Simply Radiant Magazine: Summer

28
that’s growing between them. Level
Three is what a lot of people would
call “exclusive dating” or “courting.”
This is where the two are open and
honest about their feelings, and
their future life goals together; it has
become the focus of the relationship.
THOSE WHO LOOK TO HIM ARE
Joshua Harris, author of the widely
popular books “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”
and “Boy Meets Girl,” expresses that he
does not think it is wise to date for the
sake of dating at all, but rather to only
enter into a courtship with the purpose
of marriage in mind. He explains that
it’s good to have friendship, deeper
friendship, and then courtship; but
advises against entering into deeper
friendship and courtship until you are
spiritually healthy enough to do so.
Maximize your singleness by
devoting the time that you have
to serving in your community,
mentoring, or at your church.
Some Christian authors who have written
on the topic of dating have differing
perspectives. For example:
Chuck Miliam wrote “We’re Just Friends and
Other Dating Lies”. In his book, he provides a
chart that outlines different levels of dating
and what they include.
Level One is the low risk “dating for
something to do”- This includes no
physical contact and getting to know the
other person in a group setting. Level Two
involves a medium gauged risk relationship
that is not exclusive. However, both parties
acknowledge the attraction and interest
Some of these theories were hard for
me to grasp at first, because in my
mind, it seemed right to date different
guys to find out what you like and
what you didn’t. Then, hopefully, one
of those relationships would work out
and you’d marry a great guy who had
all of the good, and none of the bad
you found in ex-boyfriends. I learned
that this is a selfish way of thinking. The
most important person in scenario is YOU,
and that’s not at all how Christ loved. Jesus
commanded that we love others the way
that He loves us. Never once did He love
us just to “try us on” or to find out what He
doesn’t like. He just loves.
THE PURPOSE FOR
2 ENTERING INTO A
RELATIONSHIP IS MARRIAGE
There’s no point in wasting one another’s
time if marriage isn’t where one or both of
you desire to see the relationship move.