Christians have often been referred to as "soldiers" in the army of Heaven in one common metaphor. Perhaps the freedom and mobility afforded younger single types especially allows for a different, specialized kind of ministry not often available to married or family types. In effect, we might have an opportunity to be God's "special operations forces" in this army of the Kingdom.
Valid comparison? Realistic? Motivating? Examples if realistic?
Discuss.
Bedwyr
ps- This question will be worth 40% of your final exam score. <g>
I always hate comparing being a Christian with being a soldier, but I get where you are coming from.
And yes, you are right. Being single is not a curse from God, it is a call to a special life, a life of more intense service to Him. A special force, if we must.
Singles can go to places not open to marrieds-with-children. Singles can devote more of themselves to God because they don't have to share with spouse or kids. Singles can live deeper, more generous lives because there is no demand for time or money from family.
Singleness is a big blessing, not a curse, for Christians.
I always hate comparing being a Christian with being a soldier, but I get where you are coming from.
And yes, you are right. Being single is not a curse from God, it is a call to a special life, a life of more intense service to Him. A special force, if we must.
Singles can go to places not open to marrieds-with-children. Singles can devote more of themselves to God because they don't have to share with spouse or kids. Singles can live deeper, more generous lives because there is no demand for time or money from family.
Singleness is a big blessing, not a curse, for Christians.
Well, Paul made such a comparison. But that's a digression and a history lesson to boot.
What kind of specifics might you have in mind for the general single adult population?
See, what I'm trying to get at is that single folks might be a little bit weary of being tagged with a red letter "S" by others in the church and certainly weary of the painful moments where they do consider their status something approaching a curse. What would be cool to see is if people started brainstorming and meditating on what they might *specifically* get involved in to help further the Kingdom of Heaven in unique ways (maybe even ways in-church critics couldn't help but acknowledge).
I certainly won't wrong the painful moments. They are what they are and I won't be the one to tell someone that their emotional life is somehow sinful (as long as it's not chronic and they're wallowing in a morass dangerously close to depression... then an intervention might be in order). But if they take a deep, sincere joy in the life they have and *use* it, then I don't see why the church couldn't be healthier as a whole. Maybe it's a matter of getting peoples' thoughts turned around and trained on what we're doing here with God's resources in the first place. It's an old quotation, but I can't help but think of it: "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." - Oscar Wilde.
So therefore, maybe the question should be... how now should we live?
At times I feel that living the single life is the most challenging calling of all age groups. You're not married-you can't use that as an excuse for your diverted attention from the Lord, you're not young so you're held accountable for everything you know and have learned. As hard as it is at times, we as singles/young adults should be representing the Lord in the most precise and genuine way as possible, because we really have no excuse not to. Yet it's a blessing in many ways to be a young adult and single- we can minister to youth, encourage them to practice abstinence, advise them in their relationships, be there for them to confide in(in place of their parents, if they choose) and also give them insight about what they have to look forward to in their future lives of service for the Lord. Simultaneously, those of us with former experience in relationships can minister to troubled married couples, and essentially, be a constant example/reminder to ALL age groups what each one has been called to do- serve the Lord whole heartedly. What a cool responsiblity we have.
My post just made me realize, once again, how cool it is to be single.
Oh yes, and while I have the floor I'd like to sing a verse that's been on my heart lately.......
"......And I will praise You, Oh My Redeemer"
Shalom
__________________ "For attractive lips speak words of kindness, for lovely eyes seek out the good in people, for a slim figure share your food with the hungry. The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes because that is the doorway to her heart the place where love resides."
-Audrey Hepburn
sometimes ive felt like i was in some sort of limboland (not married and yet not a teen or really in college anymore) sometimes I really just wanna get on with life....u know? But then I remember the verses that say "The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband." 1 Cor 7:34 And I do find that I have alot of time that mayb in the future I wont have. Im using it wisely -- I hope!
We relaly have a lot of ministry opportunities that married folk dun. We have less restrictions. And I do realize that Im missing my 'other half' sometimes i feel it more on particular days ie when i met a guy christian who could really use some discipling or male encouragement -- and i really can do that. Or I need encouragement. But iwth marriage also come responsibility. Im not scared or nervous bout that but I know my time to work with the teens im mentoring will b cut down. So Im doin all i can NOW!
Basically isnt that it? Do all you can NOW
thanx bedwyn for making me think!
Clytie
__________________ Psalms 61:2 "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
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Everyone has different gifts. I am unable to be an airline pilot as I have a fear of heights. As far as ministering is concerned, I don't have the gift of speaking before a group, but I am good at one-on-one talks to people. Although my father is a minister and my mother a teacher, I don't have such gifts, and I have been led into other areas. Perhaps I can reach people they can't, because a lot of people are turned off by the Church as they see it as very hypocritical. But these people still are our fellow human beings, and we need to make an effort to reach them and share our faith.
