Well, here we are in our last couple weeks of this series, “Love Connection” and I think it has been kind of fun. Hopefully you have too. I know we still have much to learn about our relationships with each other, and yet I think we’ve learned a bit along the way. Hopefully this conversation will remain as a record of our time here.
Here are the questions from this weekend’s PASSAGE message.
Question #1:
Do you think dating in high school is necessary?
I’m actually kind of surprised that this question hasn’t come up previously. It seems like there are a lot of opinions out there on this one. Some people think dating is the best way to find a mate, and others think that dating is a cultural assumption that should be challenged. One writer even wrote a book called, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” where he encouraged people to swear off dating all together.
And beyond the opinions, there are many different guidelines that parents set out for their students; each family has its own rules. *DISCLAIMER: you should do whatever your parents say!!!!
So what does the bible teach us about dating? Very little. In fact, the Bible doesn’t really prescribe any particular way that people should date, court or be “arranged” for marriage.
That alone is interesting isn’t it? You’d think that as much as we talk about it that it would have some pretty big “air-time” in the BIG BOOK. But, sometimes a lack of discussion of a topic in the Bible might indicate something important. Perhaps there isn’t a mention of a particular method of “love-finding” because there isn’t a “RIGHT” and “WRONG” way to do it, from God’s perspective.
I mean, if God has created us to be able to choose WHO we will love (rather than pre-determining who we will love) then maybe he has given us the choice as to HOW we choose this person as well.
So should you date in high school? Maybe. Should your parents arrange a marriage for you? Maybe. Should you go on only group-dates and build friendships that will lead to a love commitment? Maybe.
Do you see what I’m saying? Maybe the question is not whether or not we should date people exclusively, but what kind of “daters” or “non-daters” we will be…
Three weeks ago, after the last message I answered a question that got into this subject. It might be worth a read or a re-read if you want some more on “the kind of daters” we should be.
You’ll find the discussion in “Question #1” at this link:
https://nickloyd.com/2009/02/26/love-connection-passage-22209-part-two/
Hope that’s helpful…
Question #2:
What is your opinion on long-distance relationships?
They are difficult.
Hahahaha… Well, they are, aren’t they?
This is a good question because many people start dating-from-afar. Sometimes the physical distance between people is over many states or countries. But, in another way, physical distance can be almost as far if you live in the same county but go to different schools and rarely see each other.
Look, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with a long-distance relationship. They are different. And they are difficult. But all relationships are difficult. Whether you are talking about long-distance or close-encounter relationships (hahaha, sounds like some weird alien love, LOL), there are both positives and negatives.
Let’s look at the positives. In some ways long-distance relationships may have potential for greater health. One benefit of distance is that it often forces people to learn about each other on a deeper level than just physical. Obviously if you live far apart physical contact will be limited. Because of this, phone conversations and text messages and facebook chats become the primary method of affection. But this affection-from-a-distance is healthy in that you are LEARNING deep interests, motives, beliefs and personality traits of the other person.
Also, a little distance test is good for any relationship. People in relationships formed in close physical proximity have a tendency to quickly become dependent on each other. You know the feeling: “I can’t live without seeing him today!” And yet, we have already learned that we were never meant to find our fulfillment in other human being; only in God. Being apart physically may help keep that distinction more obvious.
However, while there are some benefits (in theory) there are also some drawbacks. People living away from each other don’t have the opportunity to experience the other person in “real life.” There is only so much you can learn from phone calls and late-night text messages. Who a person is on the phone and who they are in everyday life with their family and friends may be very different.
Also, the time and focal commitment involved in “long-distance” relationships often comes at the expense of a person’s other relationships that are more local. When a person’s mind is off with his girlfriend in “Arizona” it is then difficult to invest in relationships (friends, family, etc.) or responsibilities right here in Everett. To some degree this is true of all relationships, but more so with long-distance ones, I think.
Anyway, I think there are probably more positives and negatives that could be said here, but hopefully you get my point. Long-distance relationships may be either good or bad, but that probably has more to do with the convictions of the two people involved than the land (or sea) that is between them.
Thanks for the great question!
I love ranch-flavored sunflower seeds.
The problem with both of these terms is they need defined. When someone says, “love” what do you think of? Love of what? Sunflower seeds? iPhone? And if love is hard to define, than what about the phrase, “being in love.” That one seems to have taken on a whole lot of fuzziness. No one is quite sure what it means. In fact, most people might tell you that it can’t really be defined at all. It isn’t something you can describe; you can only feel it.
In essence, John says, “You wanna know what love is? Well, this is love. This is it right here. You know love because God, who is love, loved you. He defined love for you. But his definition can’t be found in a dictionary. Love isn’t made of words and feelings, but of actions. Love is a verb. And he demonstrated this action of love by not claiming his own rights and choosing to come and give up his own life for you, though you didn’t deserve it. In fact, before you even chose to love him.”
Think of it this way. How do you know when you are really going down a water-slide at Wildwaves? Well, I don’t know about you, but I know I’m going down the slide when I choose to do it and push off and head on down. In other words, I know my decision pretty quick. Either I’m yelling and screaming down a winding tube full of raging water or I’m not. (I just wonder how many kids have peed in the pool at the bottom!).
I mean, we make choices all day long and don’t question it. I don’t start eating my subway sandwich and think, “How do I know that I’m really eating lunch?” (Some philosphers might, Rene Descartes wanted to know how to know he really existed!) I know I’m eating lunch because I’ve decided it is noon and I’m hungry and that I’m going to eat now (which actually sounds like a good idea, cause all this food talk is making me hungry).
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