Christian Courtship

INTRODUCTION
Christian Courtship is a period before marriage where a christian brother and sister agree about many issues and see if they both share the same vision, hope and aspirations about marriage. It involves two people that have agreed to walk together, in the direction of marriage- Amos 3:3.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COURTSHIP
Courtship is very important and necessary for the intending couple to observe, if they want to enjoy their marriage. It is during the courtship that proper biblical foundation must be laid down in order to have a happy married life. It is a period to get to know each other intimately apart from carnal knowledge and illicit romance.
Before you venture into wedding plans, both of you must agree on a lot of things like what you both want for your marriage.Know each other's strength and weaknesses, likes and dislikes and parents. Both of you must realize what marriage means TILL DEATH DO US PART.
 It is a time to plan for the wedding and the marriage. One vital issue that must be addressed during this period is to obtain the consent of both parents - Gen 24:54-59. It is a period to undertake marriage counselling lessons. After proposing to a lady and she has agreed to marry you, the next thing to do is to obey the biblical injunction to prove all things- 1 Thess 5:21. Secretly indulging in bodily, emotional and sexual pleasure at this stage with your marriage partner is a sin- Rom 12:1-2.It is a potential sign of marital failure.
LONG COURTSHIP NOT ADVISABLE
Long courtship, in the interest of two partners is not advisable. In some churches, long courtship of not less than two years is encouraged with the hope that with such time input, the couple will get to know each other properly  This can, however, easily expose the partners to sexual temptation and thus break the divine constitution "touch not; taste not; handle not" Col 2:21.
Besides, human beings can pretend and hide true identities until after the real marriage. To save the intending couple, therefore, a minimum period of six months and maximum of one year is recommended or advisable.
CONCLUSION
Our heavenly father is the best friend anyone can have but also the worst enemy a man can have. Remember, He is the one that ordained the institution of marriage. It  will be dangerous for anyone to attempt to establish a home without Him. Courtship is not a period to play pranks. Watch and be warned.

COURTSHIP TIPS

 

What is courtship? This is a period of mutual agreement and understanding reached between two opposite sex on marital issue and when they are eventually joined in holy wedlock.

While ‘tips’ can be defined as guiding rules or a piece of advice on how to handle an issue. Thus courtship tips are guiding rules on how to maintain a long – lasting and successful relationship that might eventually lead to marriage.

TIPS

·         Don’t date someone who is not interested in your values, dreams, goals, success, happiness and fulfilment in life

·         Don’t rush into dating relationship but take it slow; people that rush end up suffer from hurt, rejection and heartbrokenness. Thus take time “to look before you leap”

·         Date someone with similar goals, values, dreams, belief and interest. It enhances your level of understanding and intimacy in relationship.

·         Never get into a relationship with a person of no purpose, vision or goals in life.

·         Always zip up your pants or trouser, wait for marriage before you have sex. Know that sex never leads to true love or marriage.

·         Allow the basis of your dating relationship on platonic friendship not lovers for it’s much easier to get to know the real person as a friend than as a lover. However, friends can become good lovers with time.

·         Avoid late visitation that might lead to sleeping in the same room together

·         Never pack into a man’s house and be staying with him when you have not married (co- habitation) for in doing so, you will lose your respect, self worth and self esteem.

·         Be honest and trustworthy to your spouse and be discipline towards other women and men

·         Don’t date anyone based on infatuation or sympathy but rather let it be based on real lover.

·         As men, always make out quality time for spouse, so that she can feel loved and appreciated.

·         Never go into relationship with someone you cannot trust.

·         As a lady, never date someone who does not want to come to your house in order not to be known by your parents or take you to his family house.

·         Always pray and play together in open places not in enclosed ones.

·         Don’t go out with someone of different ideology especially on spiritual issues

·         Avoid body fondling, kissing, romance, petting, and necking for all these lead to sexual stimulation, which always create an appetite for sex

·         Never a relationship with a mind of changing person’s beliefs, goals, or vision because you will be disappointed at the end of the day.

·         Never lure your spouse into sex, if you love love her, you will wait for her, also girls should not be wearing seductive clothes, learn to dress modestly and decently.

·         Don’t date a man that is not proud of you or tolerates you but rather go for someone that celebrates you.

·         Always  be first to end a date as a lady ,this shows how responsible and discipline you are