Celibacy
Submitted by Lonely J on December 3 2001 02:19:01
In reply to For 'Lonely J'... submitted by Chris on November 30 2001 17:11:57
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Dear Chris, Thanks for the response to my post and I have posted mine below in the thread in which it was found. I do have something else that I’d like to respond to that was actually in your response to Professor Child Love. You made a comment about your celibacy that floored me – not that you are a committed celibate, nothing shocking there, for I am also a committed celibate. What shocked me was that you enjoy it; reason stated, the same as why the Apostle Paul enjoyed it. If I may cite from 1 Corinthians 7, which deals with this subject at some length: Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry (or, have sexual relations with a woman)… ..verse 1 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. ..verses 5-7 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. ..verses 8-9 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ..verse 17 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. ..verse 20 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. ..verse 24 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are… Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned… But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. ..verses 25-28 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs – how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world – how he can please his wife – and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world – how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. ..verses 32-35 * * * * * Another verse which comes to mind is Matthew 19:11-12 in which Jesus replies to His disciples’ comment that because of His teaching on divorce, it is better not to marry: “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage (made themselves eunuchs) because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” Both Paul’s and Jesus’ comments seem to indicate that celibacy (or the ability to be celibate) is a gift. Since celibacy to me hurts and I do not enjoy it, I don’t see myself as having this particular gift. Yet, I must be celibate because of men. I don’t choose celibacy willingly, but unwillingly. I was just wondering if you had been through this same kind of struggle on your way to being celibate joyfully and if you had any advice for me. Thanks in advance, my dear brother. Take care and God bless, J |
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