This is an article by a pastor who does not know all of the truth--but does a good job on a very serious problem with our people--they don't know that dating is wrong. He wrote this article and put it on his website!--Editor
Dating Verses Courting
By Tom Brown
Joshua Harris wrote a book with a provocative title, "I’ve kissed dating goodbye." You need to kiss dating goodbye. I believe that dating is the world’s way to find a spouse. Many might be wondering, If I don’t date, how am I going to find a spouse?You should find a spouse through courting. Courtship is more of a scriptural way to meet a prospective spouse than dating. What is the difference between dating and courting? Let me say first of all: Don’t get hung up on terms. It is possible to use the word date but not necessarily have the same understanding as my definition. I am giving you my definition of dating. If you say you date but don’t do what I define dating as being, then I feel you are practicing courting, although you might still use the term dating. My definition of dating is that it is a modern game where intimacy is practiced before commitment. It often involves romantic talk, holding hands, kissing, making out, and oftentimes sex. Commitment never proceeds intimacy. The word date comes from the word mate. It doesn’t sound good to tell someone you are mating with Mr. X. You prefer to use the word dating. It sounds so much better, but in reality, dating and mating are sometimes the same. I looked up the word date in my encyclopedia and it said, "see Sex and Teenage." Even my encyclopedia agrees with my definition.
PERFIDY: n. deliberate violation of trust; treachery.
TREASON: n. to betray; abandon or surrender fidelity.
Mother gave birth to me November 11, 1944 at 11:41 A.M. Dad was at war in the South Pacific during my second and third trimester. Mother listened intently to every radio broadcast about the war she could.
In November of 1967 I began an all expenses paid, one year "vacation" to beautiful, tropical Southeast Asia. I was there for "Tet", returning with a drug and alcohol predilection. This took an additional seven years of my life. Rehabilitation and re-education began in earnest January 1, 1976. I have not stopped.
I share this personal information that you may know I have a burden for those who war.
From Jer. 5:23 to the end of the chapter we read, "This people has a stubborn and rebellious heart. They do not say in their heart, 'let us now fear the Lord'. For wicked men are found among My people . They spread nets, they lay traps, they catch men… their houses are full of deceit… they have become great and rich. They are fat, they deal in false evidence… Shall I not punish these people? Declares the Lord… there is a shameful and horrible thing in the country! The preachers preach falsehood, and the priests trick with their hands, and My people love to have it so, what can be done viler than that?"
What can be viler than ministers who call themselves Christian, but whom God calls wicked men that spread nets and lay traps to catch men? It sounds like Jeremiah is describing predators for profit. It sounds like a church-sponsored Halloween with spider webs and bats. Or maybe you’ve seen the banner in front of some banks that say ‘Hallo-wee-ones’; wee ones suggesting little children. Aren’t these preachers and bankers thoughtful? We’ll see just what they are thinking.
