Inverse Prooftexting

I am creating a term: Inverse Prooftexting. More or less, it's the pursuit of building a scriptural argument based on the lack of a specific verse. This maneuver is often used in conjunction with a handful of moderately similar verses that don't properly address the topic.

One example can be found at this site.

In the article, the writer shares her agitation with people that suggest she prepare for or find a spouse. One comment about which she wrote was "Being single is a blessing. You can use this time to prepare yourself for marriage."
The writer responds with, "I can't quite remember a time when Jesus tells us to change, transform, polish and refine ourselves solely for the sake of our future mate. Could you point that out to me? I'll wait here."

In the creation of the world,

God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” … Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:18,24)

I guess that, since only the first person of the trinity said it and not the second person, it doesn't count.

I would love to dissect each of the 6 points, but it churns my stomach just reading over them. If you are interested in a discussion about any or all of the points, feel free to e-mail me or something.

Now, granted, obviously, some are indeed gifted to be single:

As a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. (1st Corinthians 6-7)

However, that does not negate the fact that God the Father wove into man and woman a yearning for each other, nor does it negate the fact that marriage – at its core – symbolizes Jesus' relationship to his church, nor does it negate the fact that an overseer is assumed to be a man with a wife and kids (1st Timothy 3:1-5), nor nor nor.

The writer had an opportunity to discuss the wonderful gift of singleness. In contrast, the writer primarily discussed misunderstandings between the people with whom she spoke and misunderstandings within herself:

Relationships don’t solve problems. In reality, a lot of times they create problems. They can be fulfilling and shaping, but they also take work.

Thankfully, marriage is not about solving what we deem problems. Rather, it is about God shaping us to be more and more like His son. Sometimes, God chooses to shape people as singles. Sometimes, God chooses to shape people as spouses. Both processes of refinement are holy. However, one should not be agitated when people assume that God the Father's original trajectory for men and women is still on course. Furthermore, one should especially not be agitated via prooftexting or inverse prooftexting.

Read the Book.

Read the whole Book.