More on Celibacy
Thanks to Jake for pointing out that the link to MacArthur's teaching on 1 Corinthians 7 was incomplete. Following are the links to the rest of the series:
1 Corinthians 7:8-16
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
1 Corinthians 7:25-31
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
I think you'll see from the full series that the verse explaining why every man should have his own wife and every woman her own husband ("since there is so much immorality," v. 2) is at least as strong as the reason young virgins should remain that way.
One look at our culture is weighty confirmation that the immorality problem remains.
Also, a word about gortexgrrl's exegesis. This is the first I have heard about the word idios in the context of 1 Corinthians 7. I have previously only heard the Greek word charisma. Not being a biblical scholar myself, I tend to defer to trustworthy experts or tools. For the sake of clarity and accuracy, it would help to know the origins of your interpretation on this one.
I did do a quick search in a Greek Lexicon for the word gift. There are nine versions in the New Testament. Though none of them are idios.
Finally, a word about the question of whether a gift of celibacy equals the cessation, or at least significant lessening, of sexual desire. It's incomplete to read 1 Corinthians 7 without also studying what Jesus said in Matthew 19. It seems to me that His choice of the word eunuch is so graphic as to be significant. If being celibate was not dependent on some lessening of the sex drive, why use a word that means "to castrate or neuter a man." He's talking about being cut off (literally or figuratively) from the sex drive.
This is a reminder that we all drift toward proof-texting -- it's just easy to stop searching the Scriptures and be satisfied when we find a passage that proves our point. What's needed is the full counsel of God's revealed Word.
posted by AuthorMama @ 8:29 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
There seems to be an argument here about celibacy: Is it a gift or not? I'm not a scholar, but I can speak from my own experience.
I fell in love once, or at least as close to love as my 23-year-old human body can know. (I suppose it would just be called "eros" in the Greek.) I felt sure that this guy (I'll call him Sam) was the one for me. We went out 2-3 times each week for over 2 years, and Sam acted like he felt the same way I did. They say love is blind, and I was certainly blind. I saw Sam in church, and based on what I'd seen, I believed he was a strong Christian and everything I was looking for in a husband.
During my last semester in college, I began to consider a call to missions, but struggled desperately with my human desire to stay in the US, close to Sam.
By the grace of God, Sam's "true colors" came out before I did anything foolish. One week shortly before my graduation, Sam didn't call me. No explanation, nothing. He hasn't called me since. About two months after that incident, he asked one of his co-workers to marry him. They will be married in four months.
To me, celibacy is more than just refraining from intercourse. It's a lifestyle. Because of that lifestyle, I have been in very, very few situations that could be defined as compromising. Today, I am so thankful that God has given me the self-control to come this far, and has prevented me from saying or doing anything foolish.
Now, I am following God's call into missions - as a single female. I don't believe I will be single forever, but I know that at this time in my life, God has called me to singleness. And for me, that is a gift.
Truly, we could debate the Greek interpretation all day. What did Paul mean when he said this or that? But what I've learned is that it is not celibacy or marriage that is a gift. Life is a gift. Whether we are celibate or married, that is a gift that we should take joy in. I love being single and celibate. But if I should one day be married, I will love that too. Life is a blessing from God that I do not deserve, and every day I thank him for that gift.
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ~Philippians 4:11
tidy bowl: Perhaps it would be better to say not that you are "called" to singleness right now but that you are single---that's your reality---and God has called you to serve Him in a particular way (for you right now it is missions, via whatever vehicle...be it one-on-one witnessing, sports, medicine, ESL, or what-have-you) in this time in your life. And that in your time of being single God has enabled you to be celibate and to dedicate that celibacy to Him. That working in you is the gift, I'd say.
{aside: Yes, yes, folks, you can call it "semantics" all you want...as if semantics is a small thing. But I believe that the terminology we use and the composition of said terminology often reveal our attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about matters.}
to any and all:
Anyhooz... it seems to me that we are using the word gift to mean one of two connotations and that the connotations oft are mixed in the writer's/reader's mind:
(1) Gift = a blessing one is given, of which one is the steward, to make good use of
(2) Gift = talent/capacity/ability/aptitude "wired" into the person at birth or at spiritual rebirth
I don't think they are exactly are the same thing and work the same way. Not sure I as yet can explain the difference...but it seems to me that one could have been given a gift (blessing), which is celibacy, for a temporary time... and another could have been given THE gift of celibacy (having little or no sexual desire) in order to serve God in a special way.
I wonder if it would help were the church to construct ways to advance the kingdom and deepen the "followship" of disciples, utilizing celibates. Other than the priesthood, that is... (Hoo-boy, is that another can o' worms!)
Hmm... what ministries in the kingdom, by nature require the servant to be celibate...? And I don't mean those vocations that some denominations have decided should require celibacy (ahem, the priesthood). I mean, we had Bible preservation come out of the Celtic monasteries... and some amazing writings come out of monsteries and nunneries. But do we really need folks to be retreating from the world in great numbers?
Again, it seems that the special callings which are given to a handful of folks out of the entire family of God, are the callings which necessitate lifelong celibacy. Thus, it seems that only a handful truly are called to be lifelong celibates. Or do I have my logic fallacied up here? ;o)
Really... what special purposes does celibacy serve? Other than the obvious answers...
Seems like a good research topic!
Such good discussions, folks! Hot chai, anyone? I'm brewing myself a cup.
