Christine Colon and Bonnie Field thought that by a certain age they would each be married. But they watched that age come and go--and still no walk down the aisle. In Singled Out, they reflect on their experience and that of an increasing number of Christians. From the secular world and the evangelical church, singles are bombarded with negative images of celibacy. Here, Colon and Field explore a deeper understanding of celibacy that affirms singles' decision to be sexually pure, acknowledges their struggles, and recognizes their importance in the church community.  
  
"This book should be required reading for every adult Christian not yet (and perhaps never to be) married. Use it as an antidote to others' expectations for your life. I love how Colon and Field have resurrected St. Paul's teaching to the church in Corinth--that marriage, family, and singleness are all callings from God, and that ultimately, following Christ trumps them all."--__Jon M. Sweeney__, author of Cloister Talks: Learning from My Friends the Monks "Finally--a whole book dedicated to redeeming and reclaiming celibacy for people aged 30 and beyond! Colon and Field offer a refreshing critique of stilted messages in the media and in our churches and call us to challenge assumptions that one needs to be married to be a happy, well-adjusted contributor to society. I recommend it to anyone (married or not) wanting to take singleness and celibacy seriously."--__Lisa Graham McMinn__, George Fox University, author of Sexuality and Holy Longing: Embracing Intimacy in a Broken World "Colon and Field let the issue of abstinence graduate from the youth group and move on to the sanctuary and the bedroom, the pages of church history, and the screens of our current entertainment media. I'm so grateful they acknowledge that honest, intelligent conversation about singles and sexuality requires not just three simple words--'just say no,' 'true love waits'--but more words like those found on the 256 pages they've thoughtfully penned here."--__Camerin Courtney__, senior editor of Today's Christian Woman and author of Table for One

__Christine A. Colón__ (PhD, University of California at Davis) is associate professor of English at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. She has published articles in Women's Writing, Renascence, and Brontë Studies as well as in several volumes of collected essays. __Bonnie E. Field__ is an educational consultant and curriculum specialist who lives in Dallas, Georgia. She has also taught English at Arizona College of the Bible and Wayland Baptist University.

Authors Christine Colón and Bonnie Field thought that by a certain age they would each be married. But they watched that age come and go--and still no walks down the aisle.  
  
In Singled Out, they reflect on their experience--and that of an increasing number of Christians. Rejecting overly simplistic messages from the church about "waiting for marriage," they explore a deeper understanding of celibacy that affirms singles' decision to be sexually pure, acknowledges their struggles, and recognizes their importance in the church community.  
  
Thoughtful and accessible, Singled Out is an invaluable voice of realistic encouragement for any single as well as an important tool for church leaders and others concerned with mission and ministry for singles.

This balanced and encouraging book shows how the adult single can embrace and maintain chastity as an important contribution to the church's witness and mission.

Colón, Christine ;Field, Bonnie

Cover Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Our Journey  

Part 1: Navigating Our Path 

1. Repression & Neuroses: Negative Secular Views of Celibacy

2. Power & Freedom: Positive Secular Views of Celibacy

3. Chastity & Holiness: Positive Christian Views of Celibacy

4. Sin & Selfishness: Negative Christian Views of Celibacy

Part 2: Encountering Dangerous Messages along the Way

5. Lust & Avoidance: Dangerous Messages about Sexual Temptation

6. Happiness & Maturity: Dangerous Messages about Sex and Marriage

Part 3: Searching for a New Direction 

7. Covenant & Inclusion: Views of Celibacy in Scripture

8. Monks & Martyrs: Views of Celibacy in the Church's Past

9. Discipline & Community: Views of Celibacy in Contemporary Christian Thought

Afterword: Where Do We Go from Here?

Bibliography

Notes

Authors Christine Colón and Bonnie Field thought that by a certain age they would each be married. But they watched that age come and go--and still no walks down the aisle.  
  
InSingled Out,they reflect on their experience--and that of an increasing number of Christians. Rejecting overly simplistic messages from the church about"waiting for marriage," they explore a deeper understanding of celibacy that affirms singles' decision to be sexually pure, acknowledges their struggles, and recognizes their importance in the church community.  
  
Thoughtful and accessible,Singled Outis an invaluable voice of realistic encouragement for any single as well as an important tool for church leaders and others concerned with mission and ministry for singles.

Rejecting overly simplistic messages from the church about 'waiting for marriage', the authors explore a deeper understanding of celibacy that affirms singles' decision to be sexually pure, acknowledges their struggles, and recognizes their importance in the church community.

Authors Christine Colon and Bonnie Field thought that by a certain age they would be married. But they watched that age come and go - and still no walk down the aisle. In "Singled Out", they reflect on their experience - and that of an increasing number of Christians. Rejecting overly simplistic messages from the church about 'waiting for marriage', they explore a deeper understanding of celibacy that affirms singles' decision to be sexually pure, acknowledges their struggles, and recognizes their importance in the church community. Thoughtful and accessible, "Singled Out" is an invaluable voice of realistic encouragement for any single as well as an important tool for church leaders and others concerned with mission and ministry for singles.

Christine Colon (PhD, University of California at Davis) is assistant professor of English at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. She has published articles in Women's Writing and Renascence as well as in several volumes of collected essays. Bonnie Field is a curriculum analyst at Plato Learning, Inc. She has taught English at Wayland Baptist University and Arizona College of the Bible.

Singled Out [eBook]

Navigation Bar

Header Default

Download the Christian360 App to read eBooks and listen to Audiobooks bought at Christian360

Singled Out [eBook]

Description

Need support?

Customer reviews

Download the App

Download the App