Perfect Children

I was listening to John Piper articulating a biblical theology of singleness the other day. He was, in part, challenging his listeners to consider if they had bought into the world’s view of marriage and singleness. He asked if, like the world, we place more value on marriage and less value on singleness than we ought.

I wonder if this comes from idealising children. Do we think that cuteness and innocence are synonymous with goodness? Do we think that there is nothing so fundamentally good as raising little children? I’m not for a moment wanting to deny the worth of this or the beauty, charm and sincere kindness of children. But I do want to say that these things will pass. They will not always be children. Before all else, they are people.

Those of us who are single have not drawn the short straw. There is nothing second-rate about only ever befriending, caring for and guiding other adults (and ‘adopting’ a few of their kids along the way). They too are people – little people grown big. It’s an enormous privilege and joy and pain to have involvement and influence in any person’s life.

As Piper makes plain, God’s people are no longer mostly the children of Jewish parents, but can now include all men, women and children from all races and nations. Let’s rejoice in the people that have been given us to care for.