| In today's more permissive society, where couples | | | | of purity that the couple brings into the marriage |
| live together without benefit of the sacrament of | | | | covenant is not only a gift to each other, but it is |
| marriage, it might seem somewhat archaic to | | | | also a love offering to God and that much more |
| consider Christian dating physical limits. | | | | meaningful. |
| So what are the rules when it comes to physical | | | | A wise person once said to me that anything worth |
| intimacy in Christian dating? Should there be limits? | | | | having is worth waiting for - and that includes physical |
| The answer is yes, there should be Christian dating | | | | intimacy. So yes, there should be proper Christian |
| physical limits, simply because it is in accordance with | | | | dating behavior. Remember that you are building a |
| God's laws for us. We are to respect the limits set | | | | relationship, not only with each other, but with God - |
| forth in the Bible that discourage physical intimacy | | | | and you are also proving to one another that you |
| prior to marriage. | | | | place a high value upon trust and that the future is |
| Having said this, physical limits do not mean that a | | | | more important to you than the instant gratification |
| couple is forbidden to have physical desires for one | | | | that the present may bring. |
| another, merely that those desires are not to be | | | | To answer the question: should there be Christian |
| acted upon unless the couple has entered into the | | | | dating physical limits, and if so, what should they be? |
| covenant of marriage. | | | | Simply this: refrain from having physical intimacy with |
| This means that when such feelings are experienced, | | | | one another until after marriage. Do not let |
| the couple must lean upon God for the self control | | | | yourselves be carried away with intense physical |
| and restraint that must be shown prior to marriage. | | | | feelings. Those will fade, given time. What endures is |
| Once the marriage covenant has been enacted, the | | | | the love that a couple nourishes for each other, and |
| couple will be free to consummate their vows. | | | | for God. And regardless of what society preaches, |
| There are many who disagree with this point of | | | | physical intimacy is worth waiting for - don't be |
| view, and to those I say this: If a couple truly loves | | | | seduced by the philosophy of 'if it feels good, do it!' |
| one another, waiting until marriage is worthwhile. If | | | | because that will destroy your relationship. |
| Christian dating physical limits are observed, the gift | | | | |