Recent reading and thoughts...
Sunday 27 May 2007
Ok folks, I've just made a similar post in my own blog but i felt it was appropriate enough to post here too! I have just finished reading 'Sex God' by Rob Bell wich according to the subtitle 'explores the endless connections between sexuality and spirituality'. It's an excellent read with Rob Bell's unique and creative style of writing, and ability to draw so much context and depth from Scripture.
One thing he writes about is singleness which resonated a lot with a conversation i had recently with a friend. Have you ever been chatting with someone who you maybe haven't seen in a while and they say to you 'well any girlfriends?' (or boyfriends, if that's your preference!). I have no problem with that question, and more often than not over the last 5 years my answer is 'No'! It's what sometimes happens next that i find frustrating. Their facial expression will change and their head will tilt a little to the side and they will say something like 'Ach well, sure it'll happen sometime!' Words of pity, as if my life is in some way incomplete or unfulfilled - it kinda makes me mad!
Rob Bell talks about this:'It's possible for destructive messages to be sent to people who are single. That they are second class, less than, that they don't fit, that they should find someone, get married, and join the rest of us who are "normal."
I meet people and their life revolves around finding a man/woman. They feel incomplete and believe their life will only really begin when they meet someone and get married. The sad thing is that God has a plan for their life NOW and they are completely missing out on it. I'm not saying relationships are wrong, on the contrary i think relationships are good, but being single is good too. I can't accept the view that one status is better than the other, they are just different. What do you think???
If you are single, and you've been sent messages or it's been hinted at or even said to your face that you are somehow missing something, that you aren't good enough, that you don't fit in - that is not true. It's not just that you're fine single. The premise of the Scriptures is that you are able to connect with God and serve God in ways that those who are married can't. The tilt is for being single, not away from it.'
By the way, Rob Bell is speaking at Spires Conference Centre in Belfast on 12th June as part of his 'Calling all Peacemakers' tour. Click here for further info. Note that tickets can be purchased from Wesley Owen bookstore without having to pay the online £2 booking fee.
3 comments:
I agree aswell! I think that when you have somebody, you depend on them, and not God. At the end of the day, when you're tried and need someone to talk to, you depend on them and not God. I think that relationships aren't the best thing when you're so young like we are. It makes your passion for God fade. But when you only have one person in your life to passionately love, you do it with all your heart so that Jesus is the centre of everything.
Without doubt many of the people who make a ‘big’ impact in our society are single. The passion that fuels their drive to get things done and make a difference is not quenched by the demands of children or in-laws or partners. It is unfortunate that this is often overlooked by those who think that successes or happiness is only found in marriage.
agree 100%, i read once about how important singles are in the Church - think about how many things single people can help with that those with families cant! there is a time for everything - a time to be single and a time to be married. but why rush to get married if God isnt done with you being single yet?