In the church of our generation, I don't think it would be an overstatement to say that I have sensed an increasing value given to singleness. Perhaps the more open discussion about singleness in the church was a necessary correction. We should never dismiss that the Apostle Paul values the way that singleness can foster a greater degree of undivided devotion to the Lord for those who do not so easily "burn with passion." (1 Cor 7:6-9, 25-35).
The question I do want to ask is whether it is possible that the church in some instances has over-corrected. I'm not saying that there have not been helpful books to think through singleness. I'm not saying that we should ignore the value of singleness. I'm not saying that we should not have open dialogue about singleness. I am not saying we should not be thankful for singles in our church family. After all, we should remember that the church is not a family of families, but one big family of regenerate believers. Whether married or single, we are all a part of the most important family, the family of Christ.
We can, however, over-correct when we pursue the discussion about singleness in a disproportionate way that reduces the honor of marriage so frequently displayed in the bible. Marriage is the pinnacle display of human relationships and is to be seen this way by both married and single people. Marriage was created by God as the most intimate human relationship that any two humans (man and wife) can experience.
As our church comes to a series that focuses in on relational difficulties in marriage, we could be mistaken by being overly concerned about what our singles are going to do during these sermons. What's in it for them? A simple response to this question could easily be found in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 13:4a Let marriage be held in honor among all...
The author of Hebrews is making a clear statement that whether married or not, God's desire is that we all honor what he has originally created. There are good reasons for every person in the church to hold marriage (as God has designed it) with respect, dignity, and esteem to the highest degree. Marriage was always meant to be an ongoing human analogy of God's covenantal love for his people.
When God created marriage, it was not a novel idea that suddenly came to him as he formed Eve from Adam's side. All that God has designed in creation, was a part of God's eternal counsel to send The Son to redeem his people for his glory. Even before sin came into the world, the creation of marriage was an analogy of Christ redeeming the church in fulfillment of God's covenant love. Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. This verse pictures the way we leave our old life to cling to eternal life in Christ. It pictures the union we have with Christ that makes us one with him.
The Apostle Paul also recognizes our union with Christ by describing our oneness with him in a passage that warns us about sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:16-17 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Marriage is God's design to be the human display of covenantal intimacy with God in and through Christ. This is why Paul also boldly makes the biggest of all claims about marriage. Ephesians 5:31-32 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
As our church enters a series about relational difficulties in marriage, I would like to encourage our whole church, single and married alike, to approach it with prayerful anticipation. Together we will desire every marriage in our church to live out the intimacy of relationship that reflects the glorious union that all believers experience as we live out our lives as the bride of Christ.
We are calling this series, Marriage Unmentionables, because we desire to overcome every barrier in marriages to reflecting God's covenantal love for us. We seek our lips and lives to forever mention the glory of Christ.