It's Time for the Church to Embrace Singleness.

"Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another." - 1 Corinthians 7:6-7

There is a certain stigma when it comes to being single. As a soc

iety, we can't help but think that there is something wrong with a person because he or she can't find a partner in life. We often think, consciously or subconsciously, that just because a member in our church doesn't have a wife or a husband, that his or her life is somehow incomplete.

As someone who comes from a mixture of cultures, being a Filipino-Canadian Seventh-day Adventist Christian, I can attest to this sentiment. Sure, different cultures have their own unique views on singleness but in the larger scheme, singleness is viewed as a lonely journey.

And the truth of the matter is we as a church reflect such mentality even when we don't realize it.

It shouldn't be. We shouldn't be.

Yes, I know that we have allotted one Sabbath in a year for the singles to lead the church in worship. And on those Sabbaths, we often preach about how living the single life is beneficial or how singles have untapped potential when it comes to ministry. However, official programs aside, we often hold these views as temporary, with marriage being the ultimate goal for every person. We often display through our words and actions that the benefits of singleness are but for a time and they somehow won't be as effective as that famous couple who do a lot for the church.

Just hear me out.

Do we often think twice before asking a person why he or she doesn't have any special someone? Are we sensitive to the words we say about them finding someone to complete them? Do we reflect on how our teasing and attempts to hook them up with others affect their view of living as a single? Do we foster the sense of affirming God's call for them to be single? Do we have any sort of support systems for these individuals or do we leave them to fend for themselves?

Yes, we may preach on the pulpit that only Christ can fulfill our lives but if we continue to be insensitive in our dealings and teachings about singleness, then those verbal messages won't reach far.

My plea is that we as a church, whatever each of our marital status may be, embrace the beauty of being called to a life of singleness. Let us reflect in our words and actions that only Christ can fulfill the desires of our hearts. Let us not view singleness as a temporary step towards a greater life with a partner, but as a potential calling from God to impact the lives of others in and out of the church. Let us be sensitive to the words we say to the singles in our churches or the actions that we display around them.

Singleness is a divine calling, let the Body of Christ embrace this gift and privilege that it is.