--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christians throughout history have…" description: "\"“Christians throughout history have affirmed that lifelong celibacy is a spiritual gift and calling, not a path that should be forced upon someone.”\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/matthew-vines-52080_celibacy_christians-throughout-history-have-affir_569320.jpg" --- # Christians throughout history have affirmed that lifelong… ![“Christians throughout history have affirmed that lifelong celibacy is a spiritual gift and calling, not a path that should be forced upon someone.” quote by Matthew Vines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/matthew-vines-52080_celibacy_christians-throughout-history-have-affir_569320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/matthew-vines-52080_celibacy_christians-throughout-history-have-affir_569320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/matthew-vines-52080_celibacy_christians-throughout-history-have-affir_569320.jpg) > ““Christians throughout history have affirmed that lifelong celibacy is a spiritual gift and calling, not a path that should be forced upon someone.”” [Matthew Vines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It asserts that celibacy is a voluntary spiritual calling, not an imposed requirement, emphasizing personal freedom in religious practice. **In simple terms:** Celibacy is a gift, not a forced rule. Key Takeaway Respect individual spiritual choices. Themes religion freedom celibacy identity Mood thoughtful respectful Type theological ethical When to use this quote - church policy - personal vocation - LGBTQ+ discussions - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theology human rights Questions to Reflect On - Should religious institutions enforce celibacy? - What defines a spiritual gift? A Different Perspective Some view celibacy as essential to faith, creating tension with the claim of voluntariness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Celibacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celibacy/) [Celibacy Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celibacy-spiritual-1778696/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Lifelong Celibacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifelong-celibacy-3826784/) [Spiritual Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-gift-476866/) ## Related quotes > [I consider my greatest accomplishment to be lifelong celibacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-consider-my-greatest-accomplishment-to-be-lifelong-celibacy/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [“When one is confirmed in celibacy, spiritual vigor is gained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/when-one-is-confirmed-in-celibacy-spiritual-vigor-is-gained/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [I can't make nobody believe in God. I can't tell you. But you got to experience it for yourself. When you find the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-can-t-make-nobody-believe-in-god-i-can-t-tell-you-but-you-got-to/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [A person can have great gifts, great talents and great experiences given by God; however, we must learn to submit to Gods will in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goddey-wilson/a-person-can-have-great-gifts-great-talents-and-great-experiences/) [GODDEY WILSON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goddey-wilson/) > [“Apologetics is not listed as a spiritual gift for teachers, preachers, or evangelists, as though only some ought to become apologists. Rather, all Christians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/apologetics-is-not-listed-as-a-spiritual-gift-for-teachers-preachers/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [When the house is on fire, don't tell me what your spiritual gift is. Just grab a hose and put out the fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/when-the-house-is-on-fire-don-t-tell-me-what-your-spiritual-gift-is/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“If a spirit is truly from the Lord — if it is the Spirit of God, it will bring positive change! It will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-durham/if-a-spirit-is-truly-from-the-lord-if-it-is-the-spirit-of-god-it-will/) [James A. Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-durham/) > [Whole-hearted listening is the greatest spiritual gift you can give to the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/whole-hearted-listening-is-the-greatest-spiritual-gift-you-can-give/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [When you find your spiritual gift, God will give you an opportunity to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/when-you-find-your-spiritual-gift-god-will-give-you-an-opportunity-to/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“I believe that the great tragedy of the church in our time has been its failure to recognize the importance of the spiritual gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/i-believe-that-the-great-tragedy-of-the-church-in-our-time-has-been/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [It's not listed in the Bible, but my spiritual gift, my specific calling from God, is to be a television talk-show host.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bakker/it-s-not-listed-in-the-bible-but-my-spiritual-gift-my-specific/) [Jim Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bakker/) > [Start where you are-do anything you can do, and do everything you can do, until you find something you must do! That something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-george/start-where-you-are-do-anything-you-can-do-and-do-everything-you-can/) [Jim George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-george/) > [It helps certain church leaders identify the fact that they have the spiritual gift of leadership that the Bible talks about in Romans 12:8.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/it-helps-certain-church-leaders-identify-the-fact-that-they-have-the/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [Writing comedy is the greatest spiritual gift you can give to anybody anytime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/writing-comedy-is-the-greatest-spiritual-gift-you-can-give-to-anybody/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [Whoever has a spiritual gift and compassionate toward one who does not have it guards his gift through his compassion. But whoever is proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/whoever-has-a-spiritual-gift-and-compassionate-toward-one-who-does/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) ## More by Matthew Vines > [“But as I became more aware of same-sex relationships, I couldn’t understand why they were supposed to be sinful, or why the Bible apparently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/but-as-i-became-more-aware-of-same-sex-relationships-i-couldn-t/) [Matthew Vines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/) > [“The law was good, Paul wrote, and its purpose vital. But its purpose was also temporary. Once Christ fulfilled the law, his followers would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/the-law-was-good-paul-wrote-and-its-purpose-vital-but-its-purpose-was/) [Matthew Vines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/) > [“The