Unpacking Celibacy
It's great to see such a lively and engaging discussion going on among our faithful blog community. Thank you for taking the time to think deeply about these important issues and for contributing thoughtful comments. It's too bad you don't all live in the same city -- these conversations would be even better, I suspect, over coffee.
Now for the recent debate about what Paul really meant in 1 Corinthians 7. It's not surprising to see so many opinions on this passage. It's one that remains hotly debated. And why shouldn't it? There's a lot at stake based on how you interpret what he wrote.
I'd like to recommend the transcript of a CD set that we listened to recently by John MacArthur. This well-respected Bible scholar provides the valuable service of explaining what it was Paul was reacting to (1 Corinthians 7:1 begins, "Now concerning the things about which you wrote ..."). The church at Corinth had rasied some questions and concerns to which Paul was responding. That's helpful to know when trying to make sense of what's better, celibacy or marriage. And what's the gift. And who should stay single. And what being single is for. These are important things to know given the state of our culture when it comes to marriage.
Even though I hold strong opinions on these matters, I'm prayerful that God will continue to broaden my understanding of what's true. The goal, afterall, is His perspective. MacArthur's teachings are a part of that process.
posted by AuthorMama @ 6:40 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Ooh, like a mini Na conference... Would be fun... Let's have it in Nashville! ;o) We have multiple coffeehouses from which to choose.
Singleness has been quite a journey for me, personally. I've struggled with my singleness, prayed for a mate, and desired more. In the end, God has proven Himself to be more valuable than all that, and has given me a contentment and joy that I had never before imagined. Following God has led me down paths I never before expected to walk down. By the grace of God, I will soon have the priviledge of moving to Africa to share His word. I am so proud to be able to say His power is made perfect in my weaknesses.
firinn:
ooh, nummy, nummy! Oh, yes...chai is in the offering...or is that offing? Would you like your chai hot or iced?
*goes to brew some Indian Spice by Harney & Sons*
{Hmm...are C & S gonna kick us outta here for going OT? Hope not!}
It's nice to know that there's material out there countering the notion that 1 Corinthians 1-7 is opposed to marriage. Yes, it's true that Paul was responding to specific concerns of the Corinthians with attention to "the present distress." Consider, however, vv. 32-34:
But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
In my experience, these verses weigh much more heavily than 1-7 on those who are resistant to getting married. As opposed to vv. 1-7, they appear to state quite clearly that, regardless of concerns specific to one time and place, one can be more devoted to God if one remains unmarried, and surely that is better for a Christian. MacArthur barely touches on them here. What are we to do with them? Can they be read in a pro-marriage way?
(Note: I ask not as someone promoting the idea of remaining single, but rather as a man who wants to get married and is concerned that Christian young women are reading these verses and thinking that being holy in both body and spirit sounds a heck of a lot better than being concerned about the things of this world & how she may please her husband, and thus concluding that they shouldn't get married.
Dear gortexgrrl and dear all:
Allow me to respectfully disagree, as a Catholic. (An European Catholic, if you want to know. Also, English is not my mother tongue, so forgive me for any mistake).
It is not true that the Catholic Church teaches that celibacy is a higher calling, "more holy", than matrimony. In fact, in our sacraments, besides the initiation ones (baptism, chrism and eucharist) and the sacraments of the cure (reconciliation and the unction of the infirm), we have the two sacraments of Ordination and Matrimony. Equally holy sacraments. A sacrament is, for us, the visible sign of an important invisible reality. Matrimony is a holy calling, as holy as ordination. If it were not holy, it would not be a sacrament. Augustine and Jerome, and several other saints, were great believers, but not everything they write is considered a correct Church teaching. (I don't know if it is your case, but sometimes people confuse our belief that Scripture and Tradition are sources of what we belief and think we believe that everything written by a saint, a priest or even a pope, is a truth of faith. We do not believe that.)
Of course, shame associated with sexuality (not the "good shame", pudor, which leads to modesty and respect, but the "bad shame", which leads to guilt) is a distortion of what should be. The sexual union is a God-given symbol of the union of Christ and the Church, so we don't have to be careful with sex because it is dirty (it is not), but because it is a prefiguration of something holy.
As an aside, I don't believe the abuse scandals with priests are problems created by the "myth of celibacy". These problems arise from the human tendency to sin, and from the existence of pedophiles and efebophiles. Here in Europe, we have had several pedophilia scandals, not with priests, but with very rich, famous people. Is it because our priests are not celibate? No. I can tell you I know a lot of celibate priests and nuns (and laypersons) who live fulfilling lives and are virgins.
As another aside, I agree that the "eunuch" passage in the Gospel hints at the existence of some people who receive from God special gifts to live a celibate life. Like some people receive special gifts to live married life (we must not forget that God gave us, the ones called to marriage, a lot of gifts which we sometimes decide to stifle). I don't believe it is clear-cut, though.
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