Written by Debora Rodrigo, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Spain
I'm a single woman, like many others in my society. Besides being single, I am a Christian. And this is what makes it different; there are not many like me in my church. For whatever reason, congregations do not reflect the more than 50% of singles in society. And I'm not talking about people who decide not to marry and live together instead, but rather, people who, for various reasons, do not live as a couple. Many like me do not feel welcome in their churches; many, in fact, stop congregating because of it.
If like me, you are single, it might have been difficult at times to find appropriate activities for you within the church. Perhaps sometimes you have felt that you are not like the others. Or you have even received a special treatment that makes you uncomfortable, although you know well that it does not come from a discriminatory intention. Let me tell you that none of this responds to what the Bible says or Jesus’ teachings. The examples of singles are abundant in the Bible, and the teachings regarding singleness are also very present.
If you are single, like me, perhaps you are part of that group of people in society with the most significant number of connections in the community, as some statistics also show. And maybe, just maybe, you have a little more time that allows you to have better communion with God and serve the church with more dedication, as the apostle Paul affirmed (1 Cor. 7:32-33). In that case, you have a lot more to contribute than you have possibly thought so far. Although we can’t deny that the family, and by extension, marriage, is one of our church’s pillars, we can’t forget that the Bible and Jesus’ teachings are addressed to individuals, not family units. The Bible is addressed to people, people who have a relationship with God and others. And you could be an example in these two areas. First, for your multiple connections with your community; and second, because your condition can be an opportunity to get closer to God.
Single lady, don't let appearances or what others may think discourage your strength. Don't let the flow of what others do, inside or outside the church, affect your desire to serve. Be an example. Live each day in the present, regardless of what is around you, and do your best to be an example for others. Be an example in your relationship with God and get closer to Him every day. Be an example of a Christian woman who connects with others and loves her neighbor.