TGC Author: Straight Men Should Consider Singleness Out of Solidarity for Celibate Homosexuals
In an interview with Sam Wan featured on the Gospel Coalition, Simon Shead, a 24-year old from New South Wales,
In an interview with Sam Wan featured on the Gospel Coalition, Simon Shead, a 24-year old from New South Wales, spoke about his intention to never get married, explaining that the primary reason he is choosing lifelong celibacy and singleness is because “I believe that being single helps us to understand the sufficiency of Christ and to be undivided in our posture towards him (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). He says other secondary reasons for being single are because it is counter-cultural, as “Non-Christians might wonder where my hope is placed if it is not in the deeply fulfilling sexual relationships we see on TV. This provides me with a great gospel opportunity.”
And the Third? Out of solidarity with the gays.
Sam: You say singleness and celibacy is a godly and possible choice for straight Christians—and for the communities they are a part of. Why is that?
It is godly and possible because it is scriptural. Both marriage and singleness are great ways for a person to serve Christ!
But the cry I hear from celibate gay evangelical Christians is that straight Christians are not quite upholding the standard we apply to them. Sometimes the message from the evangelical Church can feel like: “Marriage is great! Get married, everyone’s doing it. Oh, but if you’re gay, singleness is good too …”
The message from the evangelical church should be “If you’re ‘gay and single’ then you need to mortify that, as even the desire and inclination towards homosexuality are sinful. Thankfully, Christ died for those sins, and the scriptures clearly state that ‘such were some of you” is possible and in fact, is the natural progression in a life that has been submitted to Christ for sanctification. A heart given over to God becomes given over to heterosexuality, as there is not one realm of our life that the Holy Spirit does not conform.
No need to stay single, an SSA Christian, who will only be so temporarily as he conforms himself to Christ, ought to find a spouse, in a similar position as they are or different, and get married, make babies, and conquer the world.
This above reality is what makes the upcoming comments so disastrous, as it reinforces their status as someone whom Christ can’t change and is destined to singleness and celibacy forever, suggesting it as support when in reality it is spiritually severing.
I think a good way we can support our brothers and sisters in Christ in this area, is to stand in solidarity with them; to reclaim the gift of singleness for the Church… it is worth gently pondering in the current cultural climate, is this a way we can further support our gay brothers and sisters in Christ?
Interviewer Wan affirms his decision, writing ‘Standing in solidarity with your brothers and sisters who experience attraction to the same sex is such an important thing, and the choice you’re making is really putting your money where your mouth is.”
Bonus. Shead notes that ultimately he would consider marriage “if it would aid my ministry work in the kingdom (for example, getting a visa to an unreached country).”
Not for nothing, but the church he attends, St Paul’s Anglican in Carlingford, NSW, spent most of the last two years shuttered except for online services. All staff are required to get vaccinated, all children and adults above the age of 12 must wear masks in church, the church has willingly complied with government regulations that prohibit singing, and all guests must check-in using a QR Code App that logs their personal details for contact tracing if they wish to attend.
Depending on what unreached country he’s going to, Christians are frequently persecuted and forced to have services underground or in secret from the government. The fact that he’s supportive of a church that won’t even open their mouths to sing praise to God at the request of his political leaders would suggest he’s not spiritually fit to be embarking on such endeavors, much less considering them.