1 Family Preservation (5)

The Demolition and Demotion of Marriage Seen in the violence against it  Role confusion  Divorce  Living together (without marriage)  Prostitution Seen in Roman Catholic doctrine 2

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” 3 ( 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) 4

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.” 5 ( 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)? 6

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)…” 7 ( 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) 8

The Truth The general teaching of Scripture is that men are to marry  God 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) 9

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.’” 10 ( 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 11

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) 12

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 13

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. 14