14 June | Youth

Casual or Serious Dating?

«Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?» Proverbs 6:27

Hooking up is a phenomenon that emerged in the 1980s. It is a superficial relationship, not serious, without commitment. I can say that this type of relationship does not satisfy anyone looking for integrity and decency. Many young people become victims of false advertising and think that casual dating is the norm.

Among our basic needs we find the needs to be loved and accepted. We seek to belong to a group and crave intimacy. However, in casual relationships, the only thing that counts is the pleasure of the moment. And basically, the only stimulus is physical appearance. As we live in a hedonistic society, that is, focused on pleasure, many young people give their bodies to someone else just for the pleasure of the moment.

Young people who try to jump ahead find themselves in an artificial situation and indulge in erotic manipulation. Simply hooking up is opposite to the idea of commitment and produces a mental pattern of exchanging partners. With this, a path is open for the possibility of adultery in marriage. Those who are constantly “hooking up” do not find joy in a lasting commitment.

In the experience of casual relationships someone always gets hurt. Hooking up can be an achievement. The battle for popularity is won, but the war for respect is lost. The person who accepts casual dating lowers their value and ends up disqualifying themselves from serious and edifying relationships.

In Proverbs 6:27, wisdom asks, “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” The answer is obvious. Superficial, casual and uncommitted relationships increase the chances of mutual emotional injuries. Furthermore, there is always one person who gets more involved than the other. In the breakup, they will suffer more.

Dear youth, your value is too high to sell yourself at such a low price. Jesus is the biggest argument against casual relationships. Never accept being degraded to the condition of an object of irresponsible pleasure. You have been bought at an infinite price.