The difference bet courting and dating!!
| Although some people use the terms "dating" and "courting" synonymously, they are actually two very different concepts. When two people begin to date, it is usually considered to be a casual relationship, even if neither person is dating anyone else. Dating is about having fun and becoming intimate without any real commitment. Kissing, holding hands, and even sexual acts are almost always included in the act of dating. Satisfying these kinds of physical desires usually takes precedence over truly getting to know a person. A couple who is only dating is usually not marriage-minded, although they are intimacy-minded.
Courting, on the other hand, is about getting to know someone enough to discover whether or not the two people would be compatible for marriage. It begins as a friendship and opens the door for discussions on important issues such as individual goals, morals, values, religious beliefs, children, family, etc. For a Christian, this is the time where he or she would find out if their potential marriage partner is also a believer in Christ. The Bible warns us that believers and unbelievers should not team up, because those living in the light (of Christ) and those living in the darkness cannot live in harmony (2Corinthians 6:14-15). During this time there is no physical intimacy, as this is something to wait for until marriage (1Corinthians 6:18-20). Although neither dating nor courting are found anywhere in Scripture, courting more closely resembles the biblical method for finding a mate. It allows for the two people to truly get to know each other in a more platonic setting without the pressures of physical intimacy or emotions clouding their view. Dating just for the "fun" of it, without any commitment attached, puts each person in tempting situations which could alter their judgment and cause them to fall into sin which will affect not only their relationship with God, but also their future spouse. "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1Corinthians 10:31, NKJV). |
