Preface
One of the most confusing issues that face Christian young people today is understanding what the Bible teaches about romance. While we know that the precious Word of God is unchanging, the world in which we live is so morally dark—changing and lowering its moral standards so often—that the whole area of God honoring standards of conduct when two Christians fall in love can be quite difficult to discern.
Of course the world has no lack of its own standards—the most of which are thoroughly godless and often patterned after the decadent life-styles of popular entertainers, professional athletes or those prominent in other areas of society. Morality, or rather the complete lack of it, in the world in which we live provides no standards at all. Man's morals are built on the shifting sands of public opinion rather than the unchanging rock of the Bible. Because of this, the sphere of human love and romance has become one of the most stark examples of the sorrow and corruption resulting from a spirit similar to that found in the book of Judges: "but every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judg. 21:2525In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)).
Today romantic love (at least what the world considers love) has become the motivator and justifier for the allowance of every kind of corrupt and abominable conduct and unrestrained lust.
Because this is so, without the wonderful light—Divine and unchanging—of the precious Word of God, the outlook for a Christian couple seeking to fully enjoy the excitement and wonder of romance in a way that not only gives deep pleasure, but glorifies God, would be bleak indeed. But it is God who created the human heart and affections, who said "It is not good that the man should be alone", who provided in Eve a meet companion to fill and satisfy Adam's heart. Thus we may be sure that while our loving God and His standards have never changed (nor will they ever change), we may confidently open His Word assured that it contains all the divine guidance and instruction needed for every aspect and detail of the wonderful and exciting world of romance, courtship and dating.