Peter was married (Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:29, Luke 4:38, I Corinthians 9:5) and perhaps he was thinking about his own wife when he wrote about the ideal woman and wife (I Peter 3:1-12).
The following passage suggests only Paul and Barnabas were single, but Cephas (Peter), "the other apostles and the Lord's brothers" were all married (in 3 translations):
"Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?" I Corinthians 9:5 KJV
"Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?" I Corinthians 9:5 NIV
"Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?" I Corinthians 9:5 NASB
Paul considered being single a gift, and we all have different gifts, but notice he was speaking "off the cuff" and not by commandment when he wished we were single:
"But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment." I Corinthians 7:6
As far as being single or married and being able to minister, we might look at Church history. The leaders of the Reformation did away with forced celibacy. Seeking to return to scripture over tradition, they could find no scriptural basis for such restrictions on ministers. During the Dark Ages, forced celibacy led to all kinds of perversions in the monasteries and nunneries, and we even see some of this in the news today with the pedophile scandals and "celibate" priests.
Last edited by Donny_B; 23rd July 2003 at 04:33 AM.
And yes, you are right. Being single is not a curse from God, it is a call to a special life, a life of more intense service to Him. A special force, if we must.
- Lambslove
In my experience, the call to being single is a gift that is about as rare as martyrdom. I have had the pleasure of knowing a few people that were called into celibacy. There is a difference between being single and being celibate. Single is temporary and celibate is for life. The people I have known that were called to celibacy were just not distracted by matters of a sexual nature - they simply were indifferent to it. This is one of the controversial topics I've encountered in church - to be single or not to be single.
A common argument is "If being single is so wonderful then why am I so misserable being single?" As previously stated in another post, Paul said that it was better for the believer to be single. Looking at this from a historical standpoint, however, this was a tough time for Christians. Many were being executed as dissidents by the government and or having to watch their families be tortured as well. So Paul's concern may have been based on more than just our literal interpretation. One of my big beefs a few churches I've been in has been with the way they handle the single lifestyle in general. It is much harder now than ever to find a mate, or easier depending on which camp you fall into. Societal instututions that historically facilitated matchmaking (families, friends, co-workers) have eroded - leaving people to fend for themselves. Much of the methodology employed by the churches that come to mind has been based on repression. Nearly all psychological theories that I have explored dealing with the subject tend to agree that repression of anything is bad. You have to deal with it or it will come back in another form and more violently or subversive. Paul also said that it was "better to marry than to burn." Wisdom from antiquity that supports the repression theories. I often find that many "resentful singles" are looking to use marriage to fill a void of companionship in their lives. Most of these voids could, in my opinion, be filled with a healthy dose of casual dating while waiting for God to "point out the right one". But still they are told to "wait on the Lord" while many become hardened and eventually fall away. Most people need to realize that being single is just a waiting period in our lives and that it will come to an end eventually. I do not think that it is out of order for a person to actively pursue the relationship they are looking for and ask God to guide them and make them successful. It sounds a whole lot better to me then sitting on your butt and feeling sorry for yourself. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
I disagree with that. I think a lot of Christians are called to the single life, but they refuse to heed the call and go out and marry poorly and thoughtlessly and then spend the rest of their lives whining about how unhappy they are, or they have affairs or get divorced, looking for the one who will "fulfill" them, not realizing or not caring that they were called to singleness to begin with.
Even people called to singleness experience sexual temptation and the desire to be married. St Francis suffered with the desire his whole life, as did Corie ten Boom, Rich Mullins and a host of others who knew they were called to singleness. Just having a burning desire to mate with someone is not in itself a true indicator that you are supposed to get married.
Here's the simple truth--God calls some people to never marry, and one of the ways he does that is by just not providing you with a spouse. So, until you say, "I do," you don't know for sure whether or not you are called to live the single life.
No one is suggesting that anyone sit on their butt waiting for God to drop their spouse out of the sky. It's completely opposite what I have been saying. You should be open to special relationships that might turn into marriage, but I know far too many Christians who are marrying whomever is available, and not waiting for the right person to come along, simply because they feel ashamed and embarassed by their peers.
Oh, by the way, Paul did say it is better to marry than to burn, but the notion that that means "burn with passion," is a recent interpretation. In the past it always meant, "burn in hell," as in, desire sex so badly that you abandon God in order to satisfy your lustful desires. It does not mean that if you feel the desire to have sex, it is ironclad proof that it is God's best will for you to get married.
God controls circumstances, and if He never provides you with a spouse, it is His way of saying you should remain single.
But that's a digression and a history lesson to boot.
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