36 LASUDEN, Dakila T.

March 03, 2017

BSAc II 1:00-2:30 WF THEOLOGY IV Sir Joey Soliman, Jr.

THOU SHALL NOT BE STUPID

Cheating is an idiotic thing to do, not only are you violating the vows you have promised
to your partner but you are also violating the seventh commandment; Thou shall not commit
adultery. All of us have the freedom to do what we wish but we must also be attentive to what
we are doing. When one person gets caught in the act of cheating and he reasons out that he
was the victim, then that is preposterous. Cheating is a two-man process; you wont cheat if the
other person doesnt convince you to be in a relationship even if you knew that the person is
bounded to another party. Cheating doesnt only destroy the victims part but he as the cheater
himself. We know what could happen to the other partner but what does the cheater have to
lose?

According to Janet R. Tolete, in her article, Cheating is Stupid; she could see the
impracticality, inanity and stupidity of cheating in marriage and said that cheaters are losers.
Why? Cheaters have a lot to lose, more than they think. First, they can lose a lot of money.
Getting married and starting a family can cost a lot of money to please them and if they are
going to add another person to appease then it would be more money spending. Second, they
could lose their livelihood. They can say good-bye to their source of income because they can
get their license be revoked for the reason of moral turpitude, if his license remains his
credibility as a professional can suffer. Third, cheaters lose their health. They wont have a
peaceful mind and tend to be more stressful. Fourth, they lose their freedom. Cheaters could be
locked up in jail, male cheaters can be imprisoned for four years and a day because of
concubinage or worst for 12 years because of psychological violence under RA 9262. Fifth, they
lose their children. They would need to fight for the custody for their children and according to
the law the custody shall be given to the innocent spouse. Lastly, cheaters lose their soul.
Infidelity erodes the cheaters sense of self and he becomes suspicious of almost everyone and
trust issues arise.

Family is a relationship that is being taken care of of everyone. We Filipinos cherish the
importance of every family. As can be seen in our culture, we love our family members coming
from every generation. The church always tell us the importance of family and that we need to
take good care of it because the community we live in is a family, we are all brothers and sisters
in Gods eyes. I, personally, believe in the importance of family and I hate it when people do
cheat, because what is the reason for you do to such? Notice that when a person cheats
everyone goes to the side of the victim because they know what he did was wrong. They will
fight against him because we cherish family so much that we tend to do anything just to keep it
together. Cheating is a wrong act and it isnt a very moral thing to do for us Christians. Marrying
someone means that you are tied to that person because you love him/her. Someone cheating
doesnt do anyone good, even for himself, because not only are you breaking the promise you
have vowed at the altar but you are going against the will of the Lord. He put the seventh
commandment there because he wants us to remain faithful and see that family is important
than anything and that cheating can destroy everything.

Infidelity can change a lot of things especially our faith. Our faith can falter towards other
people and to God. We will question Him why this did happen to us, or why me I didnt do
anything to make you mad. But God has another or a perfect plan for us. I always believe in his
actions and why do we have to suffer such. Sometimes I do question Him but I convince myself
that this is what He needs to do in order for us to reach our dreams. Yes, Ive been cheated
on, not on a love relationship but on friend relationship. I was angry but I was able to forgive,
because if God did forgive us then we can also forgive others even though it is hard. Forgiving
means that you are able to let go and move on from the hurt you experienced. Cheating is a
sin and will ever be a sin not only to the community but to the Lord and sinning to the Lord is a
never good thing. People need to appreciate the commandments He gave to us because
through this we will learn to value love, family, respect and God Himself.

Ive always believed in love because I see it in my parents, in our family, with my friends
and especially with God. Love comes to you at the right time with the right person and God gave
him to you because He knows that you deserve each other and that you will learn to trust and
love one another. If you think that you are getting tired of the same old thing then go to your
partner and confront him/her. You can always find a way to revive the spark you once had.
Dont cheat; dont even think about cheating because it will destroy you. Try to do new things,
talk it through, pray to God and always follow his commandments, because He knows whats
best for us. In the future I know that I will not cheat because God taught me well through His
prayer, stories and His commandments. He made me see that there are other ways to fix dull
love and I know for a fact that isnt to attempt to cheat. The article made me see that I can lose
a lot more than I know if I do cheat and it could hurt me a thousand times compared to what Ive
did to my spouse. And I do agree with the author, When there is a better and wiser way, why
be stupid?