from Life Matters
'll give some specifics, but before I do, let's lay down a foundation. If we're asking how close to sin we can get girls, we're asking the wrong question. We need a change of heart. We need to start asking, "How close to God can I get her? How far can I go to lead this girl to holiness, and guard her innocence?" Until we have this transformation of our heart and will, it'll be difficult to determine where to set the physical boundaries in a relationship. Also, whenever we operate with the "how far is too far" mentality, where do we usually end up? More often than not, we end up going right up to that boundary, and inching it forward each time we visit it.
We need to remind ourselves that purity is not simply a matter of staying on one side of a line that we've drawn. It's a battle for our hearts and minds as well as our bodies. Just because a guy hasn't crossed a line, it doesn't mean that he's pure. It may mean that the he's never had the opportunity to cross it.
Anyway, here are a few guidelines for how you can know how far is too far. Whenever you are considering doing something with a girl, ask yourself if you would do that if Jesus were in the room. In our hearts, we all know what is pleasing to God. Also, consider how you would want a guy to treat your future daughter or future bride, and treat women accordingly. Let this sink in. Often, we get so involved in intense relationships that it's hard to sit back and really look into our hearts.
Some people assume, "So long as I'm being a virgin, I'm being good." They compare themselves with others who are sleeping around on a regular basis, and as long as they see the world from that perspective, they feel like they're right on track. Meanwhile, they give away bits of themselves in passing relationships, all under the pretense that their friends are worse.
Do yourself a favor: Don't get technical about drawing a line at virginity, and saying that all else goes. If you can't decide if a particular action is "too far," imagine what the look on your future bride or groom's face would be if you ever told her or him that you shared that act with another person. Make decisions now that would bless the heart of your future spouse, not wound it. (And do notbe quick to discuss the specifics of your prior experience with potential spouses; a lot of that information could do far more harm than good.)
So where does the line go? For starters, know that the line begins in your mind. As soon as you begin to lust after a girl, stop. In regards to physical lines, an easy guideline to remember is, "Don't touch what you don't got." Also, I'd recommend no passionate kissing, kissing below the chin, or lying down together. That may seem extreme to some, but the more you become sensual and physical in a relationship, the more the relationship begins to revolve around that.
I'll admit that it's easy to see this as a litany of "no's" but think of it like this. There's a highway in California that runs up the coast. It's a gorgeous ride that takes you along the side of a sheer cliff that drops hundreds of feet to the ocean. Imagine that you were cruising along in your priceless sports car, and the passenger with you remarked, "Man, there's another one of those stupid guardrails. And look, another sign saying there's a sharp turn ahead. I hate how the California highway system inhibits your freedom, and tells you what to do." Odds are, you wouldn't let the guy drive your car.
When we hear different moral laws about our sexuality, they are there for the same reason that guardrails and signposts mark a person's drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. If you want to express your freedom as you drive off the cliff, you're free to do so. But the purity of your soul is worth much more than a car. The Church's moral laws are there for our sake, so that we don't fall for counterfeit versions of love.
If you have tried everything else for years, try purity. You won't regret it. I've spoken to over a hundred-thousand teens about dating, sex, and relationships, and I have never met one who regretted what he or she did not do with a date. I've never had a high school girl come up to me in tears after a chastity talk because she did not sleep with her boyfriend. I've never had a guy confide in me that he was scared to death that his girlfriend was not pregnant. They regret what they've done, not what they've saved.
Imagine you were dating a beautiful young woman who you hoped to marry, and she had never kissed anyone because she wanted only her husband to know the touch of her lips. What man would not be flattered by her integrity and purity? What man would send her away to go a little further with the other guys? If we would be so honored by her, why would we not want to make a woman feel honored in the same way?
This question and answer taken from Jason Evert's book If You Really Loved Me.
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