What’s Up With Kissing And Hugging In Christian Dating Relationships

I received an email today asking Christian singles who engage in Christian dating if they consider kissing and hugging to be a sin. There is nothing sinful about the activity of kissing or hugging on dating sites, depending on how Christian singles define those words. When is it okay and when does it become unhealthy?
The first place to start when considering this type of interaction is with the Christian couples involved in Christian dating. Each of these single Christians needs to define what kissing and hugging means to them. A kiss may be seen as a caring gesture that has no sexual connotations for singles dating sites in Australia, while another single Christian may be stimulated to sexual thoughts and reactions simply by thinking about it.
If a kiss causes either party to be sexually stimulated, I would urge single Christians to stay away from such activities as they wish to remain pure until marriage. The world says, if it feels good, do it! There are many books and movies about older women who have chosen to pursue pleasure rather than wisdom. I invite you to read the biblical stories of David, Samson and even Solomon and see what price they paid for the pursuit of pleasure. A pure Christian dating relationship is not clouded by premature sexual activity and therefore can be more free to be blessed and guided by God.
As for cuddling in a Christian dating relationship, it can be harmless, but the physical contact involved presents a vulnerability that makes it easy for Christian singles to take the next step. A hand brushing over an area that is easily stimulated can quickly lead to bursts of passion and demands to be met. If you think this is an exaggeration, consider the fact that 1 in 5 adults and teens in the United States have an STD. This fact is supported on the Center for Disease Control’s Christian Dating Relationships website. Someone didn’t use good sense and let it grow to this percentage. Christians and non-Christians are in this group. I’m not trying to set up a guilt trip for Christian singles, but I am sharing the truth publicly to save unnecessary heartache and physical harm in Christian dating relationships.
No, I’m not promoting this, but I do want more single Christians to think about the power that lurks when one engages in unthinking kisses and hugs. It makes sense for single Christians to simply hold hands and allow for other forms of physical interaction with dating material. My encouragement to single Christians is to not focus on kissing and hugging in Christian dating, but to be open and aware of the whole person you are experiencing. Building a relationship is not something that happens overnight. The fun and enjoyment of pursuing a slow, steady, deep pace will be so much more.