Currently Playing Fiddler on the Roof [30th Anniversary Edition] By Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Topol *Chava Ballet Sequence* see related

The time has come, said the walrus to...

        ...change my screen name.  I'm trying out a new one, chavala2 (pronounced havala)--let me know what you think...

Well, I'd better start moving and getting all that stuff that I need to do done.

Currently Playing Songs By Rich Mullins *creed* see related

I just listened to an audio interview in which Al Mohler and Joshua Harris spoke.  Al Mohler (who I hadn't heard of previously) said some things that came off a bit strong.

  1)  Being an adult necessarily entails marriage (this was stated as a Biblical mandate).  Therefore, unmarried adults (say mid-twenties and above) are being irresponsible and immature. [This is excepting those who are given the gift of celibacy, which Mohler said was limited to a few, and was characterized by being able to control and not be distracted by sexual desire]

   2) Congregations in churches, as the family of believers that they are, should be in the role of "holy matchmakers," that is, encouraging singles to get married, and confronting the said singles in the congregation if they are not married.

These two statements (which appeared to be the basis for his position) troubled me because they are true (note the little "t") in a sense, but can be taken too far.  Sure marriage is in God's plan (ie. "be fruitful and multiply"), but does that necessarily entail that because I'm 20 and unattached that I'm in defiance of God's holy mandate? Maybe my own personal example is a stretch, but what about women--and men--I know who are not irresponsible, or immature, or with the gift of celibacy [as per Mohler's description]?  Secondly, yes, the church is a family, and yes, there are some people who do need that kind of encouragement and admonition... but I'm afraid of a bunch of "Aunt Mildreds" * going around making single guys and girls--who are trying to be content with the situation that God has them in at the moment--discontent.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not against marriage. At all! (ask my close friends...lol) But, I'm not in that position right now.  Right now I'm called to accept my singleness as a gift--an opportunity to really build my focus on God.  A lot of people that I know are in that position as well.  They aren't being immature or irresponsible.  They are following what they believe is God's leading for their life as of right now.  Who knows how long, exactly this will last? God's will, in His perfect timing, may not be for them to be married in their twenties, but it also may be that.  In the meantime it doesn't seem that following what Mohler says will be very edifying to these individuals; rather, it seems like it has the ability to nurture discontent.

[Check out November 13th's entry to get a better idea of what I'm trying to say]

*name changed to protect the guilty...lol

Currently Playing Share the Well By Caedmon's Call see related

The pleasure of history, like art or music or literature, consists of an expansion of the experience of being alive, which is what education is largely about.   (David McCullough)

Do you agree/disagree? What do you think?

[for further background/context, click the quote]