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