Dr. MacArthur and singleness

As I said, I read 2 sermons called "Reasons for Remaining Single" by Dr. John MacArthur. Dr. MacArthur is is the preacher of Grace Community Church in LA and is also head of Grace to You Ministry. You can reach his ministry at gty.org. These sermons were both found at Grace to You website and the link to the sermons will appear at the bottom of the post.

Dr. MacArthur gave 5 points for remaining single. The points are:

1. Pressure of the System
2. Problems of the Flesh
3. Passing of the World
4. Preoccupation of the Married
5. Permanence of the Union

Before I start, I want to ensure that Dr. MacArthur is not saying that marriage is bad or is a sin. I want everyone to know that I do believe the same. He also stresses that in these sermons that these are the reasons for people called to be single. Paul in is not saying that all should be single but only the called. If a person that is called to remain single marries, that person does not sin. More to come in the 5th reason.

Pressure of the System:

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:26 the first reason to remain single. Paul writes, "I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is "(ESV). Dr. MacArthur tells us that because of the current problems. Distress in Greek in anagken, Dr MacArthur thinks the secondary meaning of anagken, which also means violence, is a better translation. He believes that the violence was so great that Paul wanted people to remain single. MacArthur uses the example of Paul and what if Paul had a wife and kids. If Paul had a wife and kids, just think of the thoughts of them. When Paul left would the see their husband/father ever again. MacArthur stresses that this for people called to be singled. MacArthur writes, "You see in the violence of the world in which Paul lived, marriage was a terrible encumbrance to somebody who was a Christian--at least in the sense of the ministry that he had."(pg 4)

I would agree with MacArthur. Paul's ministry would have been challenged by having a wife and kids. We see what happen to Paul in Acts, just think that Jesus said that people will hate us because they hated Christ. Look at the people in Africa or South America that are killed by guerrillas and other militant groups. They are killing Christians, now just think if you had a wife and kids back home or even with you. You would be worried about them but if you are called to remain single and are advancing the kingdom that is one less problem to deal with.

Problem of the Flesh:

The second reason to remain single come is verse 28 and that reason is problems in the flesh. Verse 28 of 1 Corinthians is "But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. (ESV)" MacArthur expresses that "humanness in marriage that makes for trouble. Even though the Holy Spirit wants perfect unity, humanness creates problems."(pg 7) That is the problem, get a couple of sinners together and problems will arise, at more sinners and then you have a recipe of disaster. MacArthur also says that marriage does not solve problems, it only magnifies them. Again that is if you have the gift of singleness. MacArthur does state that the only problem marriage solves is being obedient to God's will.

Passing of the World:

Guess what, this world is going to gone soon and there is nothing you can do about. Also, there are no marriages in heaven. Paul is telling us in verses 29-31 that the end of the world in near. "This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)" MacArthur stresses that Paul is telling the Corinthians to not get attach to the stuff that will pass away when the world ends to include marriage. Jesus tells us in Mark 12:25, "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (ESV)" This is Jesus' answer to the Sadducees about their question about a women marring 7 brother and which one will she marry in heaven (Mark 12:18-27). MacArthur is urging singles with the gift of singleness to not marry and deal with a worldly relationship. This also allows them to devote themselves to God.

Preoccupation of the Married:

Paul writes in verses 32 through 35, "I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. (ESV)" MacArthur writes on pg 4 of part 2, "There are certain cares that just encumber your mind when you're married. A married man must concentrate on things concerning his wife. A single unmarried, verse 32 says, cares for the things that belong to the Lord how he may please the Lord. Now this is potential, people. It doesn't mean that every single person is totally devoted to Jesus. It's just that he has the potential for that total devotion. There is an undistractedness that comes in the life of an unmarried person. He has only really one set of cares and that is his relation to the Lord. The married person has a divided set of cares, the Lord and his family." I think that explains it will enough. A single guy with me can devote much time to the Lord. I think even if some is called to be married, the time to serve the Lord is when you are single. I can pretty much go where the Lord needs me and help. MacArthur shows an example from Luke 14. It is that a married man could not follow Jesus because he was married. Marriage hinders a full devotion to God because you want to please your partner.

Permanence of the Union:

Permanence, what? Paul tells all in verses 39, "A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. (ESV)" A marriage lasts until one dies or the end of the world, which ever comes first. If a married person feels that he needs to be single, he must wait until his wife dies before he can do what he was called. Marriage is a long-term haul that only God separate and not be considered sin. Divorcing your wife because God wanted you to remain single in not a valid reason. In modern day vows, it is till death do us part. There no playing around when you get married. If you have the gift of singleness and are married, you have not sin but you can not divorce because of it. So before one gets married, one must figure out if he/she is called to remain single or to married.

My comments:

I learned a lot about being single. I want to stress that this is just a study and in no why do I think I have the gift of singleness. As I read more and more of the sermon, the more and more I notice that it was not my calling. I do not quite agree with Dr. MacArthur say that violence is another word for distress. But he also has study Greek and I have not so I can not say if he is right or not.

Points 1, 2, and 3 are part 1 of the 2 part series. You can read it here. Points 4 and 5 are the second part and you can get that here.