Help protect gay Christians from victim mentality. I went on the Voices in My Head Podcast with Rick Lee James to talk about faith and sexuality, including the barriers to gay Christian face to thriving according to God's wisdom.

In previous posts we established that Jesus and Paul are particularly commending permanent singleness in Matt 19 and 1 Cor 7. Later we explained WHY every Christian young adult should open-handedly discern between vocational singleness and Christian marriage, seeking God's preference for each of our lives. But HOW can we discern?

What if sexuality sermons centered how God made all of us for intimacy in the context of family instead of focusing on marriage and sex? I recently had the opportunity to write for Outreach Magazine about framing conversation in terms of "sexual stewardship".

Why should every Christian young adult open-handedly discern between vocational singleness or Christian marriage? And what about reasonable objections?

I went on the Broken but Beautiful Podcast with JP Conway and Drue Clark to talk about how churches can better support those called to vocational singleness. First, teach what Jesus and Paul actually had to say about a lifetime calling to celibate singleness for the sake of kingdom work with undivided attention…

Watch this seminar exploring the following questions: How were celibate, childless people marginalized in the Old Testament? What promises were made to childless celibates? How did Jesus fulfill those promises? How might that shape the ways we think about our sexualities today?

Watch this interview with Lorinda Pretorius (a Christian Sexologist in South Africa and host of the Chasing Something Podcast) where we discuss singleness and intimacy.

Here's 5 reasons why Jesus and Paul *were* particularly talking about permanent singleness. Plus how recognition of this would change our churches.

Watch this video exploring how can churches help those called to vocational singleness thrive with reasonable effort (regardless of sexual orientation).

Listen to this episode of the "Where do we go from here?" podcast where Devi Abraham. Jessica Van Der Wyngaard, and I talk about purity culture and celibacy. The problem with "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" and True Love Waits wasn't traditional sexual ethics. It's that purity culture sold Christians the idol of romance.

Listen to this episode of the "Unsuitable with MaryB. Safrit" Podcast where we chat about finding family in vocational singleness and what makes relationships safe.

From Fathom Magazine - Today, more Christian young adults are postponing marriage or considering never marrying than ever before, and the church at large fears plummeting marriage percentages and the declining birth rates that follow. As those numbers soften, their refrain booms louder: “If abstinent singleness isn’t easy for you, don’t worry. Just get married.” Armed with 1 Corinthians 7:9, they plead with the under-thirty crowd, “PLEASE. Get married.”

Watch this video seminar from Valentine's Day when I joined the Boston Fellows to explore how God's call to vocational singleness challenges the idol of romance in our cities and churches.

What is the most impactful thing straight Christians can do for gay people? My answer: Give God a chance to call you to vocational singleness.

Listen to this podcast where we ask, "Why should a Christian pause and ask God if He has a preference between vocational singleness and Christian marriage?”The answer: GIFT

Watch this recording of St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church’s Theology on Tap where I led a discussion about discernment and vocational singleness.

From Christianity Today - How can our churches raise up more kingdom workers to heal our communities with undivided attention? Our churches need to become places where young adults genuinely discern whether God is calling them to vocational singleness or Christian marriage.

Watch this video to deepen your vision for how God wants to use singleness, whether temporary or lifetime. What is vocational singleness? Why does God call people to vocational singleness?

Listen to this interview about the Nashville Family of Brothers on the Hole in My Heart Podcast. We explore why NFOB started, what Jesus teaches about lifelong singleness, and why permanent lived-in family makes all of the difference.

The Church needs to see more Christians faithfully walking out lifetime singleness for the sake of the kingdom (AKA “celibacy”). That witness helps the Church grasp the hope of the gospel and begin living into the reality of the kingdom today. No witness to this hope is more moving than that of Christ himself.