Singleness in the Church: Have We Neglected the Unmarried?

00:00 Introduction
00:29 Marriage in Creation Order
01:36 Singleness Declared Good?
02:55 Paul’s “Present Distress” Context
04:35 Church Guidance on Singleness
06:30 Contentment & Biblical Marriage
08:59 Counsel for Singles: Purity & Trust
11:45 Are Singles Overlooked by Churches?
15:50 Idolizing Marriage
17:57 Can Pastors Be Single?
18:59 Closing & Support

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Is singleness in the church something we’ve overlooked? Have unmarried Christians been unintentionally sidelined in ministry focus, discipleship, and church culture? In this week’s episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, host Dr. Josh Philpot and Dr. Richard Caldwell revisit a topic they’ve previously discussed - Christian singleness. They ask whether the church has failed to properly teach, affirm, and shepherd unmarried believers. This episode is a rich encouragement for navigating singleness in a biblical way and a challenge to churches everywhere to examine how they support, teach, and care for those who are not married. Whether you’re asking is singleness a gift or trying to understand the tension between marriage vs. singleness, this episode offers clarity and truth grounded in Scripture. Watch now and share this episode with someone you know that might be wrestling with questions of biblical singleness.

The episode begins by establishing a biblical foundation for both marriage and singleness. Dr. Caldwell reflects on the creation order, noting that marriage is indeed a good gift given by God. From Genesis 2, we learn that man was not meant to be alone and that God brought the woman to the man. Marriage, children, family—these are God-ordained blessings. But that’s not the full picture. We mustn’t misunderstand this statement to mean that it’s God’s will for everyone to be married. The Bible, especially in passages like 1 Corinthians 7, presents another category that is often neglected: godly singleness. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, says that it is good to remain single, as he was. This is not a lesser state of life. It is not merely a transitional season. For some Christians, singleness is a calling, a gift, and a season in which they can honor God with undivided devotion.

So why, then, do many unmarried Christians feel forgotten in the life of the church? Dr. Caldwell explains that part of the issue is how we teach about marriage. When we speak of it as the ideal, we unintentionally create a cultural pressure within the church that leads to Christian individuals who are single, including those who have been and desire to remain so, to feel incomplete or second-class. While Christian dating and marriage are good and biblical, they are not the only faithful expressions of Christian living. Remaining single does not mean remaining immature or unfulfilled. On the contrary, it can be a meaningful, fruitful life fully devoted to Christ.

The conversation also explores how singleness and sanctification intersect. Just as in marriage, singleness provides opportunities for growth, service, and dependence on the Lord. But the church must be intentional in offering church ministry to singles—not just to youth or young adults, but to unmarried believers in every stage of life. There should be thoughtful encouragement and discipleship offered to those who are faithfully honoring God in singleness, not simply waiting for marriage.

The discussion also tackles the tough questions: What if a person has desired marriage for decades and it hasn’t come? What if they are burning with passion, struggling to remain pure, or even beginning to idolize marriage itself? Dr. Caldwell offers pastoral wisdom and biblical guidance, urging listeners to trust God's sovereignty, pursue purity, and find joy and contentment in Christ alone.

It’s important to think carefully what it means to be single and a Christian—not as a problem to be solved, but as a life that glorifies God in its own right.