1 Family Preservation (5). The Demolition and Demotion of Marriage Seen in the violence against it Role confusion Divorce Living together (without.

1 Family Preservation (5)

The Demolition and Demotion of Marriage

Seen in the violence against it Role confusionDivorceLiving together (without marriage)Prostitution

Seen in Roman Catholic doctrine

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Roman Reasons Against Marriage For Priests

Doesn’t model Christ “By remaining celibate and devoting

themselves to the service of the Church, priests more closely model, configure themselves to, and consecrate themselves to Christ”

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(www.catholic.com/quickquestions/why-cant-a-priest-ever-marry)

The Truth The Lord’s purpose to come to earth was

not to get married and raise a family but to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10)

In saving the lost, His life was the ransom payment (Mk. 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6)

His mission had nothing to do with creating a physical family line (Lk. 3:8; Gal. 3:27-29)

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Roman Reasons Against Marriage For Priests

Doesn’t model Christ No marriage in heaven

“As Christ himself makes clear, none of us will be married in heaven (Mt 22:23–30). By remaining unmarried in this life, priests are more closely configured to the final, eschatological state that will be all of ours.”

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(www.catholic.com/quickquestions/why-cant-a-priest-ever-marry)

The Truth What proves too much proves nothing at

all! Why would some be required to be more

closely configured to that eschatological state than others (Acts 10:34, 35)?

Was Elijah more fit than Moses and Aaron (Matt. 17:3, 4)?

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Roman Reasons Against Marriage For Priests

Doesn’t model Christ No marriage in heaven Celibacy makes one less distracted

“Paul makes it very clear that remaining single allows one’s attention to be undivided in serving the Lord (1 Cor 7:32–35). He recommends celibacy to all (1 Cor 7:7)…”

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(www.catholic.com/quickquestions/why-cant-a-priest-ever-marry)

The Truth Paul had the right to marry (1 Cor. 9:5) 1 Corinthians 7 is not written to a separate

class of men known as “priests” If Paul recommends celibacy for all, then

why do Catholics only enforce it upon their clergy?

1 Corinthians 7 is written within a limited context of a “present distress” (7:26)

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The Truth The general teaching of Scripture is that

men are to marryGod thru Moses (Gen. 2:18, 24)God thru Solomon (Prov. 18:22)God thru Malachi (Mal. 2:15)God thru Jesus (Mk. 10:6-9; Jn. 2:1-11)God thru Paul (Eph. 5:25ff; 1 Tim. 4:1-3;

5:14; cf. Heb. 13:4)

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Roman Reasons Against Marriage For Priests

Doesn’t model Christ No marriage in heaven Celibacy makes one less distracted Church tradition opposes such

“Canon 1087 states: ‘Persons who are in holy orders invalidly attempt marriage.’”

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(www.catholic.com/quickquestions/why-cant-a-priest-ever-marry)

The Truth Tradition is exactly the problem!

Since the Second Lateran Council in 1139 any candidate for priestly duty has been required to take an oath of celibacy

What a contrast to 1 Cor. 9:5; etc.! Church tradition is never to trump Scripture

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The Truth All Christians are priests in the church

today (1 Pet. 2:1-9) Bible bishops were married men with

faithful children (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-9; cf. Mal. 2:15)

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Recap/Observations Care in rightly understanding the Scriptures

Danger in isolating statements from context Danger in seeking to make the Scripture agree

with tradition Marriage is honorable among all

God’s gift to man to enjoy Training ground for righteousness and

character Overseers of the church are to be married men

There is not a separate class of people in the church who serve as priests

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1 Peter 3:21, 22 (LO)

21 the antitype, immersion, does, also, now save us, (not putting away the filth of the flesh; but seeking of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

22 who, having gone into heaven, is at the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being subjected to him.

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