Noah Herrin uses Song of Songs (chapter 2) as a framework to teach how to date with gospel-centered intention. He defines dating as an evaluation process to determine whether someone can serve, love, and run alongside you for life, and gives practical guidance on pacing, boundaries, and pursuit: men should pursue sacrificially, women may initiate but should not do the ongoing pursuing, and both should be clear and honest. He warns against building relationships on physical attraction, money, or convenience and urges Christians to keep spiritual and emotional boundaries until marriage so the evaluation isn't skewed. He closes by urging listeners to build lives and relationships on Jesus as the firm foundation and gives an invitation to faith.
“The evaluation process in which a person decides if they can serve, love, and run next to another person for the rest of their life.” · Noah Herrin
Take it with you
Date with intention: if you can't see marriage within ~a year, don't enter a serious dating relationship. Men should pursue clearly and sacrificially; women can initiate but should put themselves in a position to be pursued. Protect the evaluation process by keeping physical and intimate practices for marriage, be slow to publicize relationship status, and married couples should keep regular, simple date rhythms to maintain closeness. Above all, build your identity and relationships on Jesus as your foundation.
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