In today's world, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get married. This is true in society as well as in the church.
In a recent interview with the Christian Times, a Chinese online Christian newspaper, Brother Wang Zhenhai (pseudonym), a church leader in a city in northern China, shared his advice for single Christians and how his church helps them.
Due to a gender imbalance in society, men often encounter greater difficulties in finding suitable partners compared to women. However, an intriguing reversal occurs within churches, where a surplus of women is commonly observed. As a result, it remains difficult for unmarried young people to start families in most churches. If this problem is not solved, there will be a constant flux of young believers in the church, which will pose a challenge to the pastoral care and overall development of the church.
After serving in the church for many years, Wang said, he has found that some young people come to the church just to find a mate. If they cannot find the right person in one church, they will continue to search in another church until they find a compatible spouse.
Wang divulged that his church is planning some marriage preparation classes, with the intent of helping single believers realign their priorities, ensuring God takes precedence over the quest for a life partner. This initiative is not meant to deter marriage, but rather to facilitate a more efficient and purposeful search for a suitable mate.
The matrimonial unions of Christians who hastily seek marriage without seeking God's divine guidance often culminate in tragic outcomes.
Wang emphasized that a considerable number of contemporary young Christians lack a solid foundation in Scripture and often deviate from the teachings outlined in the Bible.
Consider the subject of marriage, for example. What is God's teaching on marriage? While many believers do not have much of an idea, some believers who do have such knowledge do not really agree with it. As a result, even self-professed Christian adherents may evaluate their fellow brethren based on societal norms.
This phenomenon is particularly prominent among sisters, who frequently establish a plethora of criteria. Standards are certainly necessary, but some believers not only want their partners to meet Christian benchmarks but also demand adherence to societal standards. However, a scant few can meet both sets of standards; indeed, fulfilling even one set can be a formidable task.
So how can such a misconception be corrected? Wang believes it is up to the church to lead unmarried believers back to the righteousness of God through the Word. "This is because we believe that we are powerless without the hand of God. But of course, we must do our part to draw attention to and effectively promote the ministry of marriage counseling for unmarried Christians today," Wang said.
Helping single Christians build Christ-centered families is a great challenge. But Wang believes that solving this problem will be beneficial to the church. When single Christians establish families in alignment with God's will, both they and their households are fortified. The collective strength of families, in turn, bolsters the entire church, rendering it more resilient and potent.
Translated by Joyce Leung
