The result of the Fall of Man is that we all live in less than ideal circumstances. The great deception that Paul addresses in Galatians in particular is that we are tempted to start our Christian walk in dependence on God but try to continue it through out own ability to maintain ideal circumstances. Paul levels the playing field when he claims to be the “chief of sinners.” Paul was pretty good at keeping the Jewish ideals of his day. Yet, the belief that keeping the ideals would earn your righteousness actually caused folks to fall away from the very gospel on which they depended. 

I don’t want to be a single mom, but I am one. I am in good standing with my elders, and if anyone has a concern about that, my elders welcome questions on my behalf. But the fact that I have to add that last sentence highlights why we don’t see many orthodox Christian writers addressing the subject of single moms in the church.

Single motherhood simply isn’t the Christian ideal.

i·de·al
noun
1. a person or thing regarded as perfect.
a standard of perfection; a principle to be aimed at.
(Google Dictionary)

In a nation in which sex and childbirth outside of marriage are the growing norm, churches and Christian leaders rightly want to emphasize the wisdom of the institution of marriage that God designed and ordained as a picture of His relationship with the Church. Yet, many women like me find themselves fully valuing that institution, and still left, nonetheless, without it as they raise their children.

It is less than ideal.

But that, friends, is the very reason the gospel, the story of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, is such GOOD NEWS for single moms. It is the very fact that few single moms actually want to be single moms that highlights why the gospel is so sweet and necessary.

What does the gospel bring to single moms?

It brings comfort that Christ paid the penalty for our sins and clothes us with His righteousness so that the health of our family doesn’t depend on our perfection.

Single parenting is HARD. And if it depends on me to navigate it correctly, I am sunk. But when Christ tore the veil at His crucifixion, we received access to God. In our weakness, we can come to God boldly and receive grace and mercy in our time of need, not because of our righteousness, but because of Christ’s. I have not been left as an orphan to navigate this on my own, and neither have you. That brings me great comfort.

It brings confidence that we and our children can flourish despite less than ideal circumstances.

The result of the Fall of Man is that we all live in less than ideal circumstances. The great deception that Paul addresses in Galatians in particular is that we are tempted to start our Christian walk in dependence on God but try to continue it through out own ability to maintain ideal circumstances. Paul levels the playing field when he claims to be the “chief of sinners.” Paul was pretty good at keeping the Jewish ideals of his day. Yet, the belief that keeping the ideals would earn your righteousness actually caused folks to fall away from the very gospel on which they depended. The ideal of Christian marriage is worth valuing, but Paul is adamant that such ideals won’t save us or our children. We instead fall on the righteousness of the only One who can justify us, whether our earthly lives meet ideal norms or not.

It brings hope that every less than ideal circumstance in this world will be put right in God’s kingdom.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He demonstrated that He has completely defeated Satan. But Hebrews 2:8 helpfully catches the tension in which we live now.

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