The Roman Catholic Church seems to teach that the marital relationship is less spiritual than celibate life. The catechism has identified persons who maintain virginity to be more closely united with Christ. However, we find that Convent life is not mentioned in Scripture. Instead the Bible encourages marriage. The Lord did NOT say, ëfor this cause shall a man also leave father and mother and join himself to a group of other celibates, and their way of life shall be established .î No such form of life was ever established by the Lord. Had the Lord intended there to be convents with Mother Superiors He would have said so.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 the Apostle Paul states that the single person is able to devote more time to serving the Lord due to a lack of other relational obligations. The Apostle Paul is referring to those who are living at home with one's family. Paul, like Jesus Christ, never mentions religious houses or Mother Superiors.
The call to married life is based upon one's desire for sexual intimacy. Scripture calls young women to be married and have a domestic lifestyle, but never mentions living in convents. In Titus chapter 2, the Apostle Paul exhorts older women to teach younger women to be workers in the home.
In young women's misguided zeal to serve God more closely, many believe that by abstaining from marriage and a sexual relationship they can be closer to God. The whole concept of convent life is totally opposite to the life for which God has created women. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis 2:18) . Sadly enough the Roman Catholic Church has capitalized on this naive youthful zeal in order to fill its job vacancies.
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