Singleness and The Christian. What Did Jesus Do? -Further. Every. Day Further. Every. Day.

Singleness and The Christian. What Did Jesus Do?

How did Christ live His life? Are we commanded to marry? What does the Bible demand of the single individual? Does a spouse “complete” you?

Introduction

Theology: How Did Christ Live His Life?

Philosophy: What is the Purpose of Marriage?

Culture: What pressures are on the individual to marry?

Politics: How does singleness provide opportunities for one to serve the Lord with more focus?

Economics: Millennials and Gen Z are avoiding marriage, but many are even avoiding relationships and sex. How does the economic reasoning reveal the motivations of these generations and how we as a culture have failed to inculcate selflessness?

Theology Segment: Was Jesus Married? Was He Single?

We'll address the content of these articles:
https://bib.irr.org/how-do-we-know-jesus-was-not-married
https://www.gotquestions.org/why-didnt-Jesus-marry.html



Through innuendo, many have claimed that Christ was married to Mary Magdalene. The Burden of Proof resides on these people as there are no eye witnesses claiming such a wife. (The Davinci Code styled theories have less Historical evidence than the Lochness Monster, and by that we mean 0 evidence, only wild conjecture and Christian Fan Fiction in the form of the 2nd Century Gospel of Mary or 3rd Century Gospel of Phillip, neither written by the proposed authors)


We have 2 genealogies of Christ, and neither mention His Children, a common occurrence from marital intimacy.


Jesus was here on a mission that would leave a widow: Isaiah 52:13-53:12, 1 Peter 1:19-20, and Luke 18:31-33. He gave the duty of a son to care for His mother to John. Why would He not do something similar to His widow?


Such a widow would have been idolized and very likely been a salient feature in the Church, yet we only hear of other women like Pricilla and likely Junia.


Such a relationship, where two become one flesh would likely compete with Christ's meticulously prepared image of His Bridegroom of the Church. The Church is His Bride, not a hypothetical 1st century wife with no evidence to her existence.



Philosophy: What is the Purpose of Marriage? Can one fulfill God's Purpose as a Single?

God has 3 purposes for Marriage:


Companionship


Procreation/Discipleship


Glorious Purpose in Image Bearing



Obviously Companionship is at the heart of romance and marriage. But there is something interesting in the soul of the human heart that longs for a specific relationship, that which results in creating a new life. This facilitates not only the creation of a new life, but also the chain reaction resulting in biological and spiritual drive to disciple and protect the new life. In all of this, there is a Glorious Purpose in that we are a reflection of our Creator, creating life and nurturing it, as He does every day.
Can a Single Person be a part of this image and fulfill this as Single? In short, yes, but in a different way. We as Singles are obligated to spend time discipling others. In such, we can experience a different sort of Companionship (with Christ as we can only successfully disciple when in communion with Him). We also see a different type of duplication or discipleship with the unbeliever, or newer believer. In such actions, we may carry out our Glorious Purpose in Image Bearing Christ to the world and other believers.
So yes, yes you can be effective for Christ as a Single. In fact it's required of you.

Culture: Should the Church Pressure Kids to Get Married?

What is happening in our culture in regards to marriage?

From BGSU: “The U.S. marriage rate (the number of women's marriages per 1,000 unmarried women 15 years and older) is the lowest it has been in over a century at 31.1—that is, roughly 31 marriages per 1,000 unmarried women.
• The marriage rate was highest
in 1920 at 92.3.
• Since 1970, the marriage rate
has declined by almost 60%”
https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/college-of-arts-and-sciences/NCFMR/