Comments on: “It is not good for man to be alone”: A Theological look at Singleness http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/06/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:21:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: sgmen31 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/06/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-821 sgmen31 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 17:04:16 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/2007/06/11/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-821 First, I am a category 2) type male and I lean more toward a Complementarian point of view then an Egalitarian point but if I meet a woman who feels she's been led by God to pastor a flock and all signs indicate her life bears fruit then I do question which way is the more correct way. I would seem to me that God calls and uses those he needs and maybe the men just haven't stood up enough in certain areas like Russian where many woman pastored and led over the years because there weren't men around to do so. As for being single I live with it. In all honestly, I got married at 27 and was divorced before my 30th birthday because I was only like "5" years old when I married. I was god....and I had a resume to prove it. No marriage can last with two gods in one house and you know the rest of the story. I'm just growing up now (maybe I'll be 20 soon...smile) and I am dating but I will wait on him to provide at age 40. However, I am resolved to the fact that if I don't meet anyone then it is God's plan for me and I need to accept it which is not easy to do. Also, I agree with the above post that not all women have (my words) nurturing qualities and some can in fact lead and so forth. God Bless to all this Father's Day! Stan First, I am a category 2) type male and I lean more toward a
Complementarian point of view then an Egalitarian point but
if I meet a woman who feels she’s been led by God to pastor a
flock and all signs indicate her life bears fruit then I do question
which way is the more correct way. I would seem to me that God calls
and uses those he needs and maybe the men just haven’t stood up
enough in certain areas like Russian where many woman pastored and led
over the years because there weren’t men around to do so.

As for being single I live with it. In all honestly, I got married at 27 and was
divorced before my 30th birthday because I was only like “5″ years old when
I married. I was god….and I had a resume to prove it. No marriage can last
with two gods in one house and you know the rest of the story.

I’m just growing up now (maybe I’ll be 20 soon…smile) and I am dating but
I will wait on him to provide at age 40. However, I am resolved to the fact
that if I don’t meet anyone then it is God’s plan for me and I need to accept it
which is not easy to do.

Also, I agree with the above post that not all women have (my words)
nurturing qualities and some can in fact lead and so forth.

God Bless to all this Father’s Day!

Stan

]]> By: RussBob http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/06/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-818 RussBob Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:13:00 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/2007/06/11/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-818 In some ways, I also believe this issue is related to the Christian sub-culture that you have discussed recently. I know my church experience is certainly different than for couples. I can identify with Sara's comments from the standpoint that family, church and culture in general (especially the Christian sub-culture) has a tendency to look down on singles in the church. Many churches and 'singles groups' focus on preparing for marriage, meeting other people, etc. and not so much on developing character and gifts that God has given us. I think this shows up in youth groups too. (Not sure how you approached your single groups Michael, just making a general statement here). Quite frankly, it can get depressing even going to church and visiting family. The church actually reinforces a need and expectation to be married. I also find that this 'pressure' does get to many singles in the church and they force relationships which do not end up going well. Anyway, just my perspective. In some ways, I also believe this issue is related to the Christian sub-culture
that you have discussed recently. I know my church experience is
certainly different than for couples. I can identify with Sara’s comments
from the standpoint that family, church and culture in general
(especially the Christian sub-culture) has a tendency to look down on
singles in the church. Many churches and ’singles groups’ focus on
preparing for marriage, meeting other people, etc. and not so much on
developing character and gifts that God has given us. I think this
shows up in youth groups too. (Not sure how
you approached your single groups Michael, just making a general
statement here). Quite frankly, it can get depressing even going to church
and visiting family. The church actually reinforces a need and
expectation to be married. I also find that this ‘pressure’ does get to many
singles in the church and they force relationships which do not end
up going well. Anyway, just my perspective.

]]> By: Sara http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/06/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-819 Sara Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:26:48 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/2007/06/11/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-819 I don't agree 100% with the complementary view due to the fact that there are always some people who don't feel as if they fit into the general charateristics of their gender, and this feeling often stems from the unique traits that God gave them. Telling them to deny those traits would be erasing the reason God felt compelled to give them to them (such as certain women who are completely turned of by acts of nurturing, but feel compelled to take positions of leadership where they are able to better fulfill the gifts God gave them). But I'm a horrible person to argue against complementarism because I am very comfortable with being a woman, and I do feel fulfillment by taking care of my students who range from being 2 to 35 years of age (with a great deal of my 20-30 years olds acting like 2 year olds!). I'm very grateful for the post, for I am making the cross over from the early-twenties-and-happy-about-being-single to the mid-twenties-and-getting-depressed-about-being-single. I keep needing a reminder that being single (especially being a Christian single) may just be a gift in itself. If only I could find a way to covince everyone at church, and my mother, this... I don’t agree 100% with the complementary view due to the fact that there are always some people who don’t feel as if they fit into the general charateristics of their gender, and this feeling often stems from the unique traits that God gave them. Telling them to deny those traits would be erasing the reason God felt compelled to give them to them (such as certain women who are completely turned of by acts of nurturing, but feel compelled to take positions of leadership where they are able to better fulfill the gifts God gave them).

But I’m a horrible person to argue against complementarism because I am very comfortable with being a woman, and I do feel fulfillment by taking care of my students who range from being 2 to 35 years of age (with a great deal of my 20-30 years olds acting like 2 year olds!). I’m very grateful for the post, for I am making the cross over from the early-twenties-and-happy-about-being-single to the mid-twenties-and-getting-depressed-about-being-single. I keep needing a reminder that being single (especially being a Christian single) may just be a gift in itself. If only I could find a way to covince everyone at church, and my mother, this…

]]> By: C Michael Patton http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/06/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-820 C Michael Patton Wed, 13 Jun 2007 06:18:34 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/2007/06/11/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-820 You bet. Thanks for the response. You bet. Thanks for the response.

]]> By: Threepwood http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/06/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-817 Threepwood Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:05:59 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/2007/06/11/it-is-not-good-for-man-to-be-alone-the-dignity-of-singleness/#comment-817 This is a great subject to bring up. I am also a "complementarian" (didn't know the word before.) and have often wondered why in the recent decades it is that the whole "equality", especially with women's lib, issue has been so vehimently argued. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that women can vote and have equal status, they are part of humanity as well. But to go so far as to say that women can do everything that men can do and visa-versa? I have always appreciated that the two genders are different. Men can't give birth. Likewise women in general, won't be as strong as men. Etc. etc. Each contribute to society. If we didn't have one, it would be unbalanced. Thanks for this. This is a great subject to bring up. I am also a “complementarian” (didn’t know the word before.) and have often wondered why in the recent decades it is that the whole “equality”, especially with women’s lib, issue has been so vehimently argued. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that women can vote and have equal status, they are part of humanity as well. But to go so far as to say that women can do everything that men can do and visa-versa? I have always appreciated that the two genders are different.
Men can’t give birth. Likewise women in general, won’t be as strong as men. Etc. etc. Each contribute to society. If we didn’t have one, it would be unbalanced. Thanks for this.

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