Does the Bible teach that there is a gift of celibacy?
Two passages in the New Testament are typically used to discuss what is sometimes called “the gift of celibacy.” The first is Matthew 19:9–12, “‘I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.’ The disciples said to him, ‘If this is the situation between a…
Is it wrong for a Christian to have a roommate of the opposite sex?
Are opposite-sex roommates or housemates biblically allowable? Financial and social struggles lead many singles to consider rooming with friends of both genders, but Christians often wonder whether this is wise. For the purposes of this article, we will refer to “roommates” as those who share the same living space but who maintain a strictly platonic…
What are valid reasons for breaking up with a boyfriend/girlfriend?
This is a difficult question to answer, no matter what was said or done. The first thing to remember is the advice Jesus gave Peter about forgiving someone who has sinned against him: “Then Peter came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not…
How can I heal from the hurt of a broken relationship?
The world is full of people with broken hearts, broken spirits, and broken relationships. The pain of a broken relationship includes a very real sense of personal loss, not unlike bereavement. Sometimes the hurt is so great it prevents people from functioning properly and, in extreme cases, can result in mental breakdown or even a…
What does the Bible say about asexuality?
Physiologically, asexuality is defined as “the state of having no evident sex or functional sex organs; sexless.” Typically, though, asexuality refers to a lack of sexual feelings. Jesus’ mention of “eunuchs” in Matthew 19:12 could be taken as a reference to physiological asexuality, but, for the purposes of this article, we will deal only with…
How should I respond to unrequited love?
Unrequited love is the subject of many novels, television shows, and movies, and most people experience an episode or two of unrequited love in their teen years. Sally likes Bob, but Bob likes Kate who likes Jeff. Unrequited love may begin as childish crushes in the elementary years, but by early adulthood, those feelings may…
Why is finding true love so difficult?
We all have a desire to love and be loved. We experience different levels of love from parents, siblings, friends, and others. But most of us also want to find that special someone with whom we can share a deeper level of love. Finding true love can seem incredibly difficult, and it’s often hard to…
Is there such a thing as soul mates?
The common idea of a “soul mate” is that for every person, there is another person who is a “perfect fit,” and if you marry anyone other than this soul mate, you will never be happy. Is this concept of a soul mate biblical? No, it is not. The soul mate concept is often used…
Is it possible to love a person without liking that person?
The Bible tells us that God’s will is for us to love other people with a godly love. We are called to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27) and even to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).…
What is chivalry?
The English word chivalry comes from the Old French word chevalerie, which originated in medieval times and pertained to the code of conduct required for knights. Chivalry is usually thought of as courteous behavior, especially men’s courtesy toward women. In days gone by, chivalry was expected in polite society. But, with cultural norms shifting, it…