Was dating in high school a waste of time?

Here is today's email question, Hi Pastor John, my name is Josh, a high school student.

I desire to date.

Most people who I value as close friends and God-loving people say that it is mostly

pointless and dumb to date in high school.

Yet, many strong and godly couples I know have been married for many years, met and

dated in high school.

So is dating in high school foolish but occasionally fruitful or is it potentially a good place

to find a strong and godly spouse?

What would you say about dating in high school for today's teens?

Before I say anything about dating in high school today, let me say a couple of things about

the older generations that he may be talking about.

Once upon a time, young people married much more commonly at age 17, 18, 19, or even earlier

in some cultures.

My parents were 19 and 18 when they married.

There was a time when the cultural expectations and the cultural support were in place partly

to prepare young people to marry that early and partly to provide the structures and help

after they got married.

That's not as true today in America as it once was, that's the first thing.

The second thing I want to say about the other generation, my generation perhaps, is that

many parents today who did marry quite early would still counsel their young people today

not to pair off in dating relationships during high school.

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