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[255.84 --> 258.86] This man also does the right thing.
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[260.30 --> 261.20] So then.
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[262.06 --> 264.24] He who marries the virgin does right.
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[265.24 --> 267.14] But he who does not marry her.
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[267.92 --> 268.56] Does better.
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[269.94 --> 270.94] The word of the Lord.
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[272.32 --> 274.26] That is a fascinating text.
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[274.34 --> 274.72] Isn't it?
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[275.38 --> 275.82] Fascinating.
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[276.84 --> 282.86] Now quality biblically based literature on the topic of Christian singleness is hard to find.
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[282.96 --> 284.28] If you go to Indigo Books.
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[284.52 --> 286.42] Or you search on Amazon.ca.
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[286.94 --> 289.70] About books on being a Christian single.
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[290.06 --> 292.46] You'll find that the subject seems to go one of two directions.
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[293.42 --> 296.00] You're either going to find books that say that marriage is the worst.
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[296.10 --> 297.98] And you should do everything in your way not to get married.
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[298.28 --> 302.64] Or you're going to find a sort of meat market self-help book.
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[302.64 --> 305.80] On quick and easy formulas to find that perfect mate.
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[307.06 --> 308.42] The problem is.
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[309.60 --> 312.44] Neither of those options really get to the heart.
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[312.86 --> 314.62] Of what it means to be single.
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[314.86 --> 315.92] And a Christ follower.
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[315.92 --> 322.08] Now admittedly there's actually not a ton in the Bible on Christian singleness.
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[322.56 --> 323.98] There's the passage we just read.
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[324.46 --> 326.58] And there's a section in Matthew 19.
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[326.90 --> 328.20] That actually talks about divorce.
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[328.30 --> 329.84] But talks about singleness as well.
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[329.98 --> 331.72] And we'll touch on that a little bit later.
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[331.72 --> 336.18] But singleness is a very complex topic in the church.
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[336.30 --> 340.40] And it's a focal point of many conversations that I personally have end up having.
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[340.56 --> 344.94] So what does it mean to be single in the church today?
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[346.48 --> 349.44] Is singleness desired by God?
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[349.44 --> 353.84] Before we dig too deeply into these questions.
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[353.84 --> 355.60] We need to define a few terms.
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[355.78 --> 359.02] Now there's three words that I'd like to sort of solidify our understanding.
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[359.16 --> 363.10] Or at least come to a conclusion or unanimous conclusion to what they mean.
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[363.16 --> 364.14] Those three words are this.
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[364.80 --> 365.90] Virginity or virgin.
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[366.98 --> 368.26] Celibacy or celibate.
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[368.98 --> 370.18] And single or singleness.
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[371.24 --> 372.66] So virgin or virginity.
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[372.80 --> 373.66] It's found in the Bible.
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[373.74 --> 375.90] And it's often referencing women.
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[376.06 --> 377.02] But also men.
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[377.02 --> 382.36] And it's most often used in the Bible to qualify the unmarried person.
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[383.02 --> 384.56] Like it does in our text today.
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[385.72 --> 388.30] The word celibate or celibacy then.
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[388.70 --> 393.40] Is a term that's used to describe someone who has chosen to remain single.
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[393.86 --> 395.80] Now that posture of choice is very important.
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[396.20 --> 399.08] If someone is celibate or they are practicing celibacy.
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[399.28 --> 401.84] They have chosen to remain single.
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[402.94 --> 405.86] To be single or singleness however.
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[405.86 --> 408.14] Is not a matter of one's choosing.
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[408.68 --> 413.04] It's simply the word used to define those who are unmarried.
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[413.88 --> 416.18] It's sort of the new way of saying virgin in the Bible.
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[416.30 --> 418.38] So celibacy is choosing to be single.
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[418.70 --> 421.28] Being single is simply being single.
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[421.50 --> 422.28] That's the difference there.
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[422.32 --> 422.84] Does that make sense?
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[423.10 --> 423.80] A few head nods.
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[424.08 --> 424.50] We're following.
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[424.60 --> 424.98] Because that's going to be.
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[425.04 --> 426.14] I'm going to be using these words a lot.
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[426.26 --> 426.68] So if we're.
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[426.76 --> 427.70] We got a track with those.
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[428.06 --> 428.30] Perfect.
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[428.30 --> 431.00] Now there's a fascinating comparison.
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[431.12 --> 434.76] Between the contemporary cultural view of these words.
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[435.08 --> 436.88] And the church's view of these words.
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[437.78 --> 439.18] In western culture today.
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[439.28 --> 439.88] Think about this.
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[440.04 --> 442.92] Singleness is viewed with respect.
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[443.92 --> 446.84] People are getting married later and later in life in our culture.
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[446.84 --> 450.52] And generally the idea of looking out for number one.
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[450.62 --> 451.50] Looking out for yourself.
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[451.70 --> 453.68] Still reigns very true in our culture.
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[454.34 --> 458.38] The strong, independent, I need no one else person.
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[458.66 --> 462.74] Is very, very much valued in our world today.
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[463.98 --> 465.82] However, though that part is true.
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[466.40 --> 469.86] Remaining single is praised in our contemporary culture.
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[469.86 --> 474.36] However, celibacy or virginity is not.
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[475.16 --> 477.30] Just watch any sitcom on TV.
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[480.22 --> 484.24] Our culture views virginity as something that needs to be done away with.
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[484.32 --> 485.64] Something that needs to be lost.
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[486.80 --> 489.14] And if you choose a life of celibacy.
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[489.94 --> 494.00] Well, you are weirder than an ostrich in a swimsuit.
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[496.30 --> 498.48] In western culture, single is good.
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[498.48 --> 503.82] But celibate or virgin is bad.
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[505.72 --> 508.20] In the church, though, in a very broad sense.
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[509.28 --> 511.52] We kind of have the exact opposite feeling.
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[511.98 --> 514.82] We, if you're unmarried, we praise you for being a virgin.
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[514.96 --> 516.44] We praise you for that.
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[516.64 --> 518.64] Because that's what the Bible says.
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[518.72 --> 519.38] We applaud that.
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[519.46 --> 520.24] We encourage that.
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[520.28 --> 520.84] And that's good.
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[521.16 --> 525.46] Yet in the church, for some reason, singleness is not praised.
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[525.46 --> 533.62] Marriage is still pushed on people to the point where singleness is seen as undervalued and not worth pursuing.
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[534.38 --> 541.60] In many Christians' eyes, remaining single well into one's 30s or beyond is a problem that needs solving.
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[541.60 --> 547.66] Not an opportunity to serve God in a multitude of unique ways.
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