Sexuality and the Christian Single |
Written by admin |
Monday, 08 August 2011 07:17 |
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own: you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.
There are all sorts of single people. Some are young and some are old. There are single people who have never married, others are widowed, separated or divorced. Some are too young to be married, some are actively looking for a partner, and some have turned down marriage proposals while some have never been asked. Some long for marriage. Others do not. There are single people who are virgins and those who are not, some of whom have been involved in sexual relationships outside marriage.
Every single person has a unique history and individual needs, but all have in common a sexuality which is integral to their very nature. It brings about certain physical drives and desires .While popular culture, movies, radio, and television often treat sex outside marriage as a normal and even desirable part of life, this does not mean that it is right. Sex outside marriage is very powerful destructive force and always hurts someone. First it hurts God because it goes against his commandments and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Second, it hurts us. Sex outside marriage is often accompanied by emotional distress, guilt, regret, heartbreak and other repercussions like destructive relationships, diseases to our bodies, and unplanned pregnancies. It deeply affects our personalities, making us enslaved to our desires. It also violates the commitment which is necessary in a relationship. So what then is the single person expected to do about their sexual feelings?
The best example to follow is Jesus whose life models abstinence. Paul also was celibate and he called on those who could to emulate him, or otherwise get married because sex was created by God to be a part of marriage. “Now to the unmarried and widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” Corinthians 7: 8-9.People are expected to be in control of their bodies and to discipline their mind and bodies in accordance to what they know is right. This is what separates us from other animals which rely on instinct. As Paul wrote “You should learn to control your body in a holy and honourable way, not in passionate lust like the heathens”. (Thessalonians 4:5)
Christians are also expected to set an example for others and not be hypocritical. “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV)
It is not easy for some to remain celibate. However we should consider it a worthy sacrifice to the Lord. Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)
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