Mirroring Our Family Conduct by His Word
By Frederick K. Price, Jr.

Editor’s Note: Pastor Price, Jr. is the youngest child of Drs. Fred and Betty Price and only surviving son. Pastor Price, Jr. married Angel Brown in 2002. After two-years of marriage Fred, Jr. shares some insight on dating and his marriage experience.

The Bible says in Genesis 2:24:
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

This particular verse gives us some vital insight on God’s position on the family; IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM! As a matter of fact, the family is the most important earthly institution there is. Now, I know that you’re probably thinking, “How can you say that, Pastor Price Jr.? What about the Church?”

Well, I’m glad you asked that question. As important as the Church is to God, He instituted the family in the earth realm about four thousand years earlier. Family is important to God because even when we get saved, He looks at us, the Body of Christ, as His children, and considers Himself as our Father. In Genesis 1:26 it says that we are made in the image of God, according to His likeness. If that’s the case, then by observing the nature and character of God as a father, we should mirror our family conduct by His Word.

When my wife, Angel, and I married in March of 2002, we had already known each other personally for more than five years. However, when it came to sexual intercourse, we had never met. When you’ve never engaged in that particular God-ordained activity with the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with, you cannot make assumptions. The good thing is that God wants the two of you to enjoy your first time making love on your wedding night and not before. He wants the two of you to learn about each other. I would have to say that God must be behind the concept of honeymooning because that week or two is an intimate time between you and that special person with no disturbances.

Let me tell you a true story about Angel and myself during our honeymoon. Everyone had been telling me what to expect on our first night, what to do and what not to do. I will say this; it is important to rightly divide all of the advice that you receive from those who are already married. Also, whatever happened in the past needs to be left in the past, if you engaged in promiscuous sex or illicit sexual activity with other people, do not think that what works for them will work for your spouse. God knows and has always known what is best for us, and that is for two virgins to come together for the first time; untainted from a physical and mental standpoint. That way you learn and grow together—ministering to each other’s needs and preferences. The Bible also says the marriage bed is undefiled, which means the bed is pure. It does not mean I can do whatever I want or whatever I can think of because I’m now married. Some things are unnatural and some things can cause the bed to not be pure.

My wife and I had no idea what to expect from each other and to our surprise, I did not enter my wife until day four of our honeymoon. Here’s now an opportunity to learn from those who have gone before you—do not get frustrated. Frustration will kill the mood and poison the atmosphere which leads to you having to start all over. Patience must be exercised. Take your time; you have your whole life to be with your spouse. The Bible says in Romans 1:17, that “…the just shall live by faith.” Which means twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Sometimes when things aren’t going the way you think they should, Satan and his minions use that as an opportunity for division. Do not give him place; frustration will cause you to get out of the mood mentally and physically. So this is where the principle of faith will come into play.

Now, I must address the issue of dating and I’ll get straight to the point. Should a Christian date? That is between you and the Lord. I will play both sides of the argument to point out some things that we should be aware of. Is it impossible to date and not get involved in any form of sexual immorality? Absolutely not—if parents train their children in the way they should go, then they will not depart from that training. It is up to the fathers and mothers to raise their sons and daughters to practice righteousness and live holy lives. Even in the midst of a satanic sexual campaign that leans toward young people in media, music, and movies, proper Godly training can be an effective counter-measure against that onslaught. If parents do that, they will see the fruits of their labor; children will hold fast to their virginity, and there will be less teen pregnancies in the Church.

At the same time, allow me to let you in on a little secret: you’re not missing anything if you’re not dating. It’s good and healthy to have friends of the opposite sex, but you don’t have to date in order for your teenage years to be complete. As holy as we live, and as righteous as we are, we still live in these bodies and they have yet to be redeemed. If I allow this body to have its way, it will do whatever comes natural and whatever feels good. Dating, although not always, can sometimes put you into a compromising position that you shouldn’t have been in the first place. This is an area where if you give place to the enemy, that’s all he needs to wreck havoc in your life.

As Christians we can enjoy life by simply obeying God’s Word. If the Bible says abstain from fornication then do it because the Bible says so. I encourage women of virtue that once you’ve informed God of your desire to be married, wait for that man to find you. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:22, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.” He will find you—not you will find him. To the young men of valor, I say that once you’ve informed the Father of your desire to be married, allow the Holy Spirit to help you discern when it comes to picking a mate.

Remember young men and women you’re looking for a complete package, not just how she or he looks on the outside. If you keep God first in your life then everything else will fall into place.