To Marry or Not To Marry: Staying Single

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/single/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p><strong>Scriptures to consider:</strong></p><ul><li>Genesis 2 -- marriage is the norm</li><li>Matthew 19:10-12</li><li>1 Corinthians 7:6</li></ul><p><strong>Biblical celibacy has two components</strong></p><ul><li>Companionship</li><li>The sexual element</li><li>It is assumed that church leaders will be married (1 Timothy 3), as correctly understood by Orthodox clergy.</li></ul><p><strong>Celibacy over-emphasized in the 2nd century</strong></p><p>An overreaction to Gnosticism, which deprecated sexuality<br />See Ignatius, the Shepherd of Hermas, Clement of Alexandria, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Athenagoras<br />Although the early church took celibacy too far, we (in our culture) are guilty of the opposite error.</p><p><strong>Who should stay single?</strong></p><p>Those with the gift<br />Those with certain sexual struggles<br />Quite possibly those who, like Jesus, are destined to die young<br />Those who, like Paul, lead a lifestyle inimical to marriage<br />Some older brothers and sisters who, for whatever reason, are not likely to find a spouse<strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>Final challenges</strong></p><ul><li>Don't tease the single. This can be embarrassing; it has the power to shame people into marriage; it entails a certain thoughtlessness, a failure to think theologically about celibacy. (If you are a single and are being teased, consider telling others how you feel. And do your best not to be touchy -- such attempts at humor are rarely made spitefully.)</li><li>Social pressure is strong enough (to marry; to have children; to favor male children. Various stigmas are all too familiar to our single brothers and sisters.</li><li>Yet Christians must not capitulate to culture, for we follow a countercultural Messiah.</li></ul><p><br /> </p>