Single or married?

[InChrist]

The Bible also speaks about "tearing eye out"
"English Standard Version
And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire."

Interesting, people who exhibit Bible verses rarely mention "tear out your own eye". They do instruct others what to do, but not this particular one

Some language in the Bible is used to strongly make a point, but clearly not meant to be taken literally.

 

[stvdv]

The Bible says we are to go forth and be fruitful, multiply the earth with humans

Reality check gives us 50+% divorce rate in USA. I think Jesus didn't want Christians to put that one on their "To Do" list, and definitely not 50%

First things first, IMHO:
Follow 10 Commandments (no divorce, adultery and other violent stuff), and then go and multiply if one can't control the urge, as the Bible indeed says that celibate life is a good alternative to "multiply life".

And in this order we get a peaceful world...first straighten out our own vices, only then start multiplying (having sex and kids)

And above all, I let others make their own "To Do" List. Whether or not others want to multiply is none of my concerns. I need all my efforts to perfect my self, no time to worry what others should (not) do

 

[stvdv]

Some language in the Bible is used to strongly make a point, but clearly not meant to be taken literally.

Exactly my point...multiply need not be taken too literal.

 

[InChrist]

Exactly my point...multiply need not be taken too literal.

Yes, I think you are correct. Although, the scriptures indicate God instructed the human race in general to multiply, each person and their situation is unique.

 

[Kenny]

The Bible says we are to go forth and be fruitful, multiply the earth with humans! When I was in the Pentecostal church, men who wanted to preach could not take on a church unless they were married.y sister says churches don't have as many single groups as they use to.

This woman on youtube who use to be a Hare Krishna said her Ashram would only allow women to do 2 things, live in the ashram or be married.

So my question for Christians and other religions is does the church and other religions support singles as they should?

If someone wants to remain single... it is their right. It doesn't increase or decrease God's love for them or the faith and authority God gives them.

 

[lukethethird]

The Apostle Paul was single, among others mentioned in the Bible.

I rest my case.

 

[stvdv]

Yes, I think you are correct. Although, the scriptures indicate God instructed the human race in general to multiply, each person and their situation is unique.

I think human could figure that one out for themselves, that they were going to multiply, and how to do that. Obviously, they can't control their urge, as we multiplied already from 2(according to many believers) into billions

I think God meant to give us a warning with His phrase "go and multiply", and the warning be "don't overdo it...that multiplying thing"

When God speaks to you, better watch out, He doesn't always speak literal, and might sometimes say the opposite. Even I do this. My neighbor always likes to do the opposite of what I say. Seeing that, I tell him now "go left" if I mean right.. that works perfectly, he always goes right

Same with sex. God knew we would indulge in it, so he didn't say "don't have too much sex", He just gave a hint "populate the earth". Turns out we still overdo it, and "over populate". And even now, some still want to spread the word "breed more"

 

[Quintessence]

but what does that mean?

What does it mean to be taken seriously?

For starters, for others to not second guess your ability to take care of yourself and make your own decisions. That's been under attack in my country with women's rights being stripped away.

 

[Misunderstood]

This is true. However, the bible says it's better to marry than burn in your lust. We are supposed to go forth and have babies and replenish the earth.

I think the New Testament supports single persons, as much as it supports married people. If you go up one verse and read verse 8 along with verse 9, it seems to me he prefers you to be single. Only if you are going to burn with lust does he feel you should be married.

"But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."

 

[Trailblazer]

Only if you are going to burn with lust does he feel you should be married.

"But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."

Thanks for those verses....
I am a widow and I want to remarry, but maybe I don't need to since there is no danger I will ever burn with lust, since I have no interest in sex. I would like to get married for companionship only but men expect sex even at my age, which I consider absurd.

 

[Misunderstood]

Well if you do not feel you will burn with lust, I think you are free to do as you like. Which I feel is OK anyway. I think he is just saying, he feels it best to stay single, but if you feel you need a spouse and would be unhappy if you don't have one. Go ahead and find someone you feel compatible with.

 

[Trailblazer]

Well if you do not feel you will burn with lust, I think you are free to do as you like. Which I feel is OK anyway. I think he is just saying, he feels it best to stay single, but if you feel you need a spouse and would be unhappy if you don't have one. Go ahead and find someone you feel compatible with.

