Le Sabot Post-Moderne: Courtship Pick-Up Lines!

janvier 15, 2004

Courtship Pick-Up Lines!

These were thought up by my good buddy Ryan and his pals back in sunny Florida. Watching the sleet run down my windows, I'm a bit envious of them right now.

For those not in the Christian ghetto, you have to know some militant courtshippers to appreciate these lines.

Top 10 Courtship Pick-Ups:
10. "So I talked to your dad last night..."

9. "I lost my phone number. Maybe through a purposeful relationship, we can find out if I'm supposed to have yours."

8. "Your Bible...or mine?"

7. "We're perfect for each other. Our parents have so much in common!"

6. This one comes right out of the book of Song of Solomon, "You're so, so, how can I say this biblically? Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from the washing...Your hair is like a herd of goats running down a mountain!"

5. "Do your feet hurt? 'Cause you've been running through God's plans for me all eternity long!"

4. "Let's get our siblings together and go out sometime."

3. "I can't wait to see what you look like at 50."

2. "Your modesty's showing."

1. "My parents are back in town. Wanna come over?"

Posted by Discoshaman at janvier 15, 2004 12:20 AM | TrackBack

SNORT!!! VERY FUNNY!

We were "courtship" oriented once upon a time. Our boys had other ideas though, and we woke up to the fact that we were not in control of this particular aspect of their lives.

Kathy

Posted by: at janvier 14, 2004 09:45 PM

I have a lot of sympathy for a lot of the underlying ideas behind courtship, in broad terms. I expect that our kids will be encouraged to keep their relationships with the opposite sex under the authority of their parents, at least so long as they remain under that authority in most other respects.

However, for some folks, it goes way beyond that, and for anyone who doubts that there are people to whom the above pickup lines apply (at least in a satirical sort of way), I offer you this:

http://members.aol.com/Boldcl/romance3.htm

Posted by: pentamom at janvier 15, 2004 07:53 PM

Call me idealistic. . . My kids are still young. . .

But I really desire to have the sort of relationship with my kids in which there is love, respect and trust. And when it comes to developing potential-marriage relationships, that they realize that Dad and Mom have years of experience and wisdom to share. I know that I got a lot of great guidance from my parents, and the longer I'm married the more I realize how much wisdom they had!

Kathy (yes, the Kathy on this thread!) once shared the idea of providing our children a safe place to fall. I don't want my children to have broken hearts, but if they do face that sort of struggle, I want to be there to hug them and help them through it. And I want them to know that.

Posted by: The Duchess at janvier 16, 2004 12:52 AM

Yes, the Lindvall stuff (from "Bold Christian Living") is real to a scary number of people. I have my heart set on ministry, and a passion for new believers. It's just amazing how messed up they can get with stuff like this. Not to mention that kooks like this reflect on all Christians. Christianity Today has a good article called "Kissing Nonsense Goodbye" in response to the fanaticism with this extra-biblical "mandate" to "court." See: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/008/6.46.html

Do not even get me started on Josh "Intimacy-o-phobics Anonymous" Harris and what he's done to vault Christian match-making back into the dark ages.

Face it, this stuff is only popular with two groups:

1) Relationship-clueless youth (high school and younger) for whom the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing scare the hell out of them;

2) Parents, who like it either because it keeps their kids from that last step into adulthood, or because it justifies their holding on to the last strings of control over the intimate life of their "child."

For the rest of us self-controled adults who still live in the real world, this 'first-kiss-only-after-engagement-but-prefeably-on-the-altar' mindset is nonsense destined for the ash heap of Christian fad of bygone days.

Phil

Posted by: Phil at janvier 17, 2004 02:31 AM

I have to admit, I'm not as adamantly against courtship as some. For example, I wouldn't actually shoot them down like the dogs they are as Phil advocates (kiddin', Phil!)

Seriously though, I like the idea of purposeful relationships that have a strong group component and that are done in the context of the family. My wife and I did a formal courtship and it worked out great for us. I'm glad we made the choices we did.

We met when I was 16, and would have married at 18 if we hadn't been in a courtship stucture. Given the degree of residual chuckleheadedness I maintained at the time, the results would have made the Kursk disaster look like a pleasure cruise.

What I don't agree with is the notion that it is a universal standard, or with the formulaic rules that are put out by some subsets of the courtship movement.

I think it's great that people are questioning the American dating model. I just don't want them trampling Christian liberty in the process.

The Duchess and I actually had a brush with Josh Harris and greatness. But I'll leave that for her to blog over at TulipGirl. :-)

Posted by: Discoshaman at janvier 17, 2004 04:35 AM

I agree, Discoshaman. There's some sound thinking behind being purposeful in relationships and having group accountabilty and family involvement. Of course there are those who abuse these principles, but that happens with everything. We're fallen sinners; abusing good ideas is what we're all about.
In Josh Harris' defense: I think he would agree with Discoshaman. He's a pastor in the movement I'm a part of and has spoken at my church and various events I've participated in. He's not nearly as prudish as he's made out to be. Many have grossly misinterpreted him, I think.

Posted by: Ryan at janvier 17, 2004 03:02 PM