OK... on to replies... :o)
gortexgrrl: I guess I was saying it was in the realm of possibility. As to the probability, I think you're right. It doesn't happen often.
firinntienne: I think you and I are saying the same things... I was writing stream of consciousness, not as a Logic professor would instruct me to do. Yes, you are right---we must discover first if any vocations exist that require celibacy (not merely are aided by it).
Thank you so much for reminding us that monasteries and abbeys were more for than just retreating from the world! I haven't researched the topic...just going on what I remember. And I've probably been exposed to the topic via literature and PBS programs than more than through actual research. Good points, firinn!
To all readers/commentors: Am I off track by inferring that we are all in agreement that too often only a handful of Kingdom activities have been highlighted in preachings and teachings? We need determinedly Christ-following people in ALL jobs/tasks/careers (OK, minus the crime-based careers!)...
And really... Human life is about living. The gospel is for us... life is not for the gospel. I mean, much is done for the sake of people hearing the gospel and receiving it and accepting it. But all of life is not just preaching and witnessing. Am I making sense?
*sips hot chai*
There is a lot here to unpack, and kudos to the posters in this thread (seemingly all women) who have dug deeper into the text and tried to contextualize it.
Let's start with this proposed postulate which everyone seems to agree on: The Bible text is not ALWAYS literal. When John the Baptist said, "(Look!), the Lamb of God" obviously Jesus didn't look like one. Similarly, when Jesus said, "You must eat my body and drink my blood" those around him wondered why He was talking cannibalism. (I am aware that there are grey areas where different Christian denominations have contrary views to the "literacy" of a text [transubstantiation is probably the most renown].
Now we tackle the problem of celibacy and/or as a "gift". Ultimately, I believe that at the core of it the real question is, "What is God's will for my life in this area?" Let's see, there are 3 categories that I can think of regarding all humans:
- They have a normal to strong sex drive and wish to fulfill it
- They have a minimal to no sex drive yet still wish to fulfill it (and/or have a greater sex drive)
- They have either category of sex drives and don't wish to fulfill it.
Most people (I'd speculate like 99% of all human beings) fall into the first category. Let's deal with these folks first. For them, they have 3 choices in life for fulfilling this desire:
- Sex within marriage to another person
- Sex outside of marriage to another person
- Sexual gratification through other means such as masturbation, voyuerism, pornography, etc.
The Bible is clear that first method is fine (in fact encouraged), the second is verboten, and the third (esp. masturbation) can be very controversial. That's for another discussion.
Obviously, one who can't release his desires often becomes frustrated. The question is, "Is this situation a 'gift' from God or not"? From the person's point of view, probably not. From God's point of view, maybe it is or maybe it isn't. Perhaps God is preventing him/her from getting married for some other divine purpose. Sadly, we rarely know what this is. However, maybe it ISN'T God's desire to have that person stay single but has allowed the free will of men and demons to prevent marriage in this fallen world. Biblical examples show both cases (The story of Lazarus for the former and the story of Job for the latter).
However, both Jesus and Paul seem to hint at what God's will is with the caveat, "but if you don't do this that's ok too; just be aware what you are diving into". From Jesus' words in Matthew, He says that those who fall in the 99% category of sexual desire would best be off marrying. Paul echoes this that it is better to marry "than to burn with passion" (and guys especially are quite flammable).
Likewise, both Jesus and Paul imply that those who don't fall into category A or do but still want to try and live with the struggle ought not to puruse marriage so strongly.
Regarding monks/priests/nuns/etc. I understand where they are coming from. However, I think that there is and has been a danger of denying sexual gratification to the point of ascetism ("taste not, touch not, handle not") which has marred the Christian church and created practical problems as well (e.g. the priest abuse scandals).
Conclusion: In my opinion the "gift" that Paul was referring to himself was the fact he didn't have to deal with this inner struggle that many others deal with who want to devote more to the Kingdom. The "gift of celibacy" could easily be a "gift of eros" where one desires sexual fulfilment and is not frustrated by it.
Those who do fall into either category of struggles, I would hesitate in calling either situation a "gift" from God just as I would hesitate calling any tragedy that befell someone as "God's will". Maybe it is a gift, maybe it isn't. But the important part is that you don't view either desire as "wrong" and its pursuit is by no means sinful so long as it is done in a godly manner.
Suffice it to say for myself that I fall into the 99% category of people, and for whatever reason...gift or not...I am where I am. Hopefully that will change someday soon, but if it does not, "His grace is sufficient for me".
All right, now that the MCAT is over, I'm free to read and comment on blogs again. :)
As I feared, MacArthur's reading of verse 32 on in a pro-marriage way is weak. He stresses that an unmarried person has only a potential to be concerned about the affairs of the Lord and not the things of this world, but that's not in the text--it says a married woman IS concerned about the things of the world and an unmarried woman IS concerned about the affairs of the Lord. I wish a different, pro-marriage interpretation of this passage would wash over the evangelical world and change everyone's minds, but because we Christians often imitate what the world does without even realizing it, or for supposedly "Christian" reasons, I don't feel that that's likely. It's pretty clear that Paul personally felt that people who were unmarried should remain so, so that they could be completely devoted to God. And as long as 1) the secular world keeps delaying marriage, and 2) we evangelicals maintain our view that personal piety and a one-on-one relationship with Jesus is the essence of Christianity, rather than a greater community in which some people's role may be more indirect, and thus being completely devoted to God is seen as the highest good--and the Bible seems to back up the idea that it can be better achieved by a celibate person--we are going to continue to see Christians dodging marriage.
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