Text:                                             Heb. 13:4; Gen. 24:22-38

The English dictionary defines ‘courting’ as, “trying to win the affection of, (wooing) with a view to marriage”.  It also defines ‘courtship’ as, period during which courting (the process of wooing) lasts.

 

For children of God, who have already known that God will have them marry each other, the above definitions do not strictly apply.  For such people, courtship is rather the period between agreeing to marry and the payment of bride-price/handover of the woman to the man.  It is the period of discussing the would-be marriage, addressing such issues as information to parents, parents’ consent, traditional requirements, and agreeing what should be done and their timing.  It is also the period of praying on knotty developments and all other issues, and of knowing/studying each other’s temparaments better (the marriage committee usually provides guide lines for courtship discussions).

 

Courtship is not a time of eating together, hilarity, or of discussing any issues that will lead to behaviours or acts that are meant for married people, for such will be sinful at this time.  (Remember that courtship is not marriage, but a step to it).  Furthermore, courtship discussions, etc must be carried on in such places and manner that make for holiness (cons. 1Pet. 1:15-16; 2Pet. 3:11; 2Cor. 7:1).  In courtship, one of the issues that need particular mention is parents’ consent, and how to go about it.