-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
A
As leelee touched on, I Cor 7 speaks about relationships (as well as both Corinthian Books as already mentioned). Solomon speaks a great deal on relationships from his personal experiences in the Books of Proverbs and Song of Solomon. Col 3, Eph 5 hit on relationships. Plus, do not forget that there are many scriptures in the Bible that instruct us how to treat one another in general, this applies to relationships as well: John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. There are tons along this manner where were are instructed on how to love and respond to others. Finally, Joseph from the Old Testament is a great example of a young man who wanted to manage relationships the right way, when he literally ran from an adulterous woman who tried to tempt him. Joseph eventually married one woman and was a great husband and father (Gen 39:11-12).
A
But First Corinthians doesn't give set standards on how Christian youth should begin relationships. Except, there is a passage in chapter 7 which reads,
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. 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. So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
I think the common interpretation of this is that a father has much control over her daughter, that he decides when his daughter is fit to be given away for marriage.
Listen to me: No one follows this.
So then, someone mentioned Joseph. Now Joseph was indeed a pure young man, and he despised the enticing, sexual advances of sister Potiphar by running from her, for he would not sin against God. But I am of the opinion that, to hold his later marriage with Asenath after his ascendance in the Egyptian empire as any example for initiating relationships is not very sensible.
There is no place in Scripture which gives the romantic woos of Joseph, neither is there any narrative of a courtship between them. What probably happened was that he was simply given a wife because, it could be, that it was not held acceptable in that era in Egypt to hold such a high office in their kingdom and be a bachelor. The entire account of the beginning of his relationship with Asenath is thus: And he [Pharaoh, and not God] gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. Surely no single man here will be promoted by a Pharaoh any time soon, and so we cannot take this as a good example to go by.
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. 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. So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
I think the common interpretation of this is that a father has much control over her daughter, that he decides when his daughter is fit to be given away for marriage.
Listen to me: No one follows this.
So then, someone mentioned Joseph. Now Joseph was indeed a pure young man, and he despised the enticing, sexual advances of sister Potiphar by running from her, for he would not sin against God. But I am of the opinion that, to hold his later marriage with Asenath after his ascendance in the Egyptian empire as any example for initiating relationships is not very sensible.
There is no place in Scripture which gives the romantic woos of Joseph, neither is there any narrative of a courtship between them. What probably happened was that he was simply given a wife because, it could be, that it was not held acceptable in that era in Egypt to hold such a high office in their kingdom and be a bachelor. The entire account of the beginning of his relationship with Asenath is thus: And he [Pharaoh, and not God] gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. Surely no single man here will be promoted by a Pharaoh any time soon, and so we cannot take this as a good example to go by.
A
Oh my goodness ... you don't know how many times in my life I've wanted to just wake up with a rib missing, walk out of my room, and find my own little Eve haha. So much easier than all of this lame stuff of "friendzones" and "nice guys (me) finishing last" and stuff like that.
That would be sweet. She'd be naked too, and we don't generally grow figs in this part of the US ....
lol.
That would be sweet. She'd be naked too, and we don't generally grow figs in this part of the US ....
lol.
A
Eve: Adam, we've sinned, we're now going to die and you have to work a 12-hour day to make a living. And I guess I'm still your "baby machine", ... but now there's gonna be a bunch of freakin' pain with it?! Ugh! Adam! This is all your fault! What are we supposed to do now, huh? You're the man, you're supposed to know what to do! *Begins to cry* Why aren't you saying anything?! Adam, I come to your for this sort of stuff! And you're--
Adam: Well, I think we--
Eve: What?! What?! What is your GRAAAND solution, because I'd love to hear it!
Adam: ... How about sex?
[lol And if you don't believe me, read everything up to Genesis 4.1 haha]
Adam: Well, I think we--
Eve: What?! What?! What is your GRAAAND solution, because I'd love to hear it!
Adam: ... How about sex?
[lol And if you don't believe me, read everything up to Genesis 4.1 haha]
you know, funny as it is, it actually does make me think. Adam and Eve had it "easy" when it came to initiating their relationship, as in God literally hand-delivered Eve to Adam. Perhaps part of the curse of The Fall is that relationships are more challenging.
Back to the OP, I don't really think there's a specific standard as far as detailed step-by-step instructions, but I think it's quite possible to observe some biblical principles about the subject of relationships.
The relationship between God and man is often described in male/female way. The nation of Israel is referred to in the feminine, while God is always referred to in the masculine. There's also the famous analogy of Christ as the groom and His Church as the bride. The trend I see is that God/Christ is the initiator/leader, and the feminine counterpart is the responder/follower.
Consider Christ. In all of the other main world religions, the focus is on sinful mankind pursuing salvation through their respective deity/deities. It's about mankind working their way UP. What sets Christianity apart is that it is the only "religion" in which our deity pursued us and came DOWN to us. We the people were the damsel in distress. But God so LOVED the world that He SENT His Son. And we love because HE first loved us. God made the first move. He loved us first, he came DOWN to us, and He offered us the free gift of salvation. But, like a gentleman, he did not force a relationship upon us. Instead he waits and gives us the freedom to choose, and it is our responsibility to decide whether or not we want to receive the gift and enter into relationship with Him.
The above observation is part of the reason why I personally would prefer not to make the first move, and I will likely teach my future children the same principles. I wouldn't go so far as to state that any other method is wrong or sinful, though.. because I don't think they are. I think the most important things to remember are:
Seek to bring God glory (1 Cor 10:31)
Be selfless and humble, and honor one another above yourself (Romans 12:10 & Philippians 2:3)
Avoid being a stumbling block to your brother or sister in Christ (Romans 14:13)
Back to the OP, I don't really think there's a specific standard as far as detailed step-by-step instructions, but I think it's quite possible to observe some biblical principles about the subject of relationships.
The relationship between God and man is often described in male/female way. The nation of Israel is referred to in the feminine, while God is always referred to in the masculine. There's also the famous analogy of Christ as the groom and His Church as the bride. The trend I see is that God/Christ is the initiator/leader, and the feminine counterpart is the responder/follower.
Consider Christ. In all of the other main world religions, the focus is on sinful mankind pursuing salvation through their respective deity/deities. It's about mankind working their way UP. What sets Christianity apart is that it is the only "religion" in which our deity pursued us and came DOWN to us. We the people were the damsel in distress. But God so LOVED the world that He SENT His Son. And we love because HE first loved us. God made the first move. He loved us first, he came DOWN to us, and He offered us the free gift of salvation. But, like a gentleman, he did not force a relationship upon us. Instead he waits and gives us the freedom to choose, and it is our responsibility to decide whether or not we want to receive the gift and enter into relationship with Him.
The above observation is part of the reason why I personally would prefer not to make the first move, and I will likely teach my future children the same principles. I wouldn't go so far as to state that any other method is wrong or sinful, though.. because I don't think they are. I think the most important things to remember are:
Seek to bring God glory (1 Cor 10:31)
Be selfless and humble, and honor one another above yourself (Romans 12:10 & Philippians 2:3)
Avoid being a stumbling block to your brother or sister in Christ (Romans 14:13)