically there's a lot of divorce going on! However since I am also divorced I can't really criticise!

And ?

Yup, it's an AI slop site. But I am following this interesting chat between yourself and @Parker231 . Any stats that are reliable?

I have seen a Pew study mentioned as I searched, but I can't get Pew.

Is there any reliable stats on it out there ? This is not really my discussion, just following it.

Wow pewresearch.org is a massive site full of statistics of all kinds, so thanks for that! Will take awhile to sift through it.

I can only base on family and friends - all lived together pre marriage and still happily married.
Perhaps the church makes it more difficult for their members to divorce?

I do think the concept of sin has to reflect society and it is not that controversial a concept.

Mary, mother of Christ was by historical estimate between 12 and 16 when betrothed. Would it be a sin in biblical times for an older man to be betrothed (and consumate a marriage with) a 13 year old.....definitely no.

In 2026 would marrying and consumating a marriage with a 13 be a sin. ... definitely yes.

So we have to accept sin is not a fixed theological entity that doesn't change with time. I would expect that anything illegal under current UK law would be conceived as sin but not all sins are illegal. (I.e. Lily who has broken no law).

I think you make a fair point. Similar to how some behaviour can be seen as polite in some cultures and terribly rude in others.

It is actually an issue addressed several times in the New Testament as what commands should new believers be expected to follow - especially as the new believers were living in different cultures and geographical locations to the Jews.

In Acts 15 the Apostles hold a conference to address this issue. They made some decisions and sent this letter out to believers:

Acts 15:23-29 ESV
[23] “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. [24] Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, [25] it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, [26] men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [27] We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. [28] For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: [29] that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

Other sections of the New Testament examine these issues more deeply.

It does appear to me that there are many acts that are consistently revealed as sin throughout scripture such as murder, stealing, sexual immorality, perverting justice . . .

But I should add to the above that many Christians (like myself) believe that scripture is closed. Meaning that God has finished revealing himself through the inspired written word of God.

So I don't get to add on extra commands to God's word and I don't get to ignore commands, even if they don't appear to fit well with my surrounding culture of today.

As it happens, I find that trying to live by God's commands bring me a lot of peace and joy, and make me a better neighbour and citizen of my country, than I personally would have been if left to my own devices

Why do you think you need someone commanding you how to behave whereas others of us don’t need outside influence?