The Bible urges young men to treat "younger women as sisters with all the chasteness."
- (1 Timothy 5:2)
By applying this principle, it is indeed possible to enjoy clean, wholesome friendships with members of opposite sex. The apostle Paul, for example, was a single man who enjoyed a number of friendships with Christian women. (See Romans 16:1, 3, 6, 12). He wrote of two "women who have striven side by side with me in the good news." (Philippians 4:3) Jesus Christ also enjoyed balanced, wholesome association with women. On numerous occasions, he enjoyed the hospitality and conversation of Martha and Mary - Luke 10:38, 39; John 11:5.
Nevertheless, a teenager should not begin dating simply because he or she feels pressured to do so! For one thing, dating is a serious business - a part of the process of the selecting a marriage mate. Marriage? Admittedly, this may be the last thing on the minds of most youths who date. But really, what justification could there be for two people of the opposite sex to begin spending a lot of time together other than to investigate the possibility of marrying each other? In the long run, dating for any other reason is likely to result in anything but "fun". Why so?
By applying this principle, it is indeed possible to enjoy clean, wholesome friendships with members of opposite sex. The apostle Paul, for example, was a single man who enjoyed a number of friendships with Christian women. (See Romans 16:1, 3, 6, 12). He wrote of two "women who have striven side by side with me in the good news." (Philippians 4:3) Jesus Christ also enjoyed balanced, wholesome association with women. On numerous occasions, he enjoyed the hospitality and conversation of Martha and Mary - Luke 10:38, 39; John 11:5.
-YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
Photo: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens of HSM
Photo: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens of HSM
Nevertheless, a teenager should not begin dating simply because he or she feels pressured to do so! For one thing, dating is a serious business - a part of the process of the selecting a marriage mate. Marriage? Admittedly, this may be the last thing on the minds of most youths who date. But really, what justification could there be for two people of the opposite sex to begin spending a lot of time together other than to investigate the possibility of marrying each other? In the long run, dating for any other reason is likely to result in anything but "fun". Why so?
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