Love, Courtship and Marriage
Boundaries of Intimacy
M
y teenage
daughter
recently
started
dating, a
fact that
both delights and concerns
me. I say delight because he is
a sweet boy who really cares
about her, but I’m equally
concerned about the choices
that they will make regarding
physical intimacy.
High school students are losing
their virginity at an alarming
Sylvia Young
rate, and so sex is considered
a part of a typical relationship
by many of them. How then,
can we, as Christian parents,
discourage our teens from just
blending in or normalizing sex
before marriage?
Of course, in the end, it will
be up to them, but I had a
conversation with my daughter
that I hope will provide her with
some insight as to what I believe
is one of God’s reasons for saving
intimacy for marriage.
Trust, affection, emotional
connection, and respect are
the meat and potatoes, or the
chickpeas and vegetables for our
vegetarian readers, of a good
relationship. We need these vital
foods to survive and be healthy.
So then, where does physical
intimacy factor in? Perhaps, sex
could be considered as dessert.
Of course, it’s necessary for
procreation and creating an
intimate connection between
married couples, but it has been
given to us as a gift from God,
for pleasure.
DOZ Magazine
November 2017
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