In 1997, Harris published his first book,I Kissed Dating Goodbye, advocating a Christian approach to dating and courtship. Sequels included Boy Meets Girl, in part describing his engagement to his wife, Shannon, released in 2000, and Not Even a Hint: Guarding Your Heart Against Lust in 2003. In 1998, he moved to Gaithersburg to serve as a pastoral intern under C.J. Mahaney, then senior pastor of Covenant Life Church, the founding church of Sovereign Grace Ministries. The next year Harris hosted the first annual New Attitude Conference in Baltimore, which he ran until assuming the role of senior pastor in 2004. Harris' brothers, twins Alex and Brett, are the hosts of the The Rebelution, which includes a blog proclaiming a biblical worldview for teenagers.
I KISSED DATING GOODBYEJoshua Harris
Category: Marriage
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While most Christians agree to seek purity and save sex for marriage, few have been given a blueprint for how that should affect their view of dating and love. In I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris exposes the "Seven Habits of Highly Defective Dating" and offers a realistic outline of how to have a biblical vision of marriage. Harris contends that one must begin with a new attitude, viewing love, purity, and singleness from God's perspective rather than thinking that love and romance are to be enjoyed "solely for recreation." Harris encourages the reader to look at one's character rather than reveling in infatuation, to regard love as a truly selfless, biblical act rather than a feeling. He refutes the concept that we are victims of "falling in love", saying that "God wants us to seek guidance from scriptural truth, not feeling. Smart love looks beyond personal desires and the gratification of the moment. It looks at the big picture: serving others and glorifying God." Before you roll your eyes, moaning that this sounds terribly unromantic, know that Harris does a superb job of couching his convictions in the sincere belief that if we are purposeful in our singleness and date with integrity, a fulfilled marriage awaits us - in God's timing.
1 comment:
Josh Harris' first book had a profound impact on me when I was a single man. I Kissed Dating Goodbye has its detractors but I can't help but wonder if most of this is due to Harris' high standards for personal holiness and integrity.
Josh Harris has also developed into a wonderful preacher who pastors within the Sovereign Grace movment.
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