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Dating: Getting to KnowYou

married.Many Christians advocate
people who dedicate themselves to
Christ’s work should avoid the
distractions of dating,marriage,and
subsequent family obligations.Some
argue it is easier to live a Christian life
when you are focused only on Christ,not
on members of the opposite sex.
In contemporary America,it is
difficult to live life as a single person.Our
culture emphasizes coupling,either in
dating or marriage.People who choose to
be single or who choose not to date,are
often viewed with confusion or pity or
judged to be of a different sexual
orientation.
The reality is that,while almost all
people expect to marry,people actually
are spending an increasing number of
years unmarried.According to the 2005
Census Bureau report,8% of men and
33.1% of women between the ages of 25
and 29 had never been married; and,
according to the same report,26% of
Americans lived alone.In 1950,only 9%
of households were headed by a single
person,compared to 48% in 2004 (U.S.
Census Bureau,2005b).While marriage
continues to be important,and most
people eventually will marry,people are
delaying marriage and spending more
time as singles.During this single period,
they are very busy pursuing educations,
careers,hobbies,travel,and other
personal interests.“Single”has now
become an accepted status for young


people,as people are encouraged to
develop their own identities before
making a lifelong commitment to another
person.

Data indicates many Christians do not
date very often.A 2004Christianity Today
poll of single people indicated 54% had
not been on a date in the past 2 years
(Courtney,2004).Comments by
Christians who are not dating indicated
they preferred not to have the pressure of
premature sexual intimacy and marriage.
Many Christians are choosing not to date
because they want to develop friendships
with people of the opposite sex without
the pressure of a lifelong commitment.

Remaining single can liberate one
for a life of adventure.

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