Summary
"Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship" by Joshua Harris explores Christian courtship as an alternative to modern dating, challenging readers to rethink romance and relationships through a God-centered lens. Harris, reflecting on his experiences since "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," addresses common questions about how to pursue marriage intentionally and biblically.
The book contrasts lawlessness and legalism in relationships, advocating for a path grounded in biblical principles and trust in God's guidance. It emphasizes joyful obedience to God's Word, selfless love, community involvement, sexual purity, and deep satisfaction in God as essential components of a God-glorifying relationship. Through personal anecdotes and stories of others, Harris illustrates practical ways to cultivate these qualities during courtship.
Harris delves into the importance of wisdom in guiding romantic feelings, urging readers to prioritize patience, purpose, and reality over impulsive emotions. He also stresses the significance of open communication, highlighting that communication problems often stem from heart issues requiring humility and reliance on the Holy Spirit. He offers guidance on how to embrace distinct gender roles within a relationship, encouraging men to lead with servant hearts and women to respond with respect and support.
The book emphasizes the need for community support through church and family, highlighting how these relationships provide accountability, protection, and objective perspectives throughout courtship. Harris tackles the delicate issue of past sexual sin, emphasizing God's forgiveness and the possibility of moving forward with grace and purity. The book also encourages the couple to have open and honest communications about the past, but also to protect the future by setting boundaries now.
Ultimately, "Boy Meets Girl" encourages singles to approach relationships with intention, placing God at the center of their love life and seeking to glorify Him in their journey from friendship to marriage. It’s a call to reject cultural norms of selfishness and impulsivity and to embrace a radically God-centered view of pursuing an intimate relationship with the opposite sex. The book offers a compelling vision of romance, grounded in biblical principles, that celebrates both the joys of love and the honor and glory of the Creator of love.