More and more people are single or married without children because they are selfish and enslaved to foolishness. There are various reasons to be celibate, and some of them are not admirable at all. It may be remarkable, impressive when you compare yourself– but not automatically admirable. Yes, that is a credible profession of faith.
Imagine a stellar candidate for ordination as a Presbyterian minister. He has all the public gifts, is academically awesome and well-received by all the staff and leadership as he comes down to the end of his 18 month internship. Ball golf and disc golf, usually two under at both. He is married, in his late twenties along with his wife. They have no children, and he replies uncommonly when queried. “We aren’t going to have children. I’m just too selfish. I don’t want to limit myself, or our marriage. I got a vasectomy right after we got married, and I have no regrets. We are happy together, and it maximizes our usefulness. In some ways, its also a social justice thing now.”
Of course you converse, you listen, you let him stroll you around this unusual life decision. At the bottom of it, and he does not deny it, the man is just too selfish to willingly beget children. His self-awareness really does help his preaching. He actually has a nightmare at least once a year that his wife conceives miraculously. He is heart against it. There is just no way he could have children– it would destroy their marriage, he would destroy their marriage, that just can’t happen, “and not to mention my calling from God” which would get sucked down the hole. “With me just in misery, and Bev.”
She says that a lot of her oldest friends have decided against kids, “it’s not that shocking.” Yes, he is a believer in the Lord Jesus. Yes, you bet that guy’s getting ordained somewhere.