Christian views on dating and courtship

Courtship Vs Dating

In the nearly 10 years since I first wrote the Biblical Dating series on Boundless, I and other Boundless authors have addressed some pretty nuanced and specific questions about dating relationships. One of the great things about Boundless is that the community here is, within the confines of a clear and evangelical understanding of the Gospel, often pretty diverse in terms of the specific recommendations and approaches to dating represented by various authors. Recent months and years have also seen a more robust discussion about whether the Bible really has anything practical or specific to teach us about dating. So I thought it might be helpful to mark the nearly year anniversary of the Biblical Dating series by asking again, What exactly does the Bible say about dating? So where does all that leave us? Does the fact that the Bible has nothing explicit to say about dating mean that it has nothing practical or authoritative to teach us about how to conduct a dating relationship? To borrow a favorite phrase of the apostle Paul, by no means!

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Courtship and dating are some of the least discussed topics in the church. Yet dating has caused the most havoc, destroyed countless lives, resulted in unwanted pregnancies and abortions, and even split churches apart. This has led many church youth groups to become havens for dating and premarital sex. The following are guidelines that best fit young people but many of the principles still apply to older and more mature single adults looking for a mate. I have taught each of my five children the difference between dating and courtship.

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DAY 1 OF 7. You need to measure any relationship you desire by the standards of Scripture. We learn in 1 Corinthians 7 that a believer can marry anyone they want, but only in the Lord. That is the standard--someone who knows Jesus Christ; that you have fellowship with them. What fellowship does Christ have with Satan or does a believer have with an unbeliever? This is true not only in dating but even in marriage.

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When God Writes Your Love Story: Why We Chose A 'Christian Courtship'

What does the Bible teach about Christian dating? This past week I had a young man sitting in my office asking me that very question. Perhaps you have never had someone ask you to defend your position on Christians dating. If not, I want to challenge you on this subject. It may save you and your children a great deal of heartache if you will take time to think earnestly about this important subject.

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