I go back and fourth on this one.. Get married, not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married get married not get married
LOL... or maybe it's just a sign of bipolar issues?!
Just kidding, Nod--you crack me up!!!!
Getting married or not seems to be all part of our own personal walk with God--after all, Peter was married, but Paul chose not to get remarried (I was taught, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, that historically, Paul was part of a religious group in which marriage would have been a requirement, so apparently, he was married at one time, but chose not to remarry.)
I was also taught that Martin Luther (I was raised Lutheran) didn't really see himself as getting married, but marry he did, and wound up with something like 6 kids.
I've heard some well-meaning Christians say it's our God-given duty to marry and have children, but the plan seems to differ a little for all of us.
I don't think marrying means somehow not following God first, either--if it's God's plan for your life that you do get married, then you're following what He has for you with all your heart. But if not, you are, of course, able to serve Him in other unique ways.
I recently talked to a very nice woman from my old church who is in her 60's and has traveled the world as a missionary, which is wonderful. But, as I talked with her... She told me, and there was sadness in her eyes... that in order for her to be able to do that, God decided to take her husband away first (he passed away a few years ago.)
I know she's happy, serving God, experiencing a lot... but feels very lonely at the same time.