Welcoming Singles Into Your Church by E. Metaxas via Gina Dalfonzo
(Link): Welcoming Singles Into Your Church by E. Metaxas via Gina Dalfonzo
Excerpt
… Many churches today “don’t know what to do with the single and childless,” Gina notes. “While churches offer couples’ weekends to strengthen marriages, and Ultimate Frisbee games for families, many are not able to offer much help, or opportunities for service for the singles in their congregation.”
And sadly, fellow Christians, sometimes unknowingly, make singles feel as if they themselves are to blame for their unmarried state. That somehow if they haven’t tied the knot yet, they must be too self-centered, or too picky, or too focused on their career.
The truth is many singles deeply desire and pray for marriage.
The list of reasons for why they haven’t married are many. Many churches have far more single women than men, and relationship fads have dramatically shifted in the past decade, even resulting in Christian singles being afraid to talk to each other.
At the end of the day, Gina says, “so many of us who desire marriage and children simply don’t manage to get there.”
Of course, there are those who have been married, but through death or divorce find themselves single again, against their wishes.
So, what should the church do to ensure that singles are every bit as much a part of the life of the church as married folks?
First, we should stop thinking about singles as projects to be “fixed;” but rather as “fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, making the journey through life alongside the rest of the congregation. They’re dealing with a set of circumstances (too). . .” even if different than our own.
Second, we must embrace the fact that not everyone in our congregations is going to marry— and that the New Testament has a high view of the state of singleness. Some of the greatest saints in Heaven never tied the knot, or lived most of their days as singles.
Here are a few suggestions for serving the singles in your congregation: find ways to celebrate career achievements or athletic accomplishments — just as we throw showers for women expecting babies, or for couples marking their 50th anniversary. Invite singles for an after-church meal, even if — Heaven forbid! — it means you’ll have an unequal number of guests.
Another great idea is to make sure singles have resources to get the help they need when the car is in the shop (offer a ride), or when they need a handyman, or help with taxes—things couples usually help each other with.
Related Posts:
(Link): Really, It’s Okay To Be Single – In order to protect marriage, we should be careful not to denigrate singleness – by Peter Chin
(Link): Stop Telling Your Single Friends to Try Dating Sites – Please.
(Link): Unmarried and Undaunted by G. Dalfonzo
(Link): Are Single People the Lepers of Today’s Church? by Gina Dalfonzo
(Link): Adult Singles Do Not Need A Marital Partner to Be Whole or Complete
(Link): You Will Be Ignored After Your Spouse Dies
(Link): Family as “The” Backbone of Society?
(Link): Singleness Is Not A Gift
(Link): ‘Why Are You Single’ Lists That Do Not Pathologize Singles by Bella DePaulo
(Link): Five Things Single Women Hate to Hear
(Link): Pew for One: How Is the Church Responding to Growing Number of Singles?
(Link): Another Obnoxious ‘Why You’re Not Married Yet‘ Article
(Link): Responding to the Cliche’ ‘Jesus Is All You Need’ – Christian never married lonely single
(Link): Jesus Christ Removed the Stigma, Shame From Being Single and Childless – by David Instone Brewer
(Link): Statistics Show Single Adults Now Outnumber Married Adults in the United States (2014)
(Link): Singles Shaming at The Vintage church in Raleigh – Singlehood Shaming / Celibate and Virgin Shaming
(Link): Lies The Church Tells Single Women (by Sue Bohlin)
(Link): Responding to the Cliche’ “Jesus Is All You Need” – Re Christian Singles
(Link): List of Christian Singlehood Annoyances, Part 1
