There, I polled it (a special edition of the "There, I said it" series)

[banzai]

Because I see variations of this all over, all the time...

Poll God and The One
If you have Scripture references or another basis for your belief (or any additional thoughts on the topic at all), please feel free to share that in a comment.

Edit: Just realized it's going to drive me nuts if people choose the "Scriptural basis" option for one of the affirmative

Comments

[chestnutcurls]

If God promised a mate for everyone, I Corinthians 7:6-9 wouldn't make sense. So no, I don't believe that. But I've been reading a lot lately about how the tide has turned a little too much toward the "gift of singleness" in Christian culture, and I agree. It seems like few people hold a moderate view on the topic anymore. :P I believe there are people who have the gift of singleness, but we shouldn't all be encouraged to accept that as the norm. I still believe marriage should be the norm. God built a desire for marriage into us, and I think in most cases He provides for that desire.

[banzai]

It'd be great if those who were single exercised that gift as long as they have it for the Kingdom. That's so often not what even churches are encouraging, though, and like any gift, it gets gross when turned inward.

As you can tell, I'm not sold on singleness always being a "permanent" gift, though it certainly can be. I may be wrong about that, but such a view dispels competition between singleness and marriage-you use the gift you have at the time for the Kingdom, rather than either using it just for your own good or spending your energy longing for the other one. But it's an interpretation issue and one I hold loosely.

[chestnutcurls]

Good thoughts.

[33shadow]

I agree, and was also thinking of that passage in 1 Corinthians 7. Too many people focus only on finding a mate and getting out of their single state, instead of figuring out how best to serve God while they are single, and allowing Him to introduce their mate at the right time & place. It's more exciting when you're not looking and God introduces someone!

[skenoma]

I checked for "a Scriptural basis" because I cannot recall any verse or passage in which a promise is made that some (definitely not all) have a mate planned for them from God. Scripture says it's better not to marry, but if you cannot control yourself, marry. I was surprised when I read that those who marry will have troubles in life! Anyway --> 1 Corinthians 7. That's all I can think of.

[banzai]

That's pretty much where I am, too. We'll certainly desire and even hope for things that God hasn't specifically promised, and we're encouraged to ask our Abba for them in Christ's name. But God's promises are "faith's checkbook," as Spurgeon said, and they're where our hopes ultimately must rest.

Wanting and asking is part of our freedom, and even our duty, but without a promise from God, I'd no sooner speak with certainty about a future mate than to declare someone healed who I wanted Him to make well. The latter is clearly off-base, but Christians seem far too accepting of the former. Our faith must be informed by His promises, not by our wishes.

I do not lack romance.

[dondlion]

I've only met one person in my whole, rapidly lengthening life who I am sure had the 'gift of singleness.'

I keep things simple. I'm supposed to glorify God today. Today I am single. I should glorify God as a single person today.

I don't want to be single, but I figure that God is protecting women from the like of me out of respect for His mother, as the Catholics like to call her. I always think, when reminded that married people will have trouble in this life, that single people will also have trouble in this life, but are less likely to have anyone pick them up when they fall. I have absolutely no idea how all of this works, but I have a dead woman and a couple of dysfunctional women in my past to convince me that I don't understand anything but pain and perseverance. Just today my ex-sort-of-girlfriend's mother told me I lack romance, to which I replied, "What're you talking about? I'm full of romance. Just look at me right now. I'm dreaming beautiful, romantic things! I couldn't be more romantic than this!" Then I

Re: I do not lack romance. PS

[dondlion]

Yes, they are working me too hard.

Re: I do not lack romance.

[banzai]

I'll always be in favor of agreeing with me.

Re: I do not lack romance.

[dondlion]

Your mom sends me checks.

[ex_physician553]

I think the whole "finding a wife for Isaac" story in Genesis makes it pretty clear that God has a mate for at least some people.

[banzai]

Absolutely. It's whether God's made a promise to/for anyone that I question.

And really, that's not even what initially gave rise to my question. I often notice people making reference to "the one God has for you/me/her/him" with great certainty and gusto. For me to have that level of confidence, I'd need God to have made a promise in which I was resting. Without that, on what does my certainty rest? And if there's no promise, do we have any business committing God to a future course of action?

Welcome aboard!

[ex_physician553]

Thanks for the welcome!

I'm of the school that if you and your mate choose each other, based on God's qualities/priorities, He will certainly bless the union.

That whole "God has someone out there just for you" stuff is more romance than scripture, in my book. You make the right choice, for the right reasons, and God makes that person the ONE JUST FOR YOU.

But I'm not about to say this view is theology or anything - just observation.

[jmcphers]

Yeah, exactly. Indeed, God's promise to Abraham (IIRC, "it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned") effectively communicated the promise long before Isaac became a young man.

It's significant, though, that when God promises a mate, it's always a specific and special promise, not a general net cast over all His children.

[journeyto]

I said not for everyone and that it just feels right to me. "Feel" meaning my gut reaction based on what I know of the Living God, the Bible, the sacraments and everything else that brings His Presence to me.

[banzai]

Totally makes sense. I made the second half checkboxes instead of radio buttons because I think lots of us have more than one reason for our belief.

Oh, and because I'm a huge dork.