Paul the Playboy? by Steve Watters on 09/08/2006 at 10:00 AM

"Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry."

This opening scripture from 1 Corinthians 7 has taken on a life of its own in the past few years. I've been amazed at the frequency in which it gets referenced in articles and conversations. It makes me wonder if we are in the midst of a revival of people who want to emulate Paul when he says, "I wish that all men were as I am." Does it mean that there are a lot of singles who are ready to live like Paul "in undivided devotion to the Lord"? Are we going to see more and more singles follow the celibate model that Dr. Al Mohler describes as "forgoing the pleasures of sex, the companionship of marriage and the blessings of children, and without being bitter about it?"

If that's true, the current surge in the Christian single population could be pointing to a great revival. We could be seeing a spike in ministry work of all types -- but especially the kind best done by those who don't have the responsibility of marriage and family.

Unfortunately, in our postmodern times, the greater reality seems to be a growing number of people who aren't necessarily taking on the full mantle of Paul, but just enough of his comments to provide a fig leaf for a very different kind of single lifestyle. Recently, a Christian girl here in Colorado Springs told me about her breakup from a Christian guy. After dating for a couple of years and even "struggling with sexual temptations", the guy said he wasn't ready to get married and even pointed to Paul's scripture as reason his choice represented the spiritual highground. 

This should not be. Paul clearly did not date and have physical relationships with other Christians. He was not Paul the Playboy. Paul understood the power of the sexual drive God gave men and that's why he followed, "It is good for a man not to marry," by saying, "But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband."

Thank God for men and women who have been called to sacrifice the benefits of marriage in order to be fully expended in God's service. In appreciation for their sacrifice, let us not tolerate the use of Paul's words as a means for singles to enjoy the sexual and companionship perks of marriage without having to take on the responsibilities that go with them.

Paul the Playboy? by Steve Watters on 09/08/2006 at 10:00 AM

"Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry."

This opening scripture from 1 Corinthians 7 has taken on a life of its own in the past few years. I've been amazed at the frequency in which it gets referenced in articles and conversations. It makes me wonder if we are in the midst of a revival of people who want to emulate Paul when he says, "I wish that all men were as I am." Does it mean that there are a lot of singles who are ready to live like Paul "in undivided devotion to the Lord"? Are we going to see more and more singles follow the celibate model that Dr. Al Mohler describes as "forgoing the pleasures of sex, the companionship of marriage and the blessings of children, and without being bitter about it?"

If that's true, the current surge in the Christian single population could be pointing to a great revival. We could be seeing a spike in ministry work of all types -- but especially the kind best done by those who don't have the responsibility of marriage and family.

Unfortunately, in our postmodern times, the greater reality seems to be a growing number of people who aren't necessarily taking on the full mantle of Paul, but just enough of his comments to provide a fig leaf for a very different kind of single lifestyle. Recently, a Christian girl here in Colorado Springs told me about her breakup from a Christian guy. After dating for a couple of years and even "struggling with sexual temptations", the guy said he wasn't ready to get married and even pointed to Paul's scripture as reason his choice represented the spiritual highground. 

This should not be. Paul clearly did not date and have physical relationships with other Christians. He was not Paul the Playboy. Paul understood the power of the sexual drive God gave men and that's why he followed, "It is good for a man not to marry," by saying, "But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband."

Thank God for men and women who have been called to sacrifice the benefits of marriage in order to be fully expended in God's service. In appreciation for their sacrifice, let us not tolerate the use of Paul's words as a means for singles to enjoy the sexual and companionship perks of marriage without having to take on the responsibilities that go with them.