Questions reveal a lot about us.
If you think BOTH sexes aren't wanting to meet each other, think again. The question is, what are you seeking and why? Are you pursuing a relationship with another person in Jesus for fellowship and mutuality? Do you immediately want to "pair off" and be a "thing"? Are you lonely? Do you have lots of friends of the opposite sex?
We are, Paul says, "..not to be squeezed into the world's mould..." (Romans 12:2a). So what does that look like when it comes to asking others to relate? Lust is the predominant sentiment in the world and has made significant progress in the North American church, IMO. Look at the stats for how many Christian leaders can't stop lusting online or in real life.
Too many North American Christians have the emotional maturity of 13-year-olds (look at the stats gathered by Christian professionals like George Barna and Dr. Jim Wilder). How can we expect they will act maturely with the opposite sex? Look at our marriage retention rates compared to the world system! The problem is we are immature spiritually and emotionally.
Maturity emotionally is based on being loved well and synchronizing with others. Does that sound like you? Can you return from difficult positive or negative emotions quickly and deftly, or do you behave in ways you often need to "clean up"? These are signs you have areas of emotional maturity in which you are stuck. Do you characterize your relationships as based on love or fear, mainly?
If you have the kinds of issues I am describing above, chances are that you may not have the emotional maturity you need to be successful in a marriage relationship. If that's true, you need people who can help because they have that maturity. These people are referred to in the Bible as Elders. And before we jump passed the term "elder," let's make sure we know what an elder is.
An Elder has raised his kids to maturity. They are the husband/wife of one wife/husband. They have time, skill and inclination to help their community grow in emotional maturity. Look at what Paul says to Timothy about needing to pick elders as a young leader. These people don't need a title; they attract attention because they know how to live maturely. You often DON'T see them beetling off to the south in the colder times of the year. Instead, they stick around to support their community.
So yes, seek friends to relate to, and even more, seek people that are "upstream of you in terms of spiritual and emotional maturity so that you can be ready for a possible marriage relationship.
If you think BOTH sexes aren't wanting to meet each other, think again. The question is, what are you seeking and why? Are you pursuing a relationship with another person in Jesus for fellowship and mutuality? Do you immediately want to "pair off" and be a "thing"? Are you lonely? Do you have lots of friends of the opposite sex?
We are, Paul says, "..not to be squeezed into the world's mould..." (Romans 12:2a). So what does that look like when it comes to asking others to relate? Lust is the predominant sentiment in the world and has made significant progress in the North American church, IMO. Look at the stats for how many Christian leaders can't stop lusting online or in real life.
Too many North American Christians have the emotional maturity of 13-year-olds (look at the stats gathered by Christian professionals like George Barna and Dr. Jim Wilder). How can we expect they will act maturely with the opposite sex? Look at our marriage retention rates compared to the world system! The problem is we are immature spiritually and emotionally.
Maturity emotionally is based on being loved well and synchronizing with others. Does that sound like you? Can you return from difficult positive or negative emotions quickly and deftly, or do you behave in ways you often need to "clean up"? These are signs you have areas of emotional maturity in which you are stuck. Do you characterize your relationships as based on love or fear, mainly?
If you have the kinds of issues I am describing above, chances are that you may not have the emotional maturity you need to be successful in a marriage relationship. If that's true, you need people who can help because they have that maturity. These people are referred to in the Bible as Elders. And before we jump passed the term "elder," let's make sure we know what an elder is.
An Elder has raised his kids to maturity. They are the husband/wife of one wife/husband. They have time, skill and inclination to help their community grow in emotional maturity. Look at what Paul says to Timothy about needing to pick elders as a young leader. These people don't need a title; they attract attention because they know how to live maturely. You often DON'T see them beetling off to the south in the colder times of the year. Instead, they stick around to support their community.
So yes, seek friends to relate to, and even more, seek people that are "upstream of you in terms of spiritual and emotional maturity so that you can be ready for a possible marriage relationship.
A lot of teachers do NOT know how to teach this age group, and this is when they are most vulnerable.
For girls who are getting their first periods, its can be a confusing time.