Hey Everyone,
I'm sorry if the titles don't seem to "flow" together, but this is really part 2 of a train of thoughts I couldn't fit into just one introductory thread.
The inspiration for this thread is a comment I read elsewhere on the forum that it is unwise for married people to have friends who are single. I've seen and heard this belief many, many times, and can certainly understand why it seems to be the best way to handle fellowship between married and single people.
* But does this mean that married people should ALWAYS be separated from single people, except at Sunday morning service and church potlucks? After all, we all want to put on a convincing guise that we're all part of one united body of Christ for all those Instagram-worthy shots! And then then event ends... and all the singles are expected to go off in one direction, and all the marrieds go off in another.
* Once the praise, worship, lesson, or public get-together is done, should singles and marrieds all go about their own separate lives, never speaking again until the hope of another chance public event in which they might (gulp) have to interact with each other?
* Should singles and marrieds stick to their "own" groups (singles with singles, married with marrieds) throughout their entire lives?
Again, I am NOT advocating that singles form close bonds with married people (most especially) of the opposite gender at all, but what I'm hoping is that maybe others have also noticed the huge problem this seems to set up within the church community (which will be discussed in the third thread.)
* If the solution to married/single "fellowship" leaves no other choice but for singles and marrieds to be in constant, cautious segregation, how can we build a united body with two completely different groups of social dynamics that are taught to steer clear of each other?
I'm not trying to say that there are any clear or definite answers--I'm just wondering what all of you have observed, what your concerns are, and how or if things could be handled in a better way.
I'm sorry if the titles don't seem to "flow" together, but this is really part 2 of a train of thoughts I couldn't fit into just one introductory thread.
The inspiration for this thread is a comment I read elsewhere on the forum that it is unwise for married people to have friends who are single. I've seen and heard this belief many, many times, and can certainly understand why it seems to be the best way to handle fellowship between married and single people.
* But does this mean that married people should ALWAYS be separated from single people, except at Sunday morning service and church potlucks? After all, we all want to put on a convincing guise that we're all part of one united body of Christ for all those Instagram-worthy shots! And then then event ends... and all the singles are expected to go off in one direction, and all the marrieds go off in another.
* Once the praise, worship, lesson, or public get-together is done, should singles and marrieds all go about their own separate lives, never speaking again until the hope of another chance public event in which they might (gulp) have to interact with each other?
* Should singles and marrieds stick to their "own" groups (singles with singles, married with marrieds) throughout their entire lives?
Again, I am NOT advocating that singles form close bonds with married people (most especially) of the opposite gender at all, but what I'm hoping is that maybe others have also noticed the huge problem this seems to set up within the church community (which will be discussed in the third thread.)
* If the solution to married/single "fellowship" leaves no other choice but for singles and marrieds to be in constant, cautious segregation, how can we build a united body with two completely different groups of social dynamics that are taught to steer clear of each other?
I'm not trying to say that there are any clear or definite answers--I'm just wondering what all of you have observed, what your concerns are, and how or if things could be handled in a better way.
- 2
- 1
- Show all