Doomed to be single?

So besides (we'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say) clarifying what you meant in a way that changed it's meaning for most of us. We really should be asking why there's no marriage ceremony recorded between christians in the Bible. Shouldn't be too hard to ascertain that it wasn't from any prohibition or necessarily avoidance of marriage so much as 1) there's literally only 1 narrative book in the NT after the gospels (and there weren't really any christians before those events took place) and it was focused on the story of people who were travelling and spreading the faith. 2) During the time the Bible was written most people would have been coming to Christ as already married (hence all the teaching about how to behave in marriage even though we don't see weddings happening. 3) Christianity was designed (by God at least) to be a multinational multicultural religion and wedding ceremonies are highly cultural events that are determined in large part by the culture of the participants rather than their religion (which yes is a part of culture, but it's unlikely that any of the Biblical authors were concerned with defining what a "Christian Wedding" should look like).

So you're just reiterating Paul's advice which either you followed and after 56 years of singleness you were no longer capapble of self control or you didn't follow at all which would make you look like a hypocrite. Of course you say that but your attitude towards children doesn't seem to be very biblical either (which I admit I wouldn't want to start raising babies at 56+ either) . But the Bible says children are a heritage and blessing from the Lord. Mostly you sound like someone trying to read the Bible in such a way as to make it agree with his life choices... which makes you a pretty normal human being.

So besides (we'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say) clarifying what you meant in a way that changed it's meaning for most of us. We really should be asking why there's no marriage ceremony recorded between christians in the Bible. Shouldn't be too hard to ascertain that it wasn't from any prohibition or necessarily avoidance of marriage so much as 1) there's literally only 1 narrative book in the NT after the gospels (and there weren't really any christians before those events took place) and it was focused on the story of people who were travelling and spreading the faith. 2) During the time the Bible was written most people would have been coming to Christ as already married (hence all the teaching about how to behave in marriage even though we don't see weddings happening. 3) Christianity was designed (by God at least) to be a multinational multicultural religion and wedding ceremonies are highly cultural events that are determined in large part by the culture of the participants rather than their religion (which yes is a part of culture, but it's unlikely that any of the Biblical authors were concerned with defining what a "Christian Wedding" should look like).

So you're just reiterating Paul's advice which either you followed and after 56 years of singleness you were no longer capapble of self control or you didn't follow at all which would make you look like a hypocrite. Of course you say that but your attitude towards children doesn't seem to be very biblical either (which I admit I wouldn't want to start raising babies at 56+ either) . But the Bible says children are a heritage and blessing from the Lord. Mostly you sound like someone trying to read the Bible in such a way as to make it agree with his life choices... which makes you a pretty normal human being.

i know working with children they find it very difficult when their parents marriages fail and even when they do not and they are together they dont like it when their parents are fighting or hostile to each other.
Children always feel a bit responsible when their parents are at each others throats but there is nothing much they can really do about it.

they can either endure it or run away, many actually choose the run away option.

Just my observations. Very few that I've spoken to actually want to be married. I am always abit curious of the reasons why people want to be married. it is very seldom for the reasons you might think.

True enough. Marriage ceremonies were of the highest importance and priority in the Jewish social order. Marriages and wedding ceremonies are not even a footnote in the Bible as far as Christians are concerned. There is only advice given after the fact, and admonitions to avoid if at all possible.

Paul spoke about both sides. He gave significant attention to relationship between husband and wife and he also said it was better to stay single if you could do without that so you could serve the Lord undistracted by the worldly responsibilities you must attend to if you are married. However I do agree that the marriage and the family life is not a Christians chief calling in life as so many seem to think. For many years now I have seen what seems to be a focus on marriage and family life as if that is what you are called to focus on while you await the coming of the Lord. As if you will be judged for how good a dad or mom or husband or wife you were. The Christian calling is not to get married have kids, get a nice house, have a well maintained yard, save for retirement put your kids through college and tell them to do the same. That is not the great commission. Many Christians have a mindset that it is.

So besides (we'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say) clarifying what you meant in a way that changed it's meaning for most of us. We really should be asking why there's no marriage ceremony recorded between christians in the Bible. Shouldn't be too hard to ascertain that it wasn't from any prohibition or necessarily avoidance of marriage so much as 1) there's literally only 1 narrative book in the NT after the gospels (and there weren't really any christians before those events took place) and it was focused on the story of people who were travelling and spreading the faith. 2) During the time the Bible was written most people would have been coming to Christ as already married (hence all the teaching about how to behave in marriage even though we don't see weddings happening. 3) Christianity was designed (by God at least) to be a multinational multicultural religion and wedding ceremonies are highly cultural events that are determined in large part by the culture of the participants rather than their religion (which yes is a part of culture, but it's unlikely that any of the Biblical authors were concerned with defining what a "Christian Wedding" should look like).

