There are several Biblical witnesses regarding God's call to certain individuals to live celibate lives.

First, the prophet Jeremiah was told by God not to take a wife (Jeremiah 16:1, 2) because he was to live a life that illustrated the coming judgement of God upon rebellious Judah.

Second, Jesus taught about marriage and celibacy in Matthew 19:1-12. He did not encourage celibacy because marriage was flawed. Rather, celibacy was a choice that a person made in order to serve the kingdom of God (vv. 11, 12).

Third, the apostle Paul wrote of celibacy in 1 Corinthians 7:7, 8 where he spoke of his "gift" (charisma) as one from God. But he also recognized that each of us has "his own gift, one in this manner and another in that." In other words, to be married is also a gift of grace.

Many writers distinguish between "celibacy" and "singleness." A single person may be single because he/she has not met "the right one." Their singleness is not used primarily as time for service to God but rather describes their present condition.

Celibacy is rather a conscious decision to live for the service of God without the other attachments of human life: spouse and children. It is not a decision based on hatred of men, women, or children, but rather based on love to Christ.

You asked if there are people who have this gift today. The answer is yes. Probably most of them are serving in the Roman Catholic tradition. A person sensing the Lord is giving him/her this gift should seek counsel to make sure that such a decision is not being made out of a wounded heart but rather out of the gift that the Holy Spirit has given.

Doug Beacham
Executive Director
Church Education Ministries

Last update on 7/30/07
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