On Dating and Stuff

I recently got a question on “ask Dr.Lina” that I’ve postponed answering, because it felt like murky waters.

The question was this: “do you believe in online dating?”

As I type these words, I am thinking of one of my friends who just got engaged to the guy she met 2 years ago online, and another friend who just bought a house with a love made on the internet.

And I’m sure you can think of a million other examples of folks who have used internet dating and are living in wedded bliss at this precise moment.

Well, good for you, because I for one, don’t believe in it.

There, I said it, I hate internet dating. Not only do I hate it, I think Neil Clark Warren is making a pretty penny off of creating an environment where single people believe their lives are not complete until they meet that special someone, and frankly, he’s made his living catering to the dating whims of the rich. Yes, the rich. Last time I checked, the Christian’s version of internet dating requires a fairly hefty bank account, so sorry for you poor folks, but you just don’t deserve to find a quality guy. Perhaps you can find some luck on one of those free dating sites, but Godly dating comes at a cost.

Oh, I’m sorry. Did I offend you? Did I miss the scholarship program that Mr.Warren promotes? I deeply regret the words I just typed and take them back.

Or not.

The problem with internet dating as I see it is that it makes dating, or marriage the main thing. It sends the message that you cannot be happy or complete without that special someone.

I come from the product of a 42 year marriage (or somewhere in that vicinity), so don’t get me wrong. I believe in marriages that last. But I don’t believe that marriage is the main thing.

Godliness, and Christlikeness, and God’s glory no matter your circumstances is the main thing.

If single people spent as much time serving God and thinking of creative ways to use their talents and resources on impacting their world as they do on finding Mr. and Ms. Right, our world would be changed.

And here’s the thing. The God I serve, the God of the Bible, the God of creation and the incarnation, and the resurrection, well, it seems to me that He’s also the God who knows my needs and my time lines. And it seems to me that if He meant for me to marry today, well, then come 3 o’clock this afternoon, my dashing prince would show up on his horse and I’d call in sick to work.

I’m treading murky waters today, but I like it.

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