Is Singleness A Reflection Of Hell?
Captain Sensible writes: Sounds a bit extreme, right? But think about it. The Bible shows us that marriage is an earthly reflection of the relationship that exists between God and His people. So doesn't it make sense that, for most of us, singleness is a reflection of hell? No wonder the devil wants to encourage it! He feels right at home with singleness in our lives.
posted by Captain Sensible at 12:01 PM
8 Comments:
So, you're saying that Christ himself lived a life that is a reflection of hell?
He was single and chaste.
Was he also living outside the will of God?
This is such a stupid comment that I simply had to post it.
Jesus came to the world to fulfil His mission.
What part would marriage have played in that? Christ leaving a widow and orphans? We are now venturing into Da Vinci Code territory!
Comments like the above merely go to show how tight a grip Satan has on singleness within the church.
Christ had the gift of celibacy (which is itself a very rare gift and not to be construed as a "gift" someone has who is single by circumstance), not the "gift" of singleness.
ok, aside from christ, what about paul? what about his advice that if you're single, stay single, unless you burn with passion? what about the fact that i am very sure that i'm supposed to be single right now?
i admit i would never have chosen this for myself, but hell???! i think not. just a difficult path.
are you also saying that mother teresa was living a life that was a reflection of hell? and all other priests and nuns? st augustine? martin luther?
Shazia - I actually think that with regard to our Saviour, it's not even a case of His having a gift of celibacy. It just would not have been part of the divine plan.
Anonymous - With regard to Paul, he did have a gifting to remain celibate. His life would hardly have been conducive to marriage and a family. The same can not be said for the vast majority of Christian singles! Also with regard to 1 Corinthians 7, Paul also said that each man "should" have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. But because he was writing at a time of "present crisis", he advised singleness as a matter of personal opinion, for those that felt they were able to manage it. This is not the situation in the 21st century western world. Without more information, I can't really comment on your statement that you feel "very sure that (you're) supposed to be single right now". However in general, I would take this to mean you are living a life that would not be conducive to a spouse and family (for example, you spend 10 months of the year in a hostile mission field?), and that you do not feel any longing for the intimacy that exists between a husband and a wife.
Anonymous - As has been indicated, there is a gifting towards celibacy which may have been what Mother Theresa had. Regarding St Augustine, from the little I know, he struggled greatly with lust, and if it were not for his Catholic vows, I think he would most likely have married. As to Martin Luther, well he was married! Not only that, but he had some very interesting things to say on this subject! I will post on this later. He is probably the most extreme father of the "marriage mandate" movement!
Incidentally, to both anonymous posters, please read Debbie Maken's book: "Getting Serious About Getting Married: Rethinking the gift of singleness". I really don't want to have to spend time addressing questions that Debbie Maken already answers (much better than I could in any case!).
Something that seems to be overlooked by GOS'ers is that Paul was 43 to 47 years of age when he wrote I Corinthians.
Now a man still has sexual desires at that age but certainly not as intense as say, 16-26 years of age. If Paul managed to be celibate that long then he probably figured he could do so until his death.
His words in I Cornithians 7:7-8, "For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I" seem like a drift into first-century idealism. But throughout the chapter, Paul is being realistic, warning of the dangers of being single (v. 2, 9 and the benefits of a healthy sexual relationship within the bounds of marriage (v. 5).
re: the first anon comment above
Christ had a special mission to accomplish.
When the scripture encourages us to follow the life of Christ by faith it does not mean to copy Christ but to have his spirit.
ie it does not mean we should remain single because Christ was single!
Unfortunately Ive met people from all churches who think that. Unless you are a very very rare individual who has an actual gift of celibacy (I estimate it at 1 in every million or so people on the earth. Mother Teresea had it and was joyful at being single) you ought not confuse the meaning of Christ's single life and say "so you're saying that Christ himself lived a life that is a reflection of hell?" I agree with Captain Sensible--to say such a thing is, indeed, stupid.
Christ was called to die for the sins of all Mr anon --you weren't
We were called to 'go forth and multiply'
George K
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