Celibacy and 1 Cor 7

This is from another discussion, where Catholics were accused of fostering, and defending, homosexuality. And it was stated that not all Catholics are bad because a few are homosexuals. And so, I said...

I agree, not all Catholics are bad. There is a systemic problem, however, and even worse, a coverup. My thoughts are as follows: required celibacy of priests is unscriptural, because celibacy is a gift of God, and not all men can do it. I know--I tried. So what if a young man wants to be a priest? He has to, of course, be celibate. Not biblical, and wrong, and explains the unnatural deprivation of the sex drive.

The vast majority of men *God wants* to marry and raise children. It is the 1st command to Man, to procreate, fill the earth with people created in God's image. In this way, the glory of the Lord is shown in mankind across the earth, and not just in a single individual.

Paul argued that the few who wanted to stay single to avoid the constraints of marriage, in order to serve God, were okay. God was pleased with that, providing it was their gift to do so, and their call to serve. Those who can have that freedom. But God is absolutely pleased with the normal family, and certainly does not see the single life as superior.

Paul was only arguing in favor of those who wanted to live in celibacy. They could indeed serve in a less encumbered way. And serving God is the object, whether single or not, whether having children or not.

Some people think that giving up everything they have, climbing a pole, and sitting there half-naked for 40 days without food and drink makes them spiritually superior. It doesn't. It just makes God look bad. And it makes them look stupid and arrogant.

Depriving ourselves of marriage, food and other things can help us focus on spiritual things, if we do it for awhile. But if we get carried away, the focus gets to be on the deprivation and the physical needs. And that defeats the purpose.

If you want to be a priest and be married, become a priest in the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church. If you want to live a life of Celibacy, join the Latin rite as a Priest.

Not speaking specifically of the Catholic church, but I have noticed that there is a sense of deprivation needed in order to humble oneself before God. God calls for fasting and ashes and sack cloth. But, interestingly, Jesus, the man, and Moses, the man, both endured a 40 day fast. Clearly God sustained them.

But people that want to deprive themselves of something for some purpose of pleasing God might be a misplaced sentiment. Some people think they need to be "afflicted" by some kind of deprivation. All the while, God really wants us to enjoy all his gifts and blessings with thanksgiving. God wants us to be humble and mourn for our sins, but to please him, I don't know that he's ever required depriving oneself of the joys of life so long as we enjoy them with thanksgiving.

At one time, I opted for a life of celibacy. It didn't work out for me. Sorry, I play by the Bible's rules--not the rules of the RCC.

It's always dangerous to cherry pick verses. Paul gives a context for his advice: "In view of the present crisis" (verse 26). There was a great deal of persecution at that time. Single men did not have the extra burden of family if they were imprisoned or worse. God made us male and female and marriage is the norm, celibacy the exception. I'm single, I think I can speak with at least some authority.

Yes, I'm sure you do! I remained single for a good number of years. Good word!

yea Paul’s argument was witnessing what Jesus said

“He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:8-11‬ ‭

mostly marriage is fulfilling to man its part of our design woman was made from man , and man is born of woman . Only the two together can create a life

but the beginning was for populating the earth , the gospel is about the next place so there are some who are goven that ability to find fulfillment in Christ without marriage

it doesn’t make them special or less , it means God has a particular purpose that is best if they aren’t married but thier fulfillment will be full the same because in thier design God knows our every need and fiber beforehand some are made like Paul and Jesus concerning marriage others have great purposes in being married and raising little believers

I enjoyed your post a lot of good thought to consider

I think that all sexual sin is big issue and the answers we need are within

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:21-

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:27-29‬ ‭

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the pure in heart are going to be pure in their actions other than mistakes and failures they may make along the way a pure heart leads us in straight paths

I agree randyk, one must have the gift or it's hopeless.

The problem really, with Catholics, is in forcing celibacy, not celibacy itself.

great post!

I’m glad you found some value , God bless brother