Jesus the Single Man

The Church has let single people down. Throughout its history. This week. Today. This coming sunday. Oftentimes, the churches that people actually attend are geared towards the families, the youth, the students or (and?) the older generation. The idea that single people would want to be part of the church seems to be actively misunderstood, if not deliberate. But this is so far from the core of real Jesus-following. I wrote about singleness before, and now I'm married my perspective has changed, but much of what I wrote there still stands.

Christianity, the world-changing, paradigm-shifting, sin-busting movement begun by Jesus is not against singleness. In fact, this radical religion was begun by a single Jewish rabbi. A single man who changed the world. So much of our culture - even our Christian culture - demands that we gather 'stuff' and get 'the relationship'. We are fed lies, or better-put, half truths. Jesus was radically different. Think of what Jesus said in Luke 9:58; "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head". Jesus didn't need 'stuff' to complete his mission. And whilst he had meaningful relationships, he was single for his earthly life.

Recently there was a furore about Jesus having a wife - according to one bit of papyrus. I blogged about that, because Jesus and wife are two words that are surprisingly linked but need to be correctly understood!

The mission of Jesus wasn't to alienate people - we already are, by our sin. Jesus came to set us free, to reconcile us to God. And a key part of this process results in the building of a family. That is what true Christianity looks like - a family. This family is called the Church, also called the bride of Christ. And in that family there is amazing relationship. Or, at least, there will be. In this world the church is as broken as any human organisation - but there is the hope of healing. The hope of the kingdom. And so the church should be a place where anyone in any state of relationship - or none- can come. And it should be. Because Jesus was a single man. With a great mission. For a great bride. 

This post is a bit rambling, because these thoughts are still forming. Its part of my 'Jesus' series, which I restarted recently with "Jesus the King". Thanks for reading.