J.S. Park

There are so many “sources” on relationships and romance out there that we sometimes forget: the Bible doesn’t actually have much to say on the matter.  Which doesn’t mean God thinks it’s unimportant, but also means we probably make it too important.

Allow me to point you to one of the best sermon series I’ve ever heard on relationships.  It’s by my second favorite pastor, Francis Chan (my first favorite being my first pastor), along with his wife Lisa.

Christ Centered Relationships, Part 1

Christ Centered Relationships, Part 2

Christ Centered Relationships, Part 3

And their most recent sermon about relationships from 9-25-11, Two People With One Mission.

The reason I endorse these is because of their biblical priority. Pastor Francis gives an awesome illustration about an air supply.  If your spouse/bf/gf is your air supply, you’ll both be fighting for air until you’re dead.  But if God is your air supply, you’ll both have an infinite resource that will uphold your relationship.  That person cannot be everything you need them to be; only God can.

But God is not simply an air supply.  He’s also the foundation, the King, and the point.  If He’s not first, nothing else makes sense — we only learn to handle people and things on earth when we first rightly view God as Number One. Idolatry is when we switch out that order. That’s when our soul deteriorates by trying to fit the limited into our limitless souls.

I struggle with this everyday.  It’s easy to glorify the temporary at the expense of the eternal.  We can go days or weeks or months without thinking of Christ at all.

I would say simply: As you pursue Christ, also pursue someone who is pursuing Christ.  If both of you help each other swim (instead of drown), that’s a good thing.  Two people should be helping one another to the shore of the Lord.  That doesn’t mean your bf/gf is just doing a bunch of religious activity — but that they actually care about your sanctification and have a personal investment into your walk with God.  Believe it or not, these type of people still exist.  They’re called men and women. Anyone else is just little boys and girls.