Let me say at the outset… I love reading John Piper’s material! It challenges me, confronts me, comforts me, exhorts, encourages, and blesses me time and again. I do thank God for His work on/in/through this man’s life.
OK, now on to the reason for this post. I was reading Steve McCoy’s blog recently and was referred over to Justin Taylor’s blog, where I read a blurb about John Piper. Of course that led me to pop on over to Desiring God where I found this article, “Single in Christ: A Name Better Than Sons and Daughters.” I read it and began sending it out to everyone in my email list. As I was writing them, I realized I needed to write on this some more.
As I had written in my email, I initially planned to send this out to all the young single folks that I know (or at least have email addresses for), but as I was writing, I realized this message needed to go out to more than just them. This message needs to go to all who mentor and care for young single adults (as well as us older single adults…). As I said below, I’ve not heard this said in this way before, but boy am I glad it has been said and I believe it needs to be proclaimed more widely. Singleness is not to be thought of as something less than being married or a minor state to endure until marriage, and marriage is not the end all be all that the church (in my opinion) tends to promote. The church offers support for couples and marriage and family, leaving singles to suffer silently. The church may not openly acknowledge this, but the underlying current runs thus, “Get married and we’ll help you build your marriage, we’ll help you raise your family. Until then… well… don’t have sex.” But who’s helping and encouraging us IN our singleness, particularly (in light of Piper’s message) when it has just as great or greater implications for eternity?
I’m not saying we need another program! I’m rather tired of programs right now. I’m just asking for a reordering of thought and consideration for and word to the single believers among us.
All Things Elda 