WHY C E L I B A C Y ?

Well, Abstinence implies that you just need to wait.  HOLD ON until you gets     married. Then you can fulfill the (sexual) desires you feel.  And ONLY then will your life feel complete!  This line of thinking suggests that the married life is the only way to live a full (and fulfilled) life! BUT IT’S NOT.

 Chastity has implications for singles and married and again is defined by a period of ‘abstaining from’ for a season and/or certain reason.

 Virginity has to do more with a physical state than a spiritual one, and therefore is not ideal for Christians to have as their focus.

While CELIBACY might conger up images of nuns, monks, fulltime church staff (for Christian Churches) and also for you who— choose to live into God until He calls you into marriage.

So Why Be C E L I B A T E?

·        Sex is one of God’s creations – seen as good.

·        Sex is a sign of a unique oneness between a husband and wife

(a covenant).

·        Sex is also a sign of God’s radical fidelity and faithfulness to the Church.

 And while this isn’t the extent of the conversation, it’s typically where it ends.  That being the case, sex is often elevated to look like the ultimate expression of holiness, BUT IT’S NOT.

 CELIBACY is a way of making us available to God… and everyone else.

 The Coming of Jesus redefined the Choice of Intentional Radical Singleness!

 Jesus often asked His followers to leave their family to follow Him — in some ways elevating the ‘Church’ family over the biological family.

 Paul goes on to say that ‘it is even better to be single!’ (If you can)

 Contentment is a big theme of Paul’s.

 The Single Men & Women who choose to live fulltime into God would be cared for by the local church.

 Ultimately, Marriage and Singleness are BOTH viable options!

So what are the IMPLICATIONS for us today?

1.  We should place marriage and sex in proper perspective.

2.  We should give God our full attention, whether single or married.

3.  Choosing CELIBACY is more than enduring singleness.

4.  CELIBACY gives us insight into the inclusive and all-encompassing nature of God’s love.

5.  Christians can be free to marry, or not marry, without feeling pressured by the culture or church.

6.  Fulfillment comes from God alone and not another human.

7.  Singles have more freedoms, and flexibility, to serve God and go where He calls.

8.  Our hope lies in Christ and not in anything here on earth.

CELIBACY is about aligning our attention to God — whether single or married which will ultimately lead to the most fulfilling way of life possible… which means one doesn’t have to wait until they’re married to experience it!

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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