To Marry or Not To Marry: Staying Single

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.Scriptures to consider:Genesis 2 -- marriage is the normMatthew 19:10-121 Corinthians 7:6Biblical celibacy has two componentsCompanionshipThe sexual elementIt is assumed that church leaders will be married (1 Timothy 3), as correctly understood by Orthodox clergy.Celibacy over-emphasized in the 2nd centuryAn overreaction to Gnosticism, which deprecated sexualitySee Ignatius, the Shepherd of Hermas, Clement of Alexandria, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and AthenagorasAlthough the early church took celibacy too far, we (in our culture) are guilty of the opposite error.Who should stay single?Those with the giftThose with certain sexual strugglesQuite possibly those who, like Jesus, are destined to die youngThose who, like Paul, lead a lifestyle inimical to marriageSome older brothers and sisters who, for whatever reason, are not likely to find a spouse.Final challengesDon'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.)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.Yet Christians must not capitulate to culture, for we follow a countercultural Messiah.