Important part *why* though? I agree with you....but why is it important?
Also, it's happened in many times throughout history where husband and wife could not use their privilege anymore. Either someone gets injured physically, like in war, or someone has an attack of mental illness or something.
So now what? What does the healthy husband/wife do? What is more noble? What is more Christ-like? To stand by the person or get a divorce and go elsewhere because "forced chastity is terrible" and "My needs aren't being met"?
I think the way we answer that question says alot about what we think of marriage. Is it indeed a covenant of love, or is it just an arrangement for sex?
I think the way we answer that question says alot about what we think of marriage. Is it indeed a covenant of love, or is it just an arrangement for sex?
Sex is one of the ways in which a husband and wife express their covenant of love. One of the most important ways, in fact. Nothing in your hypothetical changes that.
Interesting that you jumped right to divorce and infidelity. Didn't even occur to me. Even if a couple cannot express themselves in conventional ways due to illness or injury doesn't mean they can't get creative.
Asking a perfectly healthy married couple not to have sex, however, is cruel at best. Why place an otherwise strong relationship under that level of stress needlessly?
You might want to double check your scripture. Sex within the confines of marriage is a gift from God.