“…the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth “…the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15b MKJV) God established the church to be a leading forum in society where truth is to be promoted, protected, and performed. Truth that comes from God’s character and heart, which produces freedom and liberty to families, businesses, governments, cultural, and society.

Marriage & Dating

Additional Marriage Questions I am not the touchy kind, but my spouse is. What do I do? Go to the Impact Church of South Florida App. Listen to the message and review the message notes on “What God has Joined Together.” It’s very likely that your spouse has a specific love language identified as “physical touch” where he/she gains emotional love, health and support through physical touches and gestures of affection. He/she is probably projecting that on you in their touchiness thinking they are showing you extreme love and affection. Confirm if that is their love language and commit to communicate to them in their language. Additionally, identify your love language and help your spouse to understand the need that you have for them to speak your language to you. What to do about things that can cause a marriage to suffer in the bedroom; erectile dysfunctions, diabetes among other things? Always trust God for health, wholeness, and strength for your and your spouse’s body. It’s a covenant right we have from God. You can also employ the usage of medicine and/or medical treatments as you trust God in this area. Psalm 103:1 – 3; Isaiah 53:4, 5; 1 Peter 2:24

The Purpose of Dating: The purpose for dating is to determine if this person is someone you can become one with and fulfill God’s purposes for your lives together.

Is there biblical approval for women to look for a mate online since the man should find a good woman or wife? He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22 AMPC   There is nothing we know of from the Bible that prohibits someone from uploading a profile to a dating site. However, the following are some recommendations we encourage.

Online Dating Recommendations: Trust God to fulfill the desire, not the dating site or a matching making friend. Psalm 37:4 Choose a site that is Christian and promotes Christians values. Even if a person is a Christian, you could still not be the best fit for each other. 2 Corinthians 6:14 When connected with someone, pursue a non contact friendship first. Don’t rush to meet and date. Communicate from a distance for a while (i.e. phone, skype, email, social media, etc.). Philippians 4:6 Do extensive homework on the person(s) you connect with. Proverbs 11:14 Don’t allow society to turn you into the relationship aggressor. God designed men to pursue a bride. Proverbs 18:22

Why do some women, if not most, feel that a guy being nice or mannerly towards them is being flirtatious? “You say, “I am allowed to do anything” —but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NLT

38% is your tone of voice [according Psychology Today] In communication, the words we say is only 7% of the message the other person receives. 55% is body language 38% is your tone of voice [according Psychology Today]   So many times a person says, “I’m just being friendly,” but your body language is saying something completely different. Additionally, there are cases where a man (or woman) knows that he/she is not interested in someone but likes the banter and attention that comes from attraction-charged playful interaction. That is 100% wrong and inconsiderate of the other person. It doesn’t give thought to the best interest of the other person. Questions to ask yourself: The way I am acting with this person, would I interact this way with a friend of the same sex? If I were [am] married, would I be ok with my spouse interacting with someone this way or someone interacting with my spouse in this way?

Is it okay to kiss someone you’re on a date with? It’s not a sin to kiss someone, but kissing can lead to sexual involvement. You have to be honest with yourself about how kissing someone you’re attracted to affects you and them.   “Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18 AMP

Consider this When using your Lips: Who? Is this someone that I see myself serving in marriage? Do I have enough information yet to make that objective decision? Are both of us ready (spiritually, mentally, emotionally, vocationally, and financially) to commit to each other in marriage? What? What do I know about this person and his/her ability to control their body? What about what I know of myself? Can I handle it? When? How long have you been in the relationship? Is the person someone you could see something long term with? Where? Where are you when you kiss; in private or public? Why? Why are you kissing? Is it to satisfy an internal desire? How? Is it a peck on the cheek or lips or deep heavy kissing? Is it standing up, sitting down, or laying on something?

Can I move in with my boyfriend/girlfriend after dating a certain amount of time? “Now the LORD God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him--a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him.” So the LORD God formed out of the ground every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. And the man gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper [that was] suitable (a companion) for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. And the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man He made (fashioned, formed) into a woman, and He brought her and presented her to the man. Then Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” GENESIS 2:18-24 AMP

The purpose for dating is to determine if this person is someone you can become one with and fulfill God’s purposes for your lives together. Sexual intimacy is an expression of the oneness that has occurred in marriage. This is why God structured it to take place after a man and woman have been joined in matrimony first. Some other physical things that a man & woman share together that reflect and express this spiritual oneness are living in the same house, taking the same name, and having the same bank account(s). It is premature and against God’s character & prescription to a healthy relationship to do the things that join you physically with someone – intimacy, living together, washing each other’s clothes, acting as a parent to another’s child - when the spiritual oneness that creates and protects this dynamic has not yet taken place.

A Godly Approach to Dating Begin with the premise/foundation that the person you are dating is someone’s son/daughter. Genesis 1:26-28 Be ready to enrich, enhance, and bless the other person’s life. Luke 6:31 Determine early on if he or she fits you. This does not take long. Men, does her anointing compliment or conflict with your vision? Women, does his vision cultivate or kill your anointing? Romans 12:4 – 8 Stay objective in the relationship. Your spirit and God’s Word must always dominate & control your emotions and hormones. 1 Peter 5:8 Work on effective communication all the time. John 15:14, 15 Ephesians 4:28

A Godly Approach to Dating Invite them into deeper levels of your life progressively over time. Don’t open up all your private matters to him/her in the first few months. John 16:12, 13 Cherish & honor his/her body as the temple of God. Having dessert before the entrée can ruin your appetite for the entire meal. 1 Corinthians 6:20 Establish safe boundaries for the relationship to flourish. 1 Corinthians 10:23; Romans 14:16, 19 Share in and develop common interest. Having things that you enjoy together and that you do together builds a strong and lasting bond. Psalms 133:1 Invite God to be your chaperone. Read the Word together, pray together. At the beginning of phone conversations, dates, and etc. invite God to rule over the experience. Psalm 91:1