If marriage is not the goal of the Christian life, what does that mean for church teaching and practice?

In these mini-reflections, I highlight a point made in one of the AIM UK & Ireland Family Life classes and ask for your thoughts. In his class on “Singleness as a positive choice”, Dr Andy Boakye challenged a common assumption by saying:

“Marriage is not a Christian’s goal.”

What do you make of his statement? While marriage is a beautiful gift from God, it’s not the ultimate aim for a follower of Christ. The Bible makes this clear in several places.

First, consider 1 Corinthians 7:7-8, where Paul says,

“I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.”

Paul isn’t dismissing marriage; he’s highlighting that singleness can be just as much a calling and that both states are gifts from God.

Next, in Matthew 22:30, Jesus teaches that:

“at the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”

This shows us that our ultimate identity and fulfilment are not tied to our marital status but to our eternal relationship with God.

Finally, Galatians 3:28 reminds us,

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This verse emphasises that in God’s kingdom, our value and purpose are not defined by societal roles or expectations but by our unity in Christ. Marriage may be part of that journey for some, but it’s not the destination.

So, if marriage isn’t the goal, what is? That is my question to you today.

How might your answer change your view of singleness, marriage, and what it means to belong to the church? Perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate how we, as a Christian community, support and honour both married and single individuals.

Your thoughts? Please post here or email courses@aimukandireland.com.

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See you in the next one, and remember to AIM high!

God bless, Malcolm

www.aimukandireland.com