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NASB | Ephesians 5:3 ¶ But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 5:3 ¶ But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. |
Bible Question: Is there something in the bible that lets you know if this is ok or not. |
Bible Answer: dabmci I think what you asking is there somewhere in the Bible that okays what we term as dating. Where two committed people go to movies, eat out and spend time with each other. Actually dating is a rather modern phenomenon. In the past two people often wed without seeing the other or if they did see each from time to time it was from afar and they never really spent any time with each other. Today we have gone as far as living together. In the past marriages lasted lifetimes today marriages often last mere weeks. Dating usually accomplishes little since most parties of dating put up a façade never allowing the other person to see their true inter person. It usually amounts to sharing the good of the best times and very little of sharing the bad of the worst times. Therefore it does little to actually prepare two people for marriage. What dating often does do is open the door to intimacy and physical contact. This usually leads to other destructive behaviors that the Bible does condemn. Dating also has a tendency to redirect our focus, allowing the other person to consume our thoughts. The apostle Paul tells us this is not good, that our mind should be on things edifying. So in answer to your question is there a place in the Bible that okays or condemns dating? No. However there are enough cautions and warnings to tell us dating usually results in living on dangerous ground. There are currently people that are committed to a more Biblical form of dating where they are never alone together and never touch one another. Time spent together is restricted. The first time they ever kiss is when the minister tells the groom you may kiss the bride. So far none of these have been married more than a few years but the initial results are showing they have a closer marriage, a better marriage, a more exciting marriage than similar couples that had date extensively before marriage. However we do have to keep in mind all the values used to judge the success of a marriage is subjective and reflects more the values of the people involved than anything else. But if you think about it they never have to worry about comparisons, being judged based on previous partners. Both enter the relationship unencumbered with acquired dating hang ups. EdB |