COLLEEN WALKER (Carried Away): I feel that dating should happen only when you're ready to find your future spouse. Although it is exciting, God wants us to be smart, especially when it comes to life-long decisions. When you're a teenager, a lot is going on. You're maturing and discovering new things about yourself. On top of all this, you're expected to keep up with school and other responsibilities. There are so many stresses during this period of your life. Looking for someone to marry just doesn't make sense.
Here's what works for me (and the other girls in the band): Hang out with many different friends of the opposite sex. This way, you can discover the kind of person you are attracted to and not be responsible for causing heartaches. Here's something else to think about: While we give God many areas of our lives, too often we rely on ourselves to find true love. Yet if we're truly living our lives for God, we must give Him our love life as well.
God wants us to be pure for our future spouse. So if you decide to date someone, make sure you're strong enough spiritually so that God can lead the relationship. The moment you lose your focus on God, the relationship will take a downward spiral.
JOY WILLIAMS: I was taught to choose guys who were my friends — guys who were focused on God and who would always seek to protect my standards of purity. For the few guys I wound up going on dates with, it meant the following for them: (1) calling my dad to ask permission to take me out, (2) letting my dad know where we were going and when we would be returning, and (3) meeting my parents and having a quick chat before we left. For me, dating was a privilege my parents allowed me to experience. I had to earn their trust and make good decisions.
Set your standards before you date, and set them high. You deserve the best. Don't just settle for anybody. I didn't date guys who would park the car somewhere dark and hidden "to talk," come over when my parents weren't home or ask to come into my room.
Remember this, guys: A girl is someone's daughter, someone's future wife! Don't rush to take what isn't yours. Instead, be a real man and stand strong for purity.
SARA ACKER (Inhabited): TV often airs these glam dating shows where a guy gets to go out with three beautiful girls at once, lead all of them on, and then chose one "lucky" girl who wins the man. The show ends, and they live happily ever after. Unfortunately, in real life, it's a lot more complex.
Having a dating relationship in this culture isn't easy. But remember, dating is more than keeping a little check list of "dos" and "don'ts" — it's about our hearts. God didn't set guidelines to keep us from having fun. He established them to protect us from having to carry a lot of unwanted emotional baggage. Only through your relationship with Him is real purity found.
There is a battle for your mind and your purity because "the pure in heart will see God." (See Matthew 5.) Every sin begins with a thought. You can't turn on a computer these days without some image popping up, trying to entice you to visit their site. These seeds may seem harmless, but in time they'll affect real-life relationships.
Realize that behind every pretty face is a person with feelings. Whether you feel like it, you are a leader. So give her respect, not baggage. Remember that selfishness is a monster that can damage both people in a relationship. It's your responsibility to protect her.
JOHN REUBEN: Keep your hormones in check. Don't be prideful by thinking you're immune to messing up, and don't put yourself in situations that could lead to a mistake. Keep healthy boundaries.
I'm happy to say I was a virgin when I married. That saved us a lot of unnecessary problems and drama. When you love God first and foremost, it affects every aspect of your life, including how you treat a girl. Treat her like a sister. I didn't go on many dates as a teenager, and I didn't have a girlfriend until I was 18.
MATT PAIGE (Hawk Nelson): Before a Christian guy even thinks about dating, he needs to tune into God's voice. That way he'll be able to hear who the Lord may have for him. Way too often guys get all caught up in finding the hottest girl. This can cause a lot of wasted time and effort. If your focus is on who she really is, how she relates to people and her relationship with Christ, guys will save themselves from countless problems.
Looking back on my dating experiences, I can honestly say that when you regard Jesus Christ as your Savior and look to Him for help, He will guide you. So, look for the girl who follows Christ. The whole dating-and-relating thing is all about living the life God wants for you and finding a girl who's doing the same.
LORI PETERS (Skillet): Guys need to understand the emotional roller coaster dating can cause us girls! Try not to lead us on. Seek God in every close friendship you have with a girl. If you think you might want to start dating a girl seriously, run it past your father or an older guy such as a youth leader.
ADAM AGEE (Stellar Kart): I would not recommend teens getting into a serious relationship in high school, and especially not during the junior high years. It can take you away from valuable friendships. Also, if you make mistakes and take things too far, you may end up regretting it for the rest of your life. Above all, don't get so involved in a dating relationship that you lose contact with your friends.
I was fortunate to get through my teen years without making really bad choices. I was too busy with sports and hanging out with friends, and my parents were strict with curfews. Sure I was tempted, but for some reason I was able to see past the moment and realize the right decision to make. If No. 1 is serving God, then No 2 should be to serve the other person in the relationship.
JOSH BROWN (Day of Fire): Sexual temptation is a struggle for every man, especially when dating. Today we are bombarded with sexual content from films, TV, music and advertising. Before you even think about dating, examine yourself and your motives. Take an honest look at how you view females and relationships. Does your view of women come from God or from the world?
If you're crazy about the girl you're dating, and you want to honor her and God, make sure there is always someone with you to keep both of you accountable. As a teen, I made many mistakes as I dated. I've seen how immorality can destroy relationships and cause emotional, physical and spiritual damage. For any relationship to be successful, Jesus must be first. 
