A Biblical Framework for Cultural Activies

Embarrassing title, excellent book. Holding Hands, Holding Hearts: Recovering a Biblical View of Christian Dating, by Richard and Sharon Phillips, is a discussion of what dating should look like for singles in the Church. Despite the horrific title (which, to be fair does communicate a rather good point), the Phillips' book gives a refreshing and practical perspective on how the cultural practice of dating can be approached by Christian singles without feeling the need to give it a strange name or apply some sort of overspiritualized "Christian" method. It clearly lays out a complementarian view of the relationship between men and women and then goes on to give practical and useful advice for Christians in or seeking a dating relationship. The Phillips' are able to lay out a description of the three basic stages of any relationship - commitment, intimacy, and interdependence - without trying to impose a formal structure that must be followed to the letter. The three stages are descriptive, rather than prescriptive.

As good as this book is by way of practical advice and biblical counsel on relationships, I found that the most refreshing thing about this book was the way that it undertook to describe a "biblical view" of a practice like dating. The Phillips' outline their approach in the introduction:

What does the Bible say about dating? Nothing. And everything! Our challenge is to think biblically about a practice that isn't in the Bible.

In one sense, the Bible has nothing to say about dating. However, just as with any other practice that changes from culture to culture, our perspective is shaped by our understanding of Scripture. In this sense, a greater understanding of what Scripture says about the relationship between a man and a women, as well as a biblical understanding of love in general, is essential to understanding the way that we should conduct our relationships. This is true not only of dating, but of many other practices and institutions that are unique to our individual culture. We must have an informed biblical framework from which to understand subjects like politics, education, social justice, and a litany of other things, without attempting to force Scripture to speak where it is silent. It seems that so often we are satisfied to create a Christian subculture in which we have chapter and verse to back up every practice. However, if we are truly to have a place of influence in our culture, we must realize that just as with dating, Scripture does not specifically dictate a course of action for most of our cultural activities. What it does do is provide us with a framework of truth that allows us much freedom and creativity, while providing us with hedges to protect and instruct as we engage the world around us.

Not bad for a book with such a cheesy title!