February 3, 1999
FAMILY MATTERS:
If it's True Love, why do we have to wait?___My boyfriend and I have been dating one year on Valentine's Day. Even though we're only 16, we know we will love each other forever. If it's True Love, then why do we have to wait until we're married?
___Wow! One year is a long time! You and your boyfriend must have a pretty good relationship. It's hard to be involved in school, enjoy your friends and family, be active in your church's student ministries and maintain a year-long relationship. I hope you are enjoying all these areas of your life.
DEBBIE CHISOLM
Minister to Students,
First Baptist Church,
Duncanville
___ "If it's True Love, then why do we have to wait?" The answer is found in the question. You wait because it's True Love. You wait because you have a True Love for your boyfriend/girlfriend. God created sex to be a beautiful part of the relationship between a husband and wife. Within marriage, this physical union brings joy, intimacy and a special way of communicating your love for each other. Outside of marriage, this physical union brings guilt, shame and most of the time hurts your relationship rather than creating more intimacy.
___You wait because of your True Love for yourself, your family and your friends. Even if you were convinced this would not affect your relationship with the person you're in love with, think how it will affect your relationship with your parents and your friends. God is very vocal about the way we are to love and honor our parents. He also is very clear that we are to help each other make godly decisions and not set bad examples for each other.
___You wait because of your True Love for God. Loving God means so many things. It means spending time with him, worshiping him, talking to him, wanting to understand who he is. It also means obeying him. It's one of the ways we show our True Love.
___Many people who have been married for many years tell me that they fell in love with each other as teenagers. Of course, I know many who didn't marry their high school loves. Staying "in love with each other forever" is difficult even in the best of circumstances. That's why even good Christian people get divorced.
___Why add the possibility of dealing with the negative results that come from not waiting? If it's True Love, then you have forever to enjoy each other. Right now, concentrate on the friendship. Besides, it's the friendship, not the physical relationship, that let's you know it's True Love!Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!