| Christian dating topic at Leadership Days By Laura McCrae
Secretary of CCYM Teaching a class about Christian dating in todays society is very challenging. There are so many outside influences about which teenagers must be aware. Society and dating have changed greatly within the last 15 to 20 years, especially with the sexual revolutions of the 1970s. Sex is in or is it? While preparing a class on Christian dating for Leadership Days held in January, Lauren Manning, Kia Reid and I had to truly evaluate the dating of Christians and non-Christians. It seemed as if non-Christians were having more fun. But their lives were neither moral nor complete. This is not what Christ wanted for us. We realized that dating can be good. Boundaries must be set and not exceeded. If one finds a mate, then they can be friends and grow together in Christ. When dating, Christian values cannot be compromised. One of our key Bible verses was I Thessalonians 4:4-6. This passage talks about how we need to control our bodies. We do not need to have sex to have a good relationship. When the day comes for marriage and we do have sex, we are engaging in a great gift from God. He is with us in everything that we do with our boyfriend or girlfriend. In holding hands, kissing or whatever we do. Fifty percent of girls and 40 percent of boys leave high school without having a date. This does not mean that they are not cool, just focused on different, and maybe on the truer, things of life. Our classes examined the lyrics to the Isley Brothers Contagious; Lauryn Hills, That Thing; Boyz II Mens, Ill Make Love to You; and Luck Pearls, I Wanna Dance Tonight. However, we noticed that even though we like them these songs are not appropriate, especially when dating. They lead us to the conclusion that out-of-control hormones are okay. This is not true. Peer Pressure, of course, was a huge issue. Students wanted to know what they should do. We told them we should not pay for dates with sexual intimacy. A godly relationship has Gods anointing. But they did not want to be ridiculed or labeled as a dork. Think of all that Jesus went through as he carried the cross, how people spit on him and beat him. And we cannot make a little sacrifice? Theres plenty to do in Christian dating: play basketball, take bike rides, go to the beach, meditate together, watch TV with a group of friends (when parents are home), listen to music, help each other study, talk on the phone, the list goes on. Parents are essential to dating. When dating, you need your parents gbwc_superuserance. Parents do know what theyre talking about. Christian youth need to listen. We answered many questions on various topics. Everyone left the workshop knowing that God is an essential part of Christian dating. Sex is still plaguing the youth today, but now they know how to respond. As youth leaders, we do our best to follow the words which we have taught. Sex is not all there is to life. Christian dating is a blessing and anointing from God. | 
Login/Register to leave comment