I bought my own first car at age 22. He's a beaut. I call him "Tom". Reason 1: He's a Jeep Patriot. Reason 2: My step-dad co-signed for him. His last name is Thomas. He's a namesake car. I try to live my life completely and totally Biblically lead. I want the Lord to breath advice, insight and wisdom into me life through His breathed Word. This gets a little tricky in the modern world. The Bible doesn't outline traffic directions for motor vehicles. The Bible doesn't give me advice for defensive driving. It does tell me about respecting authority, which helps.
It was brought to my attention by my fabulous small group of Junior and Senior girls that some Christians believe since the Bible doesn't outline dating, it's unacceptable. As a 17 year-old, this is confusing and conflicting. "I live in America, and my parents aren't going to arrange a marriage for me, so how on God's green earth am I supposed to marry a Godly man if I don't date him or get to know him on a level that shows me his character in a romantic, providing setting (that others will just define as dating even if I don't)?" This is foggy. And scary. At seventeen, I wanted to do everything right. I wanted to be a good girl, and walk the straight and narrow. But am I going to be judged if I date? Better question: am I going to be a weirdie if I take a stance against dating? In the same manner that the Bible doesn't outline a red-light, green-light strategy, but does tell me to obey the law and authority, it doesn't say anything about "dating", but it does talk about relationships between women and men.
My encouragement to teens, read Matthew 6:33 and 10:37. Is your relationship with Jesus at a point where the boy or girl you are dating or want to date will feel neglected and second-best by you because of your relationship with Jesus? Ask yourself, are you the person you want the man or woman you want to marry to be looking for? If not, you're not ready to date. If so, continue to delight yourself in the Lord, exploring His Word and guidelines for your life that will put you in a state-of-mind and give you the actions to act Biblically spilling into your relationships (Psalm 4:23).
The Bible doesn't give me specifics about dating, or driving, or cupcakes. But it does equip me strive for a life of righteousness that will allow me to live Biblically in 2013.
