The Holy Vocation of Singleness -- By: John Chapman

Journal: Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Volume: JBMW 05:2 (Fall 2000)
Article: The Holy Vocation of Singleness
Author: John Chapman


The Holy Vocation of Singleness

John Chapman

The Single Person In The Family Of God

Why Think about This Topic?

Everyone starts by being single. Some people remain single, and at least half of the married will end by being single again when their spouses die. This needs to be thought about and prepared for so that life is full and use-ful for the single person. How does a Christian think about and prepare for a full and useful life as a single person?

Temporary Dwellers

Before we begin, it is worth reminding ourselves that in this world we are temporary dwellers — aliens — and that our real citizenship is in heaven. In Philippians it is described like this: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body” (Phil. 3:20). A firm grasp of this truth will be helpful as we reflect on where our deepest affections should be.

When we settle down in this life as if this is all there is, as if we belong in this world, we will find all Kingdom decisions difficult to make. They may seem unfair and unreasonable. We may begin to think that, as Christians, we are deprived. Yet, in the light of heaven, nothing could be further away from the truth. We need to remind ourselves that now, in the world, the extension of the Kingdom of God and the spread of the Gospel are our highest priorities. When we take our place in the New Creation there will be time and opportunity to pursue everything that is good, which for the urgent sake of the Gospel as single people we set aside in this life.

The Bible Has a Positive Attitude to Singleness

I often was made to feel that being single was a drawback for a Christian. Yet, the Bible has a different attitude altogether. In answer to the question “Can a man divorce his wife for any reason at all?” Jesus says that he may do that only if adultery has been committed. The disciples are astonished by the answer and conclude that they had better be single and not marry at all if this is the case. To this Jesus replies “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it” (Matthew 19:11–12).

Being single, then, is affirmed by the Lord Jesus as a holy vocation — as a gift — given by God, “for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.” So, even though it is the norm for p...

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