There’s no way I’ll be able to completely recreate my original post that was lost, but here’s a quicker attempt to at least get the nuts & bolts out there.

I need to correct some misinformation I put forth in my post from yesterday.

First, here’s the link to the audio of Dr. Mohler’s speech that started the debate. I have not listened to it, but I plan to this weekend. I should have done that and also read the other links in totality before I leaped to certain conclusions in my post.

Second, the Christianity Today article was a response to that speech.

Third, the links to Mohler, that I said were his speech, were actually his rebuttal to the CT article. They are here and here.

Where I went wrong was from reading the essay at The Internet Monk, where Michael Spencer used a quote from Part Two of Mohler’s response prior to his excerpts of the CT article. I had an incorrect impression of what Mohler and Courtney were saying in context. Having read Mohler’s complete response, I felt that I needed to clear this up.

That said, I still stand by my assertion that his idea of “deliberate” singleness is wrong and hurtful and shows a lack of true understanding of where singles really are coming from and dealing with in life. I can’t think of any single people I know that have ever said that they chose to remain single for one reason or another.

I was encouraged somewhat by his closing remarks…

Sensitivity demands that we understand the grief, frustration, and concern of Christian young adults struggling with this issue. They are the inheritors of a culture that has minimized marriage and has sent mixed messages concerning sex, gender, marriage, and all the rest. The full biblical vision of marriage was not, in the main, held before them from their earliest years at home, and was not encouraged and enriched as they grew through adolescence into adulthood. Many of them--especially many young women--feel victimized by this pattern, and they are frustrated by the reality.

Now is the time for the church to take this conversation to the next level. This generation of Christian young adults has the opportunity to seize the moment, reverse cultural trends, and show their elders the glory of marriage as God intended it from the beginning.

He lost me a bit this this last bit, though…

I stand by my argument--renewed in this conviction even by the controversy that has followed. At the same time, I’m going to be a good bit more careful to make clear that young men must accept most of the blame for this situation. I will also remind these young men that, armed with a biblical mandate and fueled by Christian passion, they can also be the vanguard for recovery. So, thanks to Camerin Courtney for her article, and to all those who have followed with responses. Let’s keep this conversation going, and encourage each other to pursue God’s glory in every dimension of our lives--and to settle for nothing less.

I’m not convinced that marriage is for everyone. Nor am I convinced that the church should be continuing to teach that marriage is the ideal for Christians. That just adds to the “less than” mentality that already exists in the minds of Christians regarding singleness. Rather, as has been said already, the church should be encouraging general growth in faith. If marriage happens, then great. If it doesn’t happen, then that’s fine, too. We, as individuals, should be primarily focused on growing in the grace and wisdom of God and in serving Him as He wills, not on finding a mate.

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1. Paging Mr. Right. Mr. Right to the front reception desk to see Ms. Jen. Paging Mr. Right. We need your immediate presence.

   Posted by  on  03/11/05  at  11:51 AM

2. Well, said!!!! (Your last paragraph)

   Question:  Was Mary & Martha married?

   They lived with their brother.  I really don’t think there is any mention of whether they were or not. HMMMM

   Posted by  on  03/11/05  at  12:28 PM

3. I take my lead from the Apostle Paul:

   “Now to the unmarried and wodows 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.”

   I Cor. 7:8-9

   and,

   “But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.”

   I Cor. 7:28

   Posted by  on  03/11/05  at  12:36 PM

4. Denis - I was going to employ the “wall” smiley, but he needs to be added still.

   Sandi, thanks. I’ve wondered about Mary and Martha. Mary Magdelene wasn’t married either as far as I know.

   Uncle Bill, exactly.

   Posted by  on  03/11/05  at  01:22 PM

5. I have heard Dr. Mohler speak at the MBC (Missouri Baptist Convention) he is good friends with my pastor.  I may bend my pastors ear about this subject sometime.

   Posted by Michael Morgan  on  03/11/05  at  07:10 PM

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