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[547.66 --> 553.36] And the church's view on singleness in that light is a problem. |
[553.36 --> 556.54] There's a ripple effect to this mindset. |
[556.54 --> 567.12] In the book Singled Out, authors Cologne and Field, they suggest that this anti-single mindset within the church, it's causing all sorts of problems. |
[567.12 --> 571.94] Especially when relating it to people who have been divorced or people who struggle with homosexuality. |
[572.46 --> 574.54] They say in this book, these authors, they say this. |
[574.54 --> 585.14] Rather than being seen as a wonderful opportunity to serve God, celibacy is repeatedly seen as not only second best, but also a guarantee of an unfulfilled and miserable life. |
[585.50 --> 598.66] How do we expect those who struggle with homosexuality or those recovering from divorce to see celibacy as a positive option when it is not seen as a valued alternative for other singles? |
[598.66 --> 606.44] Now today we don't have time to look at the homosexuality or the divorce discussion, sadly. |
[607.30 --> 611.70] But that quote highlights the Western church's view on singleness very well. |
[612.08 --> 614.62] Marriage is viewed as the preferred lifestyle within the church. |
[614.94 --> 616.76] And singleness is lamentable. |
[616.92 --> 618.40] Something that we need to solve. |
[618.70 --> 621.02] Something that we need to fix. |
[622.88 --> 625.02] But the Bible says otherwise. |
[625.68 --> 627.38] Just look at what Paul says in our text today. |
[627.38 --> 634.94] Whittled down to the tiniest of sentences, Paul basically says that it's cool to get married, but it might be more beneficial to remain single. |
[636.54 --> 638.00] So why does Paul say that? |
[640.20 --> 645.86] You'll notice in our text that Paul writes of an impending crisis, which he mentions right at the top in verse 26. |
[646.54 --> 654.08] He says to this church, in order to live free of distractions during this crisis, it would be better to remain single. |
[654.08 --> 657.56] So what crisis is Paul speaking of? |
[659.18 --> 662.26] Sadly, the truth is no one's absolutely certain. |
[662.82 --> 669.18] Historically, though, a huge famine came over the whole Mediterranean area pretty soon after Paul wrote this letter. |
[669.62 --> 671.18] So many people think it could be that. |
[671.58 --> 675.90] It's possible that Paul is referencing pagan culture in general in the area, |
[675.90 --> 679.56] or maybe something else specific to the Corinth church that we don't know about. |
[680.86 --> 687.36] Scholars also believe, and I tend to land on this too, that Paul could be speaking about Christ's second coming. |
[687.70 --> 691.56] Where Christ will come to judge those too distracted to follow them. |
[692.16 --> 696.52] And if you read verses 29 to 31, and especially verse 31 in our text, |
[696.90 --> 700.72] it does seem like Paul's speaking of Christ's second coming. |
[700.72 --> 706.82] T. Wright, a scholar, he says this, and I think most scholars believe this, |
[707.36 --> 710.80] Paul is referring both to this immediate crisis, |
[711.18 --> 714.58] and to the fact that it points forward to the ultimate crisis, |
[715.12 --> 716.50] the time of the Lord's return. |
[717.14 --> 720.40] So even if the current crisis suddenly passes, let's say it was a famine, |
[720.70 --> 722.58] even if the current crisis suddenly passes, |
[722.84 --> 726.72] if wonderful crops and plentiful food again flood the markets of Corinth, |
[726.72 --> 731.86] and everywhere else, there will still be the final crisis to face. |
[733.94 --> 736.80] Now if that's the case, and again most scholars believe that, |
[737.16 --> 740.88] then Paul's point of singleness cannot be squarely meant |
[740.88 --> 744.26] about a crisis that only Corinth was to face. |
[745.40 --> 748.18] But it's for all of us, the whole church, |
[748.56 --> 751.22] who await Christ's second coming. |
[751.22 --> 754.10] And so Paul says that in light of this famine, |
[754.28 --> 756.72] and with the knowledge of Christ's second coming at hand, |
[757.04 --> 761.38] it is better for us all to remain without distraction. |
[763.14 --> 765.68] And while getting married is all fine and well, |
[767.14 --> 769.70] remaining single is best. |
[772.90 --> 775.26] It becomes easy then to read this text |
[775.26 --> 777.40] and assume that Paul might be anti-marriage. |
[777.40 --> 779.68] But earlier in this very chapter, |
[780.38 --> 782.86] in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 2 to 5, |
[782.92 --> 784.14] if you've got your Bibles, you can read that, |
[784.22 --> 786.56] Paul speaks about how two should become one. |
[787.04 --> 788.24] In other letters Paul writes, |
[788.32 --> 789.96] he gives instructions for healthy marriages, |
[790.12 --> 792.46] like in Colossians 3 or Ephesians 5 |
[792.46 --> 794.70] or 1 Timothy 2 or Titus 2. |
[795.50 --> 797.14] The apostle Peter, Paul's buddy, |
[797.46 --> 799.96] he also speaks to healthy marriages in 1 Peter 2. |
[800.12 --> 802.96] And God himself ordains marriage |
[802.96 --> 805.38] right at the beginning of time in Genesis 2. |
[805.38 --> 808.48] So the Bible very clearly shows us |
[808.48 --> 810.42] that marriage matters to Paul, |
[810.86 --> 811.80] it matters to Peter, |
[811.98 --> 814.30] and it matters to God himself. |
[815.48 --> 817.22] But in this passage today, |
[817.46 --> 818.54] Paul teaches us |
[818.54 --> 823.52] that being single matters too. |
[826.52 --> 828.82] Some view this passage in 1 Corinthians |
[828.82 --> 830.14] as a calling for us, |
[830.32 --> 832.84] for us all to strive toward celibacy. |
[832.84 --> 834.08] However, as mentioned above, |
[834.18 --> 835.98] if we look at marriage through the lens of Scripture, |
[836.20 --> 837.58] that cannot be the case. |
[838.48 --> 839.86] However, the flip is also true. |
[839.96 --> 840.68] Some look at this |
[840.68 --> 843.16] and are guilty of simply brushing Paul's message off here |
[843.16 --> 844.38] as simply contextual, |
[844.58 --> 845.88] only for the people of Corinth |
[845.88 --> 848.10] because they have this crisis they have to get through. |
[849.62 --> 851.80] Both of those interpretations fall short. |
[852.80 --> 855.08] If we read 1 Corinthians 7 here |
[855.08 --> 858.48] in conjunction with what Jesus teaches in Matthew 19, |
[858.48 --> 861.04] we see that both Paul and Jesus |
[861.04 --> 862.68] get at the same thing. |
[863.98 --> 866.28] In Matthew 19, verses 10 to 12, |
[866.72 --> 868.88] which again, feel free to open your Bibles and turn to, |
[869.38 --> 870.90] Jesus is telling his disciples |
[870.90 --> 874.32] that not all are called to get married |
[874.32 --> 877.60] and that some specifically are called |
[877.60 --> 879.44] to remain single. |
[879.44 --> 883.66] Paul echoes that in this passage. |
[883.78 --> 884.54] He is teaching us |
[884.54 --> 886.58] that we all need to be |
[886.58 --> 890.36] undividedly devoted to God. |
[893.04 --> 894.76] Back to this Corinthians passage. |
[895.16 --> 896.62] Four times in this text, |
[897.04 --> 899.80] Paul uses the Greek term merimnau, |
[900.04 --> 903.38] which I had YouTube teach me how to say properly |
[903.38 --> 905.58] so that I wouldn't look foolish in front of all of you. |
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