Nonsense. I spent over twenty years as a Bible-Thumping Protestant, and one thing I know for sure: each and every one of them has to make excuses for why God doesn't follow their man-made doctrines born of philosophical mishandling of the Scriptures.
Furthermore, if celibacy is so contrary to Biblical teaching, why did Paul recommend it?
Furthermore, if celibacy is so contrary to Biblical teaching, why did Paul recommend it?
Is there something about *It is not good for man to be alone* that is too hard to understand?
If he recommended it, then why the criteria for elders and overseers and deacons that they be the husband of one wife.
That precludes a celibate clergy, if the concept of clergy can even really be found in the NT.
But based on your admitted history, not doubt you know that it's not.
Paul recommended it, yes, but only if they had the “gift” of being unmarried. The question posed to Paul is contained in verse 1.
If you read 1 Corinthians 7 in its plain context, that was exactly the point he was making. Some have the gift, others don’t. Verse 6 makes it clear he wasn’t commanding celibacy.
1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Paul’s point was it is better to be unmarried so that they could experience absolute devotion to God; but it was a gift: and not everyone had it because men and women have diverse gifts amoung them.
Unfortuanley, there is an entire priesthood of men that stuggle with their sexuality because they don’t have the gift, and they fall into the temptations of the flesh, making the cause of Christ an offense to many.
Let’s love each other by praying for each other to read God’s Word in its correct context.
That is what I meant by taking the Bible in the normal, plain, litteral, grammatical, and historical sense. God doesn’t want us to be confused by taking anything He says out of context.
I love you brother.
Furthermore, if celibacy is so contrary to Biblical teaching, why did Paul recommend it?
Paul recommended it for people who were not married by the time the entered the work of travelling and preaching the words of Jesus Christ. Working for the Lord in some cases is a demanding thing. If you are already married by that time, that’s fine, you aren’t going to get forced to end your marriage to pursue the celibate life from that point. Serving as a preacher, caretaker, and pursuing marriage simultaneously do not all work well together.
The myth, however, is that all priests are celibate. Some Eastern Catholic priests are not. The real issue is whether or not you are married before entering such service. If you enter the service, and remain in it as a priest, a monk, or nun, then this does not happen while you are in said service. However, if you are to leave the service, as some nuns have done, you can be married afterwards, or if you were married beforehand, you can stay married. As far as extenuating circumstances for those who cannot successfully find Mr. or Ms. wonderful to marry, you are supposed to be technically abstaining from sex except with your spouse, so going single means remaining celibate while single, unless you are going to commit the sin of fornication.
Celibacy for life is a conditional vow, you don’t have to take it, but if you take it and break it, you have broken your contract to God, and that is your business with him.
I have heard plenty of people mention how celibacy leads to being a pedophile, but decent work, and experiences of many will show you that it is incredibly rampant that a married man will live a double-life of molesting children while also being romantic to his wife. Sexual deviancy is complex, and it’s something that a great deal of people do well to cover up with marriage. Don’t believe me, well that does happen.