Highland Watchman
Keeping watch from my ebony tower
Hm... I agree with Sascha. Ask what he really meant by the whole "innocent and not like most girls comment". That may have actually been a compliment and a statement that you stand out in his eyes from all of the other girls...
Innocence may mean something else too, other than the sexual innocence. True, when we are thinking within a "dating" context, that is naturally the first thing that comes to mind, but sometimes innocence more indicates a sheltered life, rather than sexual experience. Which, if you're thinking of gaining sexual experience, just so you can say you're experienced, DON'T DO IT!!! Trust me, that is NOT something that you want to get into, then have to regret for years down the road. I made that mistake, and there are scars. Trust me.
Dating non-Christians is another funny matter. It's a lot like dating apostates... (been there, done that. Not pretty!) You can do it if you want, as it is permissible. But it is not the wisest course of action, for several reasons, some of which have already been mentioned (like the pressuring you to do things that you know to be wrong, and the temptation to stoop to their spiritual level of no faith, belief or thought about God in relation to lifestyle)... But there is another reason that is implied every single time someone brings up that their S/O is not a believer - or not from the same denomination, sometimes even - and that is the reaction of the people around you. So many people in the church will tell you that it is wrong and forbidden to do, and you will be likely ostracised for doing this (which I think part of the ostracism is because they now feel awkward around you, an obvious sinner, and partly because they are jealous - perhaps someone else may have been considering you as a possibility, or they at least hold your reasons for looking outside the church in contempt... especially if they are also single and of the opposite gender!
). Some can handle it, and I really respect those who can handle rejection, even if they rejection may be "well intentioned"...
But what advice are we to give to those who came to Christ while still in a relationship with a non-believer, or to those who DO look in the church, but really find no difference between the "prospects" found within the church and those found on the outside, other than the fact that the ones outside are real 24/7, and not just all the time except when in church? That's not to say that this is always the case, nor that it could be the case in a vast majority of churches and situations... But in many ways, it is a sobering call to those others of us who are in the church to consider what kind of witness we are truly being for Christ at all times and what our lives are truly saying about who the real Lord of our lives is. Is it Christ, or is it our Flesh? Just because we go to church at least once a week does not make us a follower of Christ. If that were all, then no wonder we are a laughing stock of the nations, and the name of the LORD is ridiculed and taken lightly like it is. Rather, let us live lives that do make the people turn and give praise to our God.
Innocence may mean something else too, other than the sexual innocence. True, when we are thinking within a "dating" context, that is naturally the first thing that comes to mind, but sometimes innocence more indicates a sheltered life, rather than sexual experience. Which, if you're thinking of gaining sexual experience, just so you can say you're experienced, DON'T DO IT!!! Trust me, that is NOT something that you want to get into, then have to regret for years down the road. I made that mistake, and there are scars. Trust me.
Dating non-Christians is another funny matter. It's a lot like dating apostates... (been there, done that. Not pretty!) You can do it if you want, as it is permissible. But it is not the wisest course of action, for several reasons, some of which have already been mentioned (like the pressuring you to do things that you know to be wrong, and the temptation to stoop to their spiritual level of no faith, belief or thought about God in relation to lifestyle)... But there is another reason that is implied every single time someone brings up that their S/O is not a believer - or not from the same denomination, sometimes even - and that is the reaction of the people around you. So many people in the church will tell you that it is wrong and forbidden to do, and you will be likely ostracised for doing this (which I think part of the ostracism is because they now feel awkward around you, an obvious sinner, and partly because they are jealous - perhaps someone else may have been considering you as a possibility, or they at least hold your reasons for looking outside the church in contempt... especially if they are also single and of the opposite gender!
). Some can handle it, and I really respect those who can handle rejection, even if they rejection may be "well intentioned"...But what advice are we to give to those who came to Christ while still in a relationship with a non-believer, or to those who DO look in the church, but really find no difference between the "prospects" found within the church and those found on the outside, other than the fact that the ones outside are real 24/7, and not just all the time except when in church? That's not to say that this is always the case, nor that it could be the case in a vast majority of churches and situations... But in many ways, it is a sobering call to those others of us who are in the church to consider what kind of witness we are truly being for Christ at all times and what our lives are truly saying about who the real Lord of our lives is. Is it Christ, or is it our Flesh? Just because we go to church at least once a week does not make us a follower of Christ. If that were all, then no wonder we are a laughing stock of the nations, and the name of the LORD is ridiculed and taken lightly like it is. Rather, let us live lives that do make the people turn and give praise to our God.
Upvote
0
Maybe in life "more experience" is better. I don't know, I could just use advice or encouagement or something. Thanks for listening to my quick rant.
