Everyone dates. Or at least, everyone is supposed to date. Or, if they don't date, then something is wrong, or someone is ugly, right?

In modern America, recreational dating is taken to be a positive good, like food, air, and sunshine, a necessary, inescapable activity. It is considered to be a normal and natural part of growing up - what could be more wholesomely American than taking a girl to the prom? It makes us think of the fifties, when things weren't so messed up.

In America today, relationships between boys and girls, men and women, husbands and wives are a stretcher case. That pride is at the heart of this problem can be seen in the fact that the worse our troubles get, the more faith we have in our methods and procedures. Like the woman in Luke's gospel, the treatment we receive from our physicians does not really touch our condition. And like that woman, our livelihood is now up and gone (Luke 8:43). The starting point for most of our relationships, the modern dating system, can be safely considered as bankrupt.

Sex Only In Marriage

Sexual relations are declared to be immoral when they are not enjoyed within the condition of marriage.  “Let marriage be kept in honor among all, and the bed is undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers” (Hebrews 13:4).  The only answer for sexual urges, if one is to avoid fornication, is marriage: “Because of fornications, let each man have his own wife” (I Corinthians 7:2).