Apostle Paul says it's better to be celibate.

1 Corinthians 7:1b; 7-8; 29; 32

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am. But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none. But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.

The Apostle Paul recommended that leading the life of celibacy is ideal because you focus on the Lord while being married distracts you from doing the Lords work. Paul also said we should be self controlled "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." -1 Corinthians 9:27

Since we are living in the last days we should be celibate so we can serve the Lord to our fullest. Christ shall return riding on clouds of glory. The trumpet will sound and the believers caught up in Heaven. Do you want to be responsible for not spreading the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?

reply to post by IlluminatusOculus33


sorry, I love the feeling of velvet too much.. I cannot except that to hell be damned

reply to post by IlluminatusOculus33


What a load of utter nonsense, but hey, good luck with that!

I think Paul was pretty clear that while he thought celibacy might work for some people, it wasn't for everyone. And besides, it's Paul speaking, not Jesus. Vows of celibacy haven't worked out too well for the Catholic Church, so there's a precedence there that celibacy can lead at least some people down a path of evil rather than good.

Originally posted by SavedOne
I think Paul was pretty clear that while he thought celibacy might work for some people, it wasn't for everyone. And besides, it's Paul speaking, not Jesus. Vows of celibacy haven't worked out too well for the Catholic Church, so there's a precedence there that celibacy can lead at least some people down a path of evil rather than good.

The Catholic Church isn't real Christianity. It's a Satanic organization filled with demons.

Originally posted by IlluminatusOculus33

Originally posted by SavedOne
I think Paul was pretty clear that while he thought celibacy might work for some people, it wasn't for everyone. And besides, it's Paul speaking, not Jesus. Vows of celibacy haven't worked out too well for the Catholic Church, so there's a precedence there that celibacy can lead at least some people down a path of evil rather than good.

The Catholic Church isn't real Christianity. It's a Satanic organization filled with demons.

Are you saying all Catholics are going to hell?

reply to post by Klassified


The ones that don't know the true Jesus Christ will.

reply to post by IlluminatusOculus33


Prove your claim about the catholic church. Other than that... Yeah, it's filled with "celibate" pedophiles.


I will never, ever be celibate btw, I would rather spend an eternity in hell (as if that will happen.) than give up sex...

reply to post by IlluminatusOculus33


Then it's the leadership of the Catholic church you are referring to. You aren't trying to say that catholics are beyond redemption.

Just wanted to make sure I was understanding you correctly.

reply to post by TheBandit795


Crusades, witch trials, installing puppet monarchs, corrupt Popes (look up Popes Stephen VI, John XII, Benedict IX, Leo X, Leo I, John XXIII, John XIII, Sergius III, Anacletus, Paul III) funding wars, committing murders. Just look it up in the history books. The Catholic Church is Satanic.

reply to post by IlluminatusOculus33


The church has been very violent, yes... But that does not prove it's Satanic.


Or do you mean that if someone or some group is or has been very violent, they are automatically Satanic???

reply to post by TheBandit795


They spread a false Gospel too. They say you have to be Catholic and keep the sacraments to be saved. The Bible teaches that you only have to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to be saved. They are putting people in bondage by their false teachings.

They also pray to Mary and Saints but the Bible teaches we should only pray to God.

reply to post by IlluminatusOculus33


Does all of that make them satanic???

From the Urantia book:

