Today, in churches and in missions organizations there are many unmarried people serving in ministry positions of leadership. These follow in the footsteps of Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Apostle Paul, John the Baptist or more recent examples such as Lottie Moon, Amy Carmichael, Trevor Douglas, David Brainerd, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, or John Stott.
In Albert Hsu’s book, “Singles at the Crossroads,” he writes of how the historical Christian perspective of singleness has seemed to swing between extremes. In the Jewish culture of New Testament times marriage was regarded at such a high level of importance, that if an adult was single it was almost as if they were disregarded by the society. To be married and to have children was the norm for all Jews, including religious leaders. A religious leader without a family was unimaginable.[1]
Hsu goes on to explain how the New Testament church, following the writings and example of Jesus Christ (Matt. 19:11-12) and the Apostle Paul (1 Cor.7), brought singleness to the same level as marriage. Both were considered gifts from God.( 1 Cor. 7:7) During this time of balanced perspective the early church went ahead to become the predominant faith of the Roman Empire.
