A little blog from an upstart theologian that will do its best to exemplify Christ while sharing a thing or two along the way.
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| Preachin's Blog A little blog from an upstart theologian that will do its best to exemplify Christ while sharing a thing or two along the way. |
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Monday, July 12, 2004 On Christian SinglenessGood heavens! What has come over me? Two posts about singleness is under a week! Well something came up on theOoze today about Christian Women are Manhunters?. Pretty good question I guess. The issue of an "over sexed" culture contributing to early marriages and the desire for women to be married quickly came up and here's my response: Our culture has so inundated us with sexual propaganda and the traditional Christian response has been less than adequate at best (though I find the abstinence commitment cards a great movement that have, unfortunately lacked the congregational support needed.) It is a major contributing factor at most Christian colleges and universities that a repressed sexuality has led to many quick marriages, many of which are consummated before the nuptials hint, hint..wink, wink. Then if you make it through undergrad work without a spousal candidate you are thrust into a church culture that doesn't really know what to do with you other than relentlessly prod you with questions about why you are not married (some will wonder aloud whether you are chaste...or pursuing a hetrosexual life) and always pointing to the sexual benefits of marriage first. That last point is usually overlooked, but I think its the most sublime. Everyone of my married, male Christian friends has made it a point at some time or the other to make me aware that their blessed union is great because of sex. It screws with my head....I can only imagine what women talk about since they are stimulated differently than men. Our whole culture needs to undergo a massive shift in its thinking and operations in regards to singles. I have been engaged in the cultural battle over sexuality for 25 years now (okay the first 6 years weren't that hard to deal with...) and have been doing pretty well in winning my personal war. Granted not all battles have been won readily, some skirmishes have been lost, but I believe I am on my way to winning the war with God's grace and mercy. In these 25 years I've learned how to avoid ambushes and sudden sackings of peaceful villages. The last place I need to have to deal with some matter is at church for pities sake, yet it happens. The pressure for marriage is intense at times. I've been able to slough it off with little remonstration, but being a "preacher-boy" getting ready to finish seminary the pressure is being applied a bit more. The overtly sexual culture in which we live is not helpful for a chaste, holistic Christian single-life. Many of my friends got married young because they needed to break out of that culture. Some have continued to be married to this day and are happy with their spouses, a few have fallen away from that marriage bond. At my undergrad institution the first words out the guy at our opening session of freshman orientation were: "I met my wife here at LU...and you are to meet your spouse here." From that point on a culture of repressed sexual desire spread across the campus. I mean it was college and these kids are all young and stuff...then spring came and... Like I said, our whole Christian culture has to change to keep this from being a major factor. Yet if it doesn't that isn't an excuse for anyone to act improperly. God's grace and mercy can always defeat any snare of the enemy. posted by Preachin Jesus | 11:23 AM | |
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