Deb Koster. Scripture is clear that becoming one flesh is the same as being married. Sexually active relationships carry the same gravity as a marriage because they bring two people into an intimacy that God intends to be permanent. Sex outside of a committed relationship is harmful to us and leaves us hurting because physical intimacy was designed for permanent relationships that are also emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually connected permanently. When we become one flesh, we are supposed to leave others and cleave in commitment to our spouse Genesis When this fails to happen, we feel used and broken.
Three Lies About Premarital Sex
Our sense of true intimacy is bent and warped--this is not what God wants for us. God loves sex, designed us as sexual beings, and established this guideline of keeping sex within marriage to protect us in our dating relationships and to bless us in our marriage relationships. So sex is reserved for the marriage bed, but what does the Bible say about how much physicality is permissible outside of marriage? Paul tells us to honor God with the way that we live in our bodies 1 Corinthians We need to be listening to our conscience about how our intimacy is honoring to God.
Our bodies are places where the Spirit has taken up residence and that should matter to the way that we engage physically with one another. If your conscience is concerned, then pay attention to your moral compass and talk about it together. A healthy marriage will have intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical intimacy. Building relationship depth across this breadth of aspects is what a serious relationship should be cultivating. When you marry, you give yourself completely to your spouse 1 Corinthians That complete intimacy will grow in your marriage over time, but its roots are being built in your dating relationship. It is only natural that we should be cultivating intimacy in each of these relationship areas as we move closer to marriage.
How Far is Too Far? What the Bible says about Christian Dating and Sex
Too often dating relationships tempt physical intimacy to its limits while ignoring these other areas of intimacy which are critical building blocks to a healthy marriage. Maybe try being intentional about growing other forms of intimacy rather than pushing physical boundaries. We may think that we have all the restraint in the world, but the reality is that God has designed our bodies with strong physical longings for physical intimacy. It is part of what our bodies were made to do. Watching and praying helps keep us from sinning in our weak flesh. Watching involves paying attention and having a plan in place. Talk about it together before it just happens.
Decide together with what level of intimacy you feel comfortable in your relationship. Make a rule if it helps. Be prayerful that God would keep you from straying from that commitment. We are told to stay away from temptation not dabble with falling into it. Flee from it, remove yourself from it 1 Corinthians Decide that you are not going to put yourself into a situation where you discover just how weak your flesh is around temptation.
Physical Intimacy While Dating: How Far is Too Far Before Marriage?
Hanging around temptation is actively inviting trouble into your life. Choose to distance yourself from temptation. The biblical book Song of Songs is full of imagery of the joyousness of sexual union, but in three different places in the book it says not to awaken love before its time. Going too fast too soon is unhealthy. While your relationship is growing in intimacy, avoid rushing too close to intercourse before your relationship is ready for marriage. Arousal should be avoided in a relationship that is not ready to be consummated. Enjoy the lesser intimacies of holding hands or a tender kiss without arousing a deeper longing that gets left unsatisfied.Cultivate spiritual, emotional, and intellectual areas of intimacy instead. With the line of physical intimacy is left in part to our own judgement, it should not be surprising when two people draw the lines in different places. On this scripture gives us guidance. Don't push anyone beyond what their conscience believes to be correct 1 Corinthians We need to be supporting and encouraging a brother or sister who has adapted a more conservative understanding, not pressuring them to violate their principles. Intimate relationships should seek to support your faith stance not challenge it. You do not want to enter a marriage where you have felt your conscience was violated and your moral compass was ignored.
Sex and Dating in the Christian Life
Choose to build your relationships on a platform of respect for one another. Deb Koster is a producer, writer, and speaker for Family Fire. After over 20 years as a Registered Nurse, she completed a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained as a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church. Deb and her husband Steven enjoy doing ministry together and they are the parents of three awesome young adults. Stoking the Spirit's flame at home. Phone: Canada: All rights reserved. User Experience Design by Justin Sterenberg. Web Development by Build For Humans.Library About Resources Prayer Donate. How physical should a dating relationship be? Deb Koster June 22, Honor God with your bodies Paul tells us to honor God with the way that we live in our bodies 1 Corinthians Recognize the trajectory A healthy marriage will have intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical intimacy. Understand the weakness of the flesh We may think that we have all the restraint in the world, but the reality is that God has designed our bodies with strong physical longings for physical intimacy. Flee sexual temptation We are told to stay away from temptation not dabble with falling into it. Support one another With the line of physical intimacy is left in part to our own judgement, it should not be surprising when two people draw the lines in different places.
I Just Left Fundamentalist Christianity, and I Have … Some Questions About Men and Sex
About the author — Rev. Read more from Family Fire:. Why do pastors have affairs? Explore the intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual doors of intimacy you open and close to safeguard your marriage. Living Together to Test Your Relationship? Should couples try living together before considering marriage? Discover how research supports God's desire for marriage and sex to be linked together. Do you struggle with using your voice assertively?
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Consider the importance of using your God-given voice in a loving way to care for yourself and others. Other programs from ReFrame Ministries:. Close panel. Sex outside of marriage was as hot of a topic in biblical times as in Christianity today. Wisdom comes from a variety of sources and sages.
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