I wonder why he says it is best to stay single. Is it because he assumes all married people have sex and it is better not to have sex?

 

[Misunderstood]

No, I don't think so. The bible has not been against sex in marriage for the most part. I think he feels he could do more by working for the Lord without having to care for a family also. He could stay more focused.

Now that is my opinion, so don't go quoting me, saying Paul thinks this or that on what I posted here. The Bible verses are his words, so you can quote that. I am in no way a prophet, just a plain ole confused man..

 

[Trailblazer]

New No, I don't think so. The bible has not been against sex in marriage for the most part. I think he feels he could do more by working for the Lord without having to care for a family also. He could stay more focused.

There is some truth to that if you are talking about raising a family, but a married couple with no children might be able to do more service work for God than a single person alone. At my age there are not going to be children so if I found a man who shared my religion we could be spiritual help-mates to each other and serve God together. That is really what I am interested in, although I could also use a handyman and a landscaper. I am sure I am asking for too much but if it was God's will it could happen.

 

[Alien826]

Follow 10 Commandments (no divorce, adultary and other violent stuff), and then go and multiply if one can't control the urge, as the Bible indeed says that celibate life is a good alternative to "multiply life".

I don't think the authors of these verses ever envisaged a situation where there were so many humans that it endangered the ecosystem itself. And why should they? Back then the problem was not having enough surviving children.

That's yet another reason why the Bible should not be taken too literally, or in this case a commandment for one time should not be assumed to be for all times.

And a silly question. Do infants have as much fun in infancy as adults have in adultery?

 

[Alien826]

Thanks for those verses....
I am a widow and I want to remarry, but maybe I don't need to since there is no danger I will ever burn with lust, since I have no interest in sex. I would like to get married for companionship only but men expect sex even at my age, which I consider absurd.

I've been lustful all my life, but never to the point of bursting into flame.

Absurd that we old farts still feel horny, or that we expect old women to feel horny too? The reality is of course that in both cases, some do and some don't. And I feel strongly that we should be perfectly clear about our needs when meeting potential partners. It's going to be difficult enough without starting off with an unidentified mismatch.

 

[Revoltingest]

Not to derail the thread, but the title remind
me of "No Census, No Feeling" from 1940....

 

[Trailblazer]

I've been lustful all my life, but never to the point of bursting into flame.

Absurd that we old farts still feel horny, or that we expect old women to feel horny too? The reality is of course that in both cases, some do and some don't. And I feel strongly that we should be perfectly clear about our needs when meeting potential partners. It's going to be difficult enough without starting off with an unidentified mismatch.

Sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone.... I believe in live and let live, and if people still have sexual desire in old age and can perform, go for it! The thing is that after menopause the hormones in women decline, but they don't decline as much in men so there is kind of a mismatch. Nevertheless, many women still want sex in older age and even if the physical desire is not there the ability still is, and there might be a psychological desire. However, there may be no desire in the woman, and that puts women in a very difficult position when almost all men want sex, no matter how old they are.

Yes, I agree that this needs to be discussed, especially if a couple is considering marriage. It's going to be difficult enough without starting off as it is when people are older and settled in their ways.

Here is an interesting article I dug up. Please bear in mind that this is everyone over 50. I think the percentages would change after 60, 70, or 80.

Sex at 50-Plus: What's Normal? - Older Married Couples, Having Sex ...

31 percent of couples have sex several times a week; 28 percent of couples have sex a couple of times a month; and 8 percent of couples have sex once a month. Sadly — or so we thought — 33 percent of respondents said they rarely or never have sex. But even among couples who report being "extremely happy," an astonishing one-fourth rarely or never get it on.

 

[Trailblazer]

The bible has not been against sex in marriage for the most part.

But the Bible is against sex outside of marriage and in spite of that most Christians have sex outside of marriage.
What do you think of that?

 

[GardenLady]

We are supposed to go forth and have babies and replenish the earth.

Replenish? In 1900, the human population was about 1.6B; now it's 8B. That's more than a four-fold increase in 123 years. I wouldn't be surprised if some day people go to war for potable water because of excess population.