by L.K. Daue

Created on: February 10, 2008

Dating in one's teens can be a battlefield, and in an oversexed, increasingly secular society, sticking to one's Christian guns and not falling into the trap of premature fornication and risque dalliances adds another dimension to the already difficult process. The concept of what is acceptable and where to draw the line can be confusing, but there are six basic rules or guidelines to make that boundary crystal clear.

1. No sex. This includes that of the manual, oral, anal, and vaginal natures. Anything that raises a heartbeat and increases lusty, sexual thoughts is considered impure, not to mention that it complicates delicate, budding relationships.

2. Avoid pornography. The reasons for avoiding pornography are the same for not engaging in sexual activity: it raises heartbeats and invokes lusty, sexual thoughts, which, in turn, makes avoiding sex more difficult.

3. Don't engage in homosexual relationships. Being or acting gay has become very trendy over the last few years, especially among women. Media has glorified lesbian behavior-think The L Word or several scenes in Mean Girls-and as a result, more young women are becoming bi-curious. While each Christian religion has a slightly different stance on the acceptability of actually being homosexual, all of them maintain that engaging in homosexual behavior is morally wrong.

4. Hang out with people with similar values. By surrounding oneself with like-minded folks, tempting situations rarely arise. Additionally, the refinement process for finding a girl- or boyfriend has the preexisting filter of Christianity. Most churches have some sort of youth ministry program, which is a built-in group of like-minded, age-appropriate people with whom to hang out.

5. Participate in completely platonic activities. There is nothing sexual about bowling, putt-putt, or go-carts, but all three make excellent date nights. Instead of parking somewhere to "watch the stars," try something a little less sexually-charged.

6. Go to church. By practicing religion, one is reminded why he or she chooses not to partake in adolescent debauchery, as well as why certain behavior is considered debased.

Jesus was not beyond temptation, and neither are humans today-that's part of what makes us human! However, by following these guidelines, dating becomes much less threatening and starts becoming a fun way to enjoy time with a member of the opposite sex.

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