{"id":52203,"date":"2020-02-13T00:27:55","date_gmt":"2020-02-13T06:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/?p=52203"},"modified":"2025-08-06T12:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T17:38:52","slug":"i-kissed-dating-hello","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/i-kissed-dating-hello\/","title":{"rendered":"I Kissed Dating Hello"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you\u2019ve heard of the Christian book I Kissed Dating Goodbye<\/i><\/a>, which was published several decades ago, you may have chuckled at the title of this blog post. The essence of that book was this idea: don\u2019t date around, become exclusive with the first person you seem compatible with and pursue marriage.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I believe many Christians have continued to be influenced by that idea. Many view dating as a tedious search to find the “right” spouse. So they jump into an exclusive relationship and put the pedal to the metal full force, quickly getting married. They don\u2019t take the time to go on dates with different types of people. For some, it’s the fear of being perceived as a “player.” But some have gotten the idea, as the book suggests, that dating a lot of people isn’t biblical.\u00a0<\/span>
\nI held many of these views until last year. Then I tried a new approach.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"i-kissed-dating-hello\"<\/a>
Bridging the Gap blog #hurthealedwhole<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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For 50+ years, Josh McDowell<\/span><\/a> Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God\u2019s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research<\/span><\/a> to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I Kissed Dating Hello<\/b><\/h2>\n

What did I do differently? <\/span>I kissed casual dating hello<\/em>. <\/span>
\nI went on lots<\/em> of dates. I committed to getting out there for a season, getting to know different<\/em> kinds of women. I committed to enjoying the process, and to not looking for something serious for a season. I was totally up front with my dates about this journey. And I made sure that I had male friends to hold me accountable, and to help me process my experiences and learning.<\/span>
\nOne reason I began this journey was because up until this point in my life, I hadn\u2019t dated much (besides that year in seventh grade when I had eight different \u201cgirlfriends,\u201d although not at the same time!). Sure, I had been in a couple of serious relationships since then. But I never took the time to ask myself critical questions. <\/span>Questions like, <\/span>\u201cBased on who God has made me, what might I need in a significant other?\u201d <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>\u201cHow might I be attracted or not attracted to specific characteristics in others, in reaction to the hurts and unmet needs of my past?\u201d<\/span><\/i>
\nThroughout my dating last year, I also asked:<\/span><\/p>\n

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