My turn to except
Submitted by F.O.D. on February 26 1999 at 13:12:25
In reply to Re: The long and the short answer Submitted by Ben on February 22 1999 at 19:31:44
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Thanks for your kind thoughts here Ben. That probably is a helpful way to see it, to think of our sexuality as a challenge through which we might better know or serve God. BTW I'm slowly collecting links on articles worth reading concerning the homosexuality question, both defending the traditional view and showing why the traditional view is inadequate. So just hollar if you want to hear more. Now (rubbing my hands gleefully), it's my turn to take exception to what you wrote ;) You said knowing that, although God would prefer me to find a woman to love, he can accept what I do otherwise. Actually, the truth of the matter is that the position you're in, being celibate and being completely happy with that, is the Number One position, the ideal for all Christians (I use the word "all" loosely). St Paul recommends it completely unqualifiedly. See 1 Cor 7. v 1,8 "It is good for a man not to marry" v 32 "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" v 38 "So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better" Marriage, then, is seen as a concession for those who can't control their hormones. v 2 "But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife" v 9 "But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." (This, by the way, is another gripe of same-gender-attracted Christians. The heterosexuals get this escape clause of marriage to help deal with their sexual desire; homosexuals are just told to put up and shut up) So, don't ever think your life of celibacy is only second-rate to life with a woman. On contrary, your lifestyle is the more admirable! F.O.D. if only I could be content for celibacy too, life would be so much simpler... |