Autumn/Winter 2016-17 Issue

The following posts are part of the Autumn/Winter 2016-17 Issue. Articles that are in this issue contain information about secret sodomites, imperfect Christians, Christian dating, what the Bible says about hating the government or its authorities, common misinterpreted scriptures in the new devotional series called “Wrong Verses Right,” healthy scalp maintenance for headcovering wearers, and more!

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…you behave yourself.

Seriously.

Now some churches prohibit dating altogether.  It is probably because of this scripture,

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me:  It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ~1 Corinthians 7:1 KJV

However, this was only the beginning of what the Apostle Paul was teaching.  Dating is allowed, but under specific guidelines.

The topic of proper, Christian dating is explained to us according to Christ’s doctrine as shown in 1 Corinthians chapter 7.1 If a man is with his virgin and finds himself behaving inappropriately, he should marry her. However, she must be passed the flower of her age. This means that she should be done blooming before he ever thinks about desiring to sleep with her. In other words, her body is fully developed and probably not having a young girl mindset. This young woman can be married and consecrated to the man.

When is a Girl Done Blooming?
When googling online, you might find the age of puberty development to be anywhere from 16-18 from medical experts.  However, in my own experience, and through the experience of my eldest daughter, my 18-year-old body was not the same as my 22-year-old body.  Both of us had body changes at that age.  Furthermore, we now know that the frontal lobe of the brain (responsible for logical thinking) is not fully developed in children until they are around 22 (considering that they haven’t suffered traumatic events that would affect their mental development).  Therefore, it is important for a mother to consider her body development and these things as well.

What is the “flower of her age”?
Here is a warning from God to Eli the priest about his sons who were sleeping with the women of the church. This passage contains the phrase “flower of their age.” They were obviously young men (not boys) because they weren’t sleeping with girls but with women. Here is what the Lord said.

[33] And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. [34] And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. – 1 Samuel 2:33-34 KJV

So, these young men were considered in “the flower of their age.” 2

This was originally a footnote. For greater visibility, it has been turned into a note.

[36] But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. [37] Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. [38] So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. ~1 Corinthians 7:36-38 KJV

Note:
This does not mean that men can willingly take advantage of women or girls.  The Bible noted originally in the Old Testament in Dueteronomy 22:25 about not taking advantage and then, in the New Testament a Christian is law-abiding in 1 Peter 2:13-16, and also Jesus’ reference to not sinning against children in Mark 9:42 KJV, plus there are tons of references to those who commit unclean lusts.

Nevertheless, according to Christian dating, the Bible also tells us that if that man is firm in his heart to allow her to remain a virgin and has power over his own will, it is far better to keep her as a virgin. This means a young man can have a virgin who is his girlfriend.

[36] But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. [37] Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. [38] So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. ~1 Corinthians 7:36-38 KJV

So yes, innocent, Christian dating is fine if you remain God-fearing and understand that you have the choice to stay a virgin together with your boyfriend under God. Furthermore, if that is the case between you, living together is also not a sin. It only becomes a sin if you start fornicating3 or committing other unclean lusts.

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. ~1 Corinthians 7:2 KJV

I say therefore to the umarried and widows, “It is good for them if they abide even as I.  But if they cannot contain, let them marry:  for it is better to marry than to burn.4” ~1 Corinthians 7:8-9 KJV

Christian dating is perfectly fine. However, if you cannot refrain from lusts and desiring to have relations 5, marry to become husband and wife in the Lord.  Do not fornicate before marriage. Never commit unclean lusts. Ultimately, this is the recommendation for all of us and especially those who cannot remain single.  Paul says that it is better to remain single in the context of serving the Lord with your life. This has nothing to do with the Catholic church and vows of chastity, Paul was making the point that a single Christian life is easier.

The #Bible says that #Christian #Dating is fine if you understand these things... Share on X

Cite this article: Please update the Accessed or Retrieved date (September 13, 2015).

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“Modesty Minute:  Yes, the Bible Says You Can Date If…” A Woman {Saved} Magazine Online. Ed. Bobbie Chariot. Savior Sanity LLC., 1 Aug. 2016. Web. 13 Sept. 2015. <https://awomansaved.com/modesty-minute-christian-dating-yes-the-bible-says-you-can-date-if/>.
“Modesty Minute: Yes, the Bible Says You Can Date If….” A Woman {Saved} Magazine Online. August 1, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2015. https://awomansaved.com/modesty-minute-christian-dating-yes-the-bible-says-you-can-date-if/.
Chariot, B. (Ed.). (2016, August 1). Modesty Minute: Yes, the Bible Says You Can Date If…. Retrieved September 13, 2015, from https://awomansaved.com/modesty-minute-christian-dating-yes-the-bible-says-you-can-date-if/.

Thank you for reading!

Bobbie Chariot

Bio: Founding Editor

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