These came from two christians who know what they're talking about.
?? said:This is something i have begun thinking about since i have 2 little girls and they will be teens before i know it. Please understand that what i am about to say i did not do myself for various reasons but a significant one is because i was never taught. I just went with the system. The only problem is that for the most part the "christian" system and the world system of "dating" is nearly identical.
Dating is a modern phenomenon. Until about 75 yrs ago there was courtship. People courted when they assumed the role of adults not on account of age but responibilities. It used to work this way; A boy or girl (probably in low to mid teens) begin having affections for the opposite sex. That is a God-given "wired" indication that the person is to begin preparing to assume responibilites of an adult, only after they have assumed those responsibilites would they begin to "court". If i am still paying for my kids car insurance, education, ect... they have not yet assumed the roles of adults.
It used to be there was a "right of passage" for young boys and girls. There no longer is one, so today we have 35 year old boys running around that have no business getting married.
If i can suggest something to you it would be this. Begin assuming the responsibilites of a young man. Work while getting your college education and pay for as much of it (if not all) as possible. Provide for yourself in every area. Its not going to be easy but the right of passage into manhood is not supposed to be easy. This will show a prospective father-in-law that you are not only an adult but a man. Then ask permission from her father to court her and only after receiving permission from him and her begin to court.
I probably sound like im from outer space to you. God bless.
?? said:Awesome post and I agree...my teens went to a Live Pure retreat a few years ago and besides telling them basically what you have posted here they were also taught about dourting:
D-desire God & deny idolatry (don't put a bf/gf on the throne of your heart, Christ alone must reside there)
O- Only date obvious Christians (to keep from being unequally yoked)
U- Understand your unholy flesh (there will be temptation...be on guard for signs)
R- Respect existing relationships (it's okay for your bf/gf to have a friend of the opposite sex, and they have more people in their life beside you)
T- Take regular time apart (no communication for a week...of ANY kind, if you can make it that long than your relationship has promise to be a long lasting mature one)