So you're just reiterating Paul's advice which either you followed and after 56 years of singleness you were no longer capapble of self control or you didn't follow at all which would make you look like a hypocrite. Of course you say that but your attitude towards children doesn't seem to be very biblical either (which I admit I wouldn't want to start raising babies at 56+ either) . But the Bible says children are a heritage and blessing from the Lord. Mostly you sound like someone trying to read the Bible in such a way as to make it agree with his life choices... which makes you a pretty normal human being.

Not at all. The New Testament makes it clear that there is no commandment to marry, nor is there any commandment preventing marriage. Choice is up to the individual. However Paul warns that you are probably better off to remain single as you will be more serviceable in the ministry, and not suffer in the flesh, which suffering could be made worse under terrible tribulation.

And that's about it. The bottom line is you absolutely do not have to have to be married as a Christian, nor should there be any prejudice about the choice one way or the other.

I agree on every point. The Great Comission is the consuming task at hand.

Paul spoke about both sides. He gave significant attention to relationship between husband and wife and he also said it was better to stay single if you could do without that so you could serve the Lord undistracted by the worldly responsibilities you must attend to if you are married. However I do agree that the marriage and the family life is not a Christians chief calling in life as so many seem to think. For many years now I have seen what seems to be a focus on marriage and family life as if that is what you are called to focus on while you await the coming of the Lord. As if you will be judged for how good a dad or mom or husband or wife you were. The Christian calling is not to get married have kids, get a nice house, have a well maintained yard, save for retirement put your kids through college and tell them to do the same. That is not the great commission. Many Christians have a mindset that it is.

Paul spoke about both sides. He gave significant attention to relationship between husband and wife and he also said it was better to stay single if you could do without that so you could serve the Lord undistracted by the worldly responsibilities you must attend to if you are married. However I do agree that the marriage and the family life is not a Christians chief calling in life as so many seem to think. For many years now I have seen what seems to be a focus on marriage and family life as if that is what you are called to focus on while you await the coming of the Lord. As if you will be judged for how good a dad or mom or husband or wife you were. The Christian calling is not to get married have kids, get a nice house, have a well maintained yard, save for retirement put your kids through college and tell them to do the same. That is not the great commission. Many Christians have a mindset that it is.

If God designed someone for marriage, they do not have the choice to stay single. Are you suggesting we can disregard what God wants (through his word) and then do what we want?

That same Paul told the young widows to get married. 1Timothy 5:14.

I don't agree with this. Paul clearly is saying you are to marry if you do not have sexual continency. So while SOME might be able to live single without distraction by their choice for the sake of the kingdom, most people are not able to do that. The choice is not up to us, the choice is to do what God is leading that person to do. God made us to be single if there is no sexual neccesity to marry, or he made us for marriage. It IS up to each person to determine which one they are. I can tell you which one most of us are.

Single adults are often not even wanted for church ministry. God says marriage is the grace of life. Isn't that what you want?

If God designed someone for marriage, they do not have the choice to stay single. Are you suggesting we can disregard what God wants (through his word) and then do what we want?

That same Paul told the young widows to get married. 1Timothy 5:14.

cv5 your dear lady married you for some cash? You didn't need to marry for that. You could have willed it to her.

The point is whether a person should be doing this as a distracted burning single person or a married person. Pastor's are not going to soon be staying single so they can better minister, they can better serve as married. That's the decision to make.

Is Paul equivocating on 1 Corinthians 7:1?
"Now concerning the things about which you wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman."

1 Corinthians 7:8 absolutely no wiggle room here either.
"Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am."

1 Corinthians 7:26
"Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is."

1 Corinthians 7:6-7
I say this as a concession, not as a command. But I wish everyone were single, just as I am.

Those young widows were troublemakers and a burden to the Church and Paul came up with a practical solution. But there is no doubt whatsoever that Paul made it perfectly clear that his preference for everybody would be to stay single.

1 Corinthians 7:35-37
I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord. 36However, ifsomeone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed,and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes;he is not sinning; they should get married. 37But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.…

Paul merely says here that it is no sin to marry. He certainly isn't commanding to marry and he certainly isn't even advising to marry.

That is more than enough to silence these detractors to worship marriage and family more than they worship the Lord Jesus Messiah. And before we forget, We had better post this scripture as well......

Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

The point is whether a person should be doing this as a distracted burning single person or a married person. Pastor's are not going to soon be staying single so they can better minister, they can better serve as married. That's the decision to make.

Just who are the young widows Paul told to get married again suppposed to marry? Marriage has been the divine design since the beginning of creation. That is never going to change. I was single until I was 53 and always felt the church didn't talk about marriage enough, not that they talked about it too much. They need to do something because now they have so many single adults they don't know what to do with them.