Be Like Paul? 1 Cor. 7:25-40

We are biting a big chunk from 1 Corinthians this week, but this passage is really one main thought. I believe that the major question Paul seems to be answering is: "As parents, what do we do about our single daughters?" His answer speaks to married & unmarried alike:

1 Corinthians 7:25-40 (The Message)
²⁵ The Master did not give explicit direction regarding virgins, but as one much experienced in the mercy of the Master and loyal to him all the way, you can trust my counsel. ²⁶ Because of the current pressures on us from all sides, I think it would probably be best to stay just as you are. ²⁷ Are you married? Stay married. Are you unmarried? Don’t get married. ²⁸ But there’s certainly no sin in getting married, whether you’re a virgin or not. All I am saying is that when you marry, you take on additional stress in an already stressful time, and I want to spare you if possible.

²⁹ I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple—in marriage, ³⁰ grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. ³¹ Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.

³² I want you to live as free of complications as possible. When you’re unmarried, you’re free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master. ³³ Marriage involves you in all the nuts and bolts of domestic life and in wanting to please your spouse, ³⁴ leading to so many more demands on your attention. The time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God. ³⁵ I’m trying to be helpful and make it as easy as possible for you, not make things harder. All I want is for you to be able to develop a way of life in which you can spend plenty of time together with the Master without a lot of distractions.

³⁶ If a man has a woman friend to whom he is loyal but never intended to marry, having decided to serve God as a “single,” and then changes his mind, deciding he should marry her, he should go ahead and marry. It’s no sin; it’s not even a “step down” from celibacy, as some say. ³⁷ On the other hand, if a man is comfortable in his decision for a single life in service to God and it’s entirely his own conviction and not imposed on him by others, he ought to stick with it. ³⁸ Marriage is spiritually and morally right and not inferior to singleness in any way, although as I indicated earlier, because of the times we live in, I do have pastoral reasons for encouraging singleness.

³⁹ A wife must stay with her husband as long as he lives. If he dies, she is free to marry anyone she chooses. She will, of course, want to marry a believer and have the blessing of the Master ⁴⁰ . By now you know that I think she’ll be better off staying single. The Master, in my opinion, thinks so, too.

A few questions:
1) What is this "present distress" or "current pressures" in verse 26?
2) Does Paul view Christ's coming as more immanent than we do? Is this a problem?
3) What are the benefits/drawbacks of marriage?
4) What are the benefits/drawbacks of singleness?
5) What is motivating Paul to recommend singleness?
6) Should we be doing more as a church to promote & celebrate singleness?

No "if only" Living - 1 Cor. 7:17-24

A big thanks to Ralph for teaching class last Sunday! I am sure that you were blessed as he shared his thoughts on this very difficult passage. I have been meditating on it for weeks now, and want to share some of my own questions:

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 (NLT)
¹⁷ Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

¹⁸ For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. ¹⁹ For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.

²⁰ Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. ²¹ Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. ²² And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.

²³ God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. ²⁴ Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.

When I read Paul’s writings, they either leave me scratching my head or holding my convicted heart. This passage does both – after my initial confusion I am awed and convicted. Does this really apply to me? I think it does – and I believe this applies to you too!

The questions that Paul raises are tough – and our answers will reveal our deepest longings.

Vs. 17 – Have I learned to be content with my current living situation?

Vs. 18 – Do I wish to reverse pre-conversion choices that I now regret?

Vs. 19 – What is the most important thing in life?

Vs. 20 – How should I live today?

Vs. 21-23 – Who do I belong to?

Vs. 24 – Must I remain in my current situation?

Ask yourselves these questions. Be very specific with your answers. We will discuss our thoughts on Sunday.

Iowa

In Iowa with Samaritan's Purse & BGEA Rapid Response Team!






Hello all!

I am in Iowa on a beautiful Tuesday. Today was our first full day out in the disaster areas. The Samaritan's Purse volunteers are hard at work cleaning out flooded homes (very similar to the Binghamton '06 flood). I hope that maybe a group from FCC will come back to Iowa with me for a week to do some manual labor in July. Anyone interested?

The chaplains (including yours truly) are meeting with affected homeowners and counseling and providing spiritual support. We do lots of listening, praying, and if the door opens - witnessing.
My partner-chaplain is Steve Frasier from near Los Angeles. Together, we have the West & East coasts covered.

On the plane yesterday I sat next to Katie, a young lady volunteering at a temporary animal shelter in Cedar Rapids. I was able to share the Gospel with her, and we had an awesome talk. Please pray for her, that God would keep softening her heart. I hope to keep in touch with her.

Lots happening. Please pray for the Iowans affected by these tornadoes and flooding. Pray for all the volunteers here working to make a difference. Pray that Christ will increase, and we will decrease!

Miss you all! Enjoy the pictures!!! Justin

Is the plane ready to take off yet?

Prairie Lakes Church is huge!

Awesome wireless cafe'!

Me with Steve Frasier en route to disaster area

Home just gutted by SP volunteers - this is our rental car

Lots of anger directed towards local gov't for protecting South Side but sinking the North Side by selective sandbagging