Monday, April 7, 2008

protestant celibacy

In Corinthians, Paul clearly states that both the married and celibate life are valid states in which to serve the Lord.

Roman Catholics require priests be celibate. I think that is clearly against the teachings of Scripture, but we Protestants fall off on the other side of the ditch--it is difficult for the unmarried to serve in Protestant churches.

If a single man is applying for a pastorate, we would much prefer that he would be married. If he is over the age of 35, it is probably a requirement. A single woman might get put in charge of childcare at a megachurch. We have no monasteries, no convents--where do the Protestant celibates go to serve God? Are there any Protestant celibates?

In Christendom only Eastern Orthodox have found a balance between valuing celibacy and marriage. You can be a priest and be married, but to be a bishop, you must be single.

5 comments:

Jason G. said...

That's not a balance. The requirement of being single to be a bishop is every bit as unbiblical as the Catholics requiring priests to be celibate.

I don't know where the celibate's have a place in protestant Christianity, but the problem is not so much the celibateness as the person. Most Christians that I meet who are celibate (and are not widowers, etc.) are just plain weird. That is not to say, however, that all celibate christians are weird. Just that I haven't met one who isn't too weird to be a pastor or whatever.

Jason G. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Xen Scott said...

What? We are neglecting a Scriptural mandate because we think those called to celibacy are weird?

You could have made (and maybe still can) make a similar argument about black people. "I don't think African Americans as a whole are less intelligent than whites, it's just that I've never met one I would want to hire."

Xen Scott said...

Oh, by the way, I'm fine with saying that the Orthodox are incorrect in requiring bishops to be celibate--my point is that they are the only arm of Christendom to have a place for both celibates and married to minister.

Maybe all the "non-weird" celibates are in Orthodoxy and Catholicism.

Jason G. said...

Maybe, or more likely you're just wrong.