“Thou shalt not commit adultery”
Adultery has become very common is society today for many reasons. One of the big reasons is because most cases of adultery aren’t called adultery. In Jesus’ day, he taught how many people were using divorce to carry out their adulterous desires. Motivated by an adulterous heart, they were open to pursuing conjugal relations with others and hoped that someday these desires would be fulfilled. Their fanciful hearts persuaded them that their life would be happier if they succeeded in being with someone else. To carry this out “properly”, they provided a formality of a divorce note, which then made their adulterous pursuits acceptable, in their eyes. As if cheating on your spouse, is not cheating if you tell them beforehand that is what you will be doing! Adultery is still adultery, even if you are honest about it. Giving a writing of divorce before fulfilling adulterous desires, may be a polite way to commit adultery, but it is still adultery.
Today, the same process is used. It is also often reversed a bit. Instead of giving a writing of divorcement, no official marraige is entered in to begin with. So, when the adulterous lusts come, no writing is needed at all. By not marrying but having the same conjugal relations, the same adulterous routine is carried out. They simply form the relationship without any formal acknowledgment and then likewise break it off with no official or formal procedure. The routine begins again as they pursue others. It’s an easy and accepted practice by many nowadays. Since no official marriage contract was entered into in the first place, they think it is not “adultery”. This is simply a technicality in modern vernacular. It’s still the same old adulterous behavior, even if it isn’t commonly called adultery. It’s doing the same thing that has always been done by adulterous people. It still does the same damage and has the same ruining effects.
These things begin with an adulterous heart. It’s being open to and entertaining the idea that there are ways to justify having conjugal relations without having a permanent relationship even if it means breaking the same type of existing relationship.
Some traditions and cultures create fertile soil for adultery by not only allowing it, but by encouraging it and even celebrating it. An example of this is where adulterous relationships take place in, so called, dating. It’s even touted by some as being “smart” for a man to practice adultery before even considering forming a permanent relationship. He can pursue this adulterous practice with as many women as will go along with it, whether a permanent relationship ever forms or not. With the more adulterous engagements, the less likely that becomes.
Don’t go along with it. Adultery, by any other name or practice, is still adultery.