3. Renunciation and Humiliation (976.3) 89:3.1 Renunciation came as the next step in religious evolution; fasting was a common practice. Soon it became the custom to forgo many forms of physical pleasure, especially of a sexual nature. The ritual of the fast was deeply rooted in many ancient religions and has been handed down to practically all modern theologic systems of thought. * (976.4) 89:3.2 Just about the time barbarian man was recovering from the wasteful practice of burning and burying property with the dead, just as the economic structure of the races was beginning to take shape, this new religious doctrine of renunciation appeared, and tens of thousands of earnest souls began to court poverty. Property was regarded as a spiritual handicap. These notions of the spiritual dangers of material possession were widespreadly entertained in the times of Philo and Paul, and they have markedly influenced European philosophy ever since. (976.5) 89:3.3 Poverty was just a part of the ritual of the mortification of the flesh which, unfortunately, became incorporated into the writings and teachings of many religions, notably Christianity. Penance is the negative form of this ofttimes foolish ritual of renunciation. But all this taught the savage self-control, and that was a worth-while advancement in social evolution. Self-denial and self-control were two of the greatest social gains from early evolutionary religion. Self-control gave man a new philosophy of life; it taught him the art of augmenting life’s fraction by lowering the denominator of personal demands instead of always attempting to increase the numerator of selfish gratification. (976.6) 89:3.4 These olden ideas of self-discipline embraced flogging and all sorts of physical torture. The priests of the mother cult were especially active in teaching the virtue of physical suffering, setting the example by submitting themselves to castration. The Hebrews, Hindus, and Buddhists were earnest devotees of this doctrine of physical humiliation. (976.7) 89:3.5 All through the olden times men sought in these ways for extra credits on the self-denial ledgers of their gods. It was once customary, when under some emotional stress, to make vows of self-denial and self-torture. In time these vows assumed the form of contracts with the gods and, in that sense, represented true evolutionary progress in that the gods were supposed to do something definite in return for this self-torture and mortification of the flesh. Vows were both negative and positive. Pledges of this harmful and extreme nature are best observed today among certain groups in India.

AND NOW THE MOST IMPORTANT PART:

It was only natural that the cult of renunciation and humiliation should have paid attention to sexual gratification. The continence cult originated as a ritual among soldiers prior to engaging in battle; in later days it became the practice of “saints.” This cult tolerated marriage only as an evil lesser than fornication. Many of the world’s great religions have been adversely influenced by this ancient cult, but none more markedly than Christianity. The Apostle Paul was a devotee of this cult, and his personal views are reflected in the teachings which he fastened onto Christian theology: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” “I would that all men were even as I myself.” “I say, therefore, to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them to abide even as I.” Paul well knew that such teachings were not a part of Jesus’ gospel, and his acknowledgment of this is illustrated by his statement, “I speak this by permission and not by commandment.” But this cult led Paul to look down upon women. And the pity of it all is that his personal opinions have long influenced the teachings of a great world religion. If the advice of the tentmaker-teacher were to be literally and universally obeyed, then would the human race come to a sudden and inglorious end. Furthermore, the involvement of a religion with the ancient continence cult leads directly to a war against marriage and the home, society’s veritable foundation and the basic institution of human progress. And it is not to be wondered at that all such beliefs fostered the formation of celibate priesthoods in the many religions of various peoples.

I'm curious...what exactly does "Serving the Lord" entail? I've heard that phrase often, but never got a good sense of what it really means.

Also, I wonder how leading a life of celibacy is ideal? If it were truly an ideal state of being, then one would assume society would be greatly improved if everyone were celibate.
However, I fail to see how this would be beneficial for either side . No one would be reproducing, and human beings would eventually die out, leaving no one left to "Do the Lord's work", correct? Was the Apostle Paul implying that the nonexistence of humans is ideal?

reply to post by TheBandit795


YES!

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! -Galatians 1:8

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. -2 Corinthians 11:14

Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. -1 John 2:22

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. -John 8:44

Alright, drop the Catholic bashing brothers, it's not our job to judge the Lord's servants:

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Let's address the OP. Sure, Paul suggested people treat marriage the way he did, but he also said not all people are given the gift of celibacy. If you have sexual desires that means God hasn't called you to a life of celibacy. It's also important to note that if one is married they should also not become celibate because it will give the enemy opportunity to destroy the marriage.

"Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband." 1 Corinthians 7:2

"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." 1 Corinthians 7:5

Originally posted by Astrithr
I'm curious...what exactly does "Serving the Lord" entail? I've heard that phrase often, but never got a good sense of what it really means.

Also, I wonder how leading a life of celibacy is ideal? If it were truly an ideal state of being, then one would assume society would be greatly improved if everyone were celibate.
However, I fail to see how this would be beneficial for either side . No one would be reproducing, and human beings would eventually die out, leaving no one left to "Do the Lord's work", correct? Was the Apostle Paul implying that the nonexistence of humans is ideal?

Paul doesn't suggest or argue that everyone should be celibate.

Click here for more information.