Re: "Now Ladies, Make Sure You Put That Nice Guy That's Interested In The Friendzone!
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Why do they do this?
I hate the term friendzone and the way it's used.
It makes it sound like people are REQUIRED to fall in love with someone and that it's a crime to only be drawn to them in a friends-only sort of way. I think this type of thinking is dangerous. Consider this example:
I meet a man who I find attractive based on a combination of his looks, personality, virtues, Christ-like qualities, etc. I fully recognize that I am drawn to him.. when suddenly, I hear through the grapevine that he is engaged. Oops. Immediately I file him away into a "friends-only" category. I still value him as a friend and brother in Christ, but I know that anything beyond friendship is completely off-limits.
What have I done? I have just friendzoned him.
I know my example seems a little extreme, but my point is it is both normal and healthy to have an awareness as to who might potentially be a good match vs. who NEEDS to be placed into a "Friends-only" category. We are not designed to be attracted to just any particular member of the opposite sex. We are not animals. God created us with a soul and a spirit, with completely unique personalities and gifts. No one is superior to the other, but we are all different, and these differences also imply that certain combinations of people will be more compatible than others.
Reasons why I might put a guy in the "friendzone" (most of these are discoveries that I would hope to make by being friends with him for a while first):
- He's taken
- He's either lost, fairly new to Christianity, or still fairly immature in his faith.
- Conversation with him doesn't flow easily and naturally. This has NOTHING to do with his faith or character but if feel like it's a struggle to talk to him then it's a sign we're not compatible.
- We have little to no common interests
- His passions and spiritual gifts are wonderful and admirable, but they're so different from mine that he'd probably be more effective in serving the Lord if he were with a woman who had more similar gifts.
- He doesn't have rock hard abs. (I'm totally kidding, Art! This does NOT matter to me, or most of the Christian women I know.)
I'm thankful for your questions, Art, and I hope you are able to gain some clarity and insight through the many wonderful responses in this thread. I'm still praying for you, because through all of your threads I am sensing the same pain. Please remember that no matter how many times you may feel rejected, you are a child of the most high God. Also, please remember that no matter how many women you feel are mistreating/rejecting you, they do NOT represent the entire population of Christian women. Though we are flawed sinners, we are also daughters of the King, and many of us are trying our best to interact with men in a way that glorifies the Lord. I don't know what the future holds for you, I can't even guarantee that you (or I, or anyone) is going to get married without a doubt. But I do know that it is not impossible to find a woman who loves the Lord with all her heart.
God bless
<3