The model of Jesus, John the Baptist, and Paul has not yet enabled even biblically
serious Evangelicals to shape a
theology that would affirm celibacy as anything more than a regrettable alternative to more - or-less mandatory marriage.
When «The Gift of Salvation» speaks of «needlessly divisive disputes» between Roman Catholics and
Evangelicals, it does not refer to the many weighty theological matters on which we still conscientiously disagree, such as sacramental
theology, Marian devotion, purgatory, etc. «The Gift of Salvation» takes note of these matters, referring to them as «
serious and persistent differences» which are «necessarily interrelated» with the affirmations we have made in common, and are thus future agenda items for us.