failure of reorientation therapy is why the "ex-gay" ministry Exodus International shut down in 2013. It places gay Christians who adhere to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/the-failure-of-reorientation-therapy-is-why-the-ex-gay-ministry/) [Matthew Vines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/) > [“In marriage, we're called to reflect God's love for us through our self-giving love for our spouse. God's love for us isn't dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/in-marriage-we-re-called-to-reflect-god-s-love-for-us-through-our/) [Matthew Vines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/) > [“Homosexuality, to the limited extent it was discussed in our church, was little more than a political football, a quick test of orthodoxy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/homosexuality-to-the-limited-extent-it-was-discussed-in-our-church/) [Matthew Vines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/) > [“Neither Peter in his work to include Gentiles in the church nor the abolitionists in their campaign against slavery argued that their experience should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/neither-peter-in-his-work-to-include-gentiles-in-the-church-nor-the/) [Matthew Vines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/) [Explore all 7 Matthew Vines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/) ## More Celibacy quotes > [“I will tell you this only once. Homosexuals have been among the best warriors in our history, the berserkers of last resort. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/i-will-tell-you-this-only-once-homosexuals-have-been-among-the-best/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“This worldly life is very difficult. Mother-in-law comes, mother of the mother-in-law comes, sister of mother-in-law comes, aunt of mother-in-law comes. How many mother-in-laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/this-worldly-life-is-very-difficult-mother-in-law-comes-mother-of-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Celibacy is the worst form of self-abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/celibacy-is-the-worst-form-of-self-abuse/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [“Masturbation is not the happiest form of sexuality, but the most advisable for him who wants to be alone and think. I detect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/masturbation-is-not-the-happiest-form-of-sexuality-but-the-most/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“Sheel (the highest state of conduct in worldly interaction) is where not even an iota of a wrong intent arises within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/sheel-the-highest-state-of-conduct-in-worldly-interaction-is-where/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Yes, hypothetically, western Catholicism could revise the theme of celibacy. ... But for the moment, I am in favor of maintaining celibacy, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/yes-hypothetically-western-catholicism-could-revise-the-theme-of/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It is impossible to believe that the same God who permitted His own son to die a bachelor regards celibacy as an actual sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/it-is-impossible-to-believe-that-the-same-god-who-permitted-his-own/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Not just the celibacy thing but because he has God’s ear, a line on the mysteries. That’s impressive to girls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/not-just-the-celibacy-thing-but-because-he-has-god-s-ear-a-line-on/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [“It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with-a-merciless-padlock-than-to/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [In the name of celibacy, sex has been repressed for centuries and you have become just full of sexuality. Rather than transcending it you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/in-the-name-of-celibacy-sex-has-been-repressed-for-centuries-and-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Fr. Benedict Groeschel says it in his uniquely northern New Jersey way: “Celibacy means that we belong exclusively to the Lord, from our brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-m-dolan-cardinal/fr-benedict-groeschel-says-it-in-his-uniquely-northern-new-jersey-way/) [Timothy M Dolan Cardinal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-m-dolan-cardinal/) > [“...it is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-is-poverty-only-which-makes-celibacy-contemptible-to-a-generous/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Even supposing there were some spiritual advantage in celibacy, it ought to be completely voluntary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/even-supposing-there-were-some-spiritual-advantage-in-celibacy-it/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [There were the physical challenges of hitchhiking across Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as they were quite dangerous areas. I wrote about that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/there-were-the-physical-challenges-of-hitchhiking-across-turkey-iran/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“Though I wholeheartedly supported celibacy at the start of my seminary career, my opinion changed as I made my way toward and through priesthood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/though-i-wholeheartedly-supported-celibacy-at-the-start-of-my/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) [Browse all 221 Celibacy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celibacy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Christians throughout history have affirmed that lifelong celibacy is a spiritual gift and calling, not a path that should be forced upon someone.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Vines" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/christians-throughout-history-have-affirmed-that-lifelong-celibacy-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Celibacy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/christians-throughout-history-have-affirmed-that-lifelong-celibacy-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/matthew-vines-52080_celibacy_christians-throughout-history-have-affir_569320.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/matthew-vines-52080_celibacy_christians-throughout-history-have-affir_569320.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/matthew-vines-52080_celibacy_christians-throughout-history-have-affir_569320.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Christians throughout history have affirmed that lifelong celibacy is a spiritual gift and calling, not a…” — Matthew Vines", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matthew Vines", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-vines/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Christians throughout history have affirmed that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/christians-throughout-history-have-affirmed-that-lifelong-celibacy-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-vines/christians-throughout-history-have-affirmed-that-lifelong-celibacy-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```