Sarah, I've been perusing blogs for a while now, yours among them, and while offense doesn't adequately express my reaction to these regarding marriage, there are a number of observations I'd take issue with given time, however, I'm responding to a more pointed detail.If that is the Message's reading of Matthew 19:11-12, it's the first time I'm glad I haven't read it. It seems like such a departure from all the other things I've heard on marriage that it almost simply leads me to think that the author has inserted [his? her?] opinion into scripture. The context is in dealing with divorce. So if there is a maturity in question, it has nothing to do with the maturity of adequate personal hygiene, and everything to do with the capacity to love one's spouse. The spirit of what is being offered is the alternative to marriage. Again the depiction I've been presented with is that these verses are in direct response to the disciples comment, "It is better not to marry" as being that which is a higher calling that few are able to accept. Paul reiterates this in his epistles. As do others both by example and in words. Making marriage a game or goal to be striven after and won, cheapens it in my view. I don't think that is a Biblical understanding of relationships. Jesus accepted lepers, lame beggars, prostitutes, social pariahs and outcasts and loved and healed them as they were and then said "Go, and sin no more." True, he didn't marry them… but he didn't marry.I have struggled with issues of identity in life but the security I've found lies in the grace of Jesus Christ, and my identity in Him. Those who aren't there don't need to worry about haircuts, a mani/petti, or which cologne or perfume to waft on themselves, but rather that we are all loved as we are, however that may be, by the one who created us, and if that is our measure, it is enough, and so while we have the blessing of being single, the opportunity to be single-minded on our first love, Who first loved us, there our focus should lie until we are overcome by the distraction that requires our divided attention from God, for such is marriage. Marriage is work. Marriage is an obligation. Marriage is a commitment. Men are called to love their wives, wives to honor their husbands, to do either requires attention to details, and yes those details could include making yourself more attractive for your spouse because your body is no longer your own; it belongs (again, Biblical) to your spouse. If s/he want you to wear something, the choice is no longer yours. Therefore, know your spouse. So long as I'm learning to live with Christ as mine I should be content with one master.Just a couple of my compounded thoughts. No hard feelings. – Foster
Well done, my love. I think you've stirred up a hornet's nest of frustration and anger… mostly stemming from people's unwillingness to work on their lives (again, my opinion). Keep it up and people will be forced to face themselves and allow Him to restore, renew, and lead onwards.
I like the phrase, "be someone you'd like to marry (date, hang out with, etc)". I don't think it's too much to want to be with someone who puts as much effort into making themselves be the best they can be when you're doing that for yourself. I think S-A is merely pointing that out and I congratulate her.
I didn't read the comments from your first post on this; I read the post and was pleased that there was someone else out there from this younger generation who seemed to think like I did. I had no idea that you would get negative responses from your thoughts. I don't have the energy to bring up any argumentive points, but just wanted to encourage you by saying that I understood what you meant in your original posts (seems like some others didn't), agree with you, and think it's great that you're bringing stuff like this up.
I see what you're saying, but I think it would be helpful to focus more on improving character over haircare. Also, do you really think marriage should be a goal? Was marriage a goal of yours? It wasn't one of my goals. I fell in love.Somehow viewing marriage as a goal takes away the mystery for me (Eph 5:32). There's something eternal, transcendent, yet primal about marriage. Turning it into a goal seems more about improving our odds of finding a suitable mate.Having said all this, I got a lot more attention in university after the Sarah Aubrey Makeover.
I agree with you, aside from the inner issues of insecurity and conformity to worldly ideals, there IS a 'taking care of yourself' aspect… It's like if you're going out in public, you're likely going to put some clothes on, and not because you want to conform to the world. "Advertising", should be read to receive benefit, not to point out the wrong ways it could be taken, because then you might find yourself in a position to better yourself, rather than to "try the same thing and expect different results", amen? 🙂
gazaneo 
Sarah, I've been perusing blogs for a while now, yours among them, and while offense doesn't adequately express my reaction to these regarding marriage, there are a number of observations I'd take issue with given time, however, I'm responding to a more pointed detail.If that is the Message's reading of Matthew 19:11-12, it's the first time I'm glad I haven't read it. It seems like such a departure from all the other things I've heard on marriage that it almost simply leads me to think that the author has inserted [his? her?] opinion into scripture. The context is in dealing with divorce. So if there is a maturity in question, it has nothing to do with the maturity of adequate personal hygiene, and everything to do with the capacity to love one's spouse. The spirit of what is being offered is the alternative to marriage. Again the depiction I've been presented with is that these verses are in direct response to the disciples comment, "It is better not to marry" as being that which is a higher calling that few are able to accept. Paul reiterates this in his epistles. As do others both by example and in words. Making marriage a game or goal to be striven after and won, cheapens it in my view. I don't think that is a Biblical understanding of relationships. Jesus accepted lepers, lame beggars, prostitutes, social pariahs and outcasts and loved and healed them as they were and then said "Go, and sin no more." True, he didn't marry them… but he didn't marry.I have struggled with issues of identity in life but the security I've found lies in the grace of Jesus Christ, and my identity in Him. Those who aren't there don't need to worry about haircuts, a mani/petti, or which cologne or perfume to waft on themselves, but rather that we are all loved as we are, however that may be, by the one who created us, and if that is our measure, it is enough, and so while we have the blessing of being single, the opportunity to be single-minded on our first love, Who first loved us, there our focus should lie until we are overcome by the distraction that requires our divided attention from God, for such is marriage. Marriage is work. Marriage is an obligation. Marriage is a commitment. Men are called to love their wives, wives to honor their husbands, to do either requires attention to details, and yes those details could include making yourself more attractive for your spouse because your body is no longer your own; it belongs (again, Biblical) to your spouse. If s/he want you to wear something, the choice is no longer yours. Therefore, know your spouse. So long as I'm learning to live with Christ as mine I should be content with one master.Just a couple of my compounded thoughts. No hard feelings. – Foster
Well done, my love. I think you've stirred up a hornet's nest of frustration and anger… mostly stemming from people's unwillingness to work on their lives (again, my opinion). Keep it up and people will be forced to face themselves and allow Him to restore, renew, and lead onwards.
I like the phrase, "be someone you'd like to marry (date, hang out with, etc)". I don't think it's too much to want to be with someone who puts as much effort into making themselves be the best they can be when you're doing that for yourself. I think S-A is merely pointing that out and I congratulate her.
I didn't read the comments from your first post on this; I read the post and was pleased that there was someone else out there from this younger generation who seemed to think like I did. I had no idea that you would get negative responses from your thoughts. I don't have the energy to bring up any argumentive points, but just wanted to encourage you by saying that I understood what you meant in your original posts (seems like some others didn't), agree with you, and think it's great that you're bringing stuff like this up.
I see what you're saying, but I think it would be helpful to focus more on improving character over haircare. Also, do you really think marriage should be a goal? Was marriage a goal of yours? It wasn't one of my goals. I fell in love.Somehow viewing marriage as a goal takes away the mystery for me (Eph 5:32). There's something eternal, transcendent, yet primal about marriage. Turning it into a goal seems more about improving our odds of finding a suitable mate.Having said all this, I got a lot more attention in university after the Sarah Aubrey Makeover.
I agree with you, aside from the inner issues of insecurity and conformity to worldly ideals, there IS a 'taking care of yourself' aspect… It's like if you're going out in public, you're likely going to put some clothes on, and not because you want to conform to the world. "Advertising", should be read to receive benefit, not to point out the wrong ways it could be taken, because then you might find yourself in a position to better yourself, rather than to "try the same thing and expect different results", amen? 🙂