Before You Live Together

by David Gudgel

Will Living Together Bring You Closer or Drive You Apart? You are about to make a decision that will take your life in a totally new direction, one that will have a lasting impact on you and someone you love. If you are wrestling with that decision, now is the time to stop and set your emotions gently aside and take time to sort through your own feelings, as well as other people's opinions about what is best for you. The basic message of Before You Live Together is candid, caring and thoughtful, using true stories to illustrate different living-together situations and their outcomes. It also addresses the basic questions and issues you may have asked yourself,   Is this the best way to find out if we are compatible?  Why do we need a piece of paper to tell us we are committed to each other?  Is it so much cheaper than paying two rents?  While this book presents biblical values in a compelling and loving way, it never lectures, but instead seeks to help you decide what is best for both of you. Read it for yourself. Read it with the one you love. Read it to make the right decision at the time when it matters most.  

125 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

Reviews

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In toady's society of "Casual sex", "trying on someone for size" (i.e. living together), and disposable marriage this book is great! I actually wanted to review this so that I could share it with people I know and teens/young adults. Today's society has set a new standard of relationships and in the process they have devalued the very sacred union of marriage and set people up for spiritual and emotional bondage caused by sexual sin. In secular research alone it is found that many people with multiple partners have varied issues with health, self-esteem, and settling for long term relationships.

At first glance at the title I was a little taken back - I guess it is because living together is so common place and socially accepted: My first thoughts were that this would end up giving people a chance to justify this decision.

However, quite the opposite is true. Without being judgmental or overly "religious" or pushy this book does a great job of dispelling the lies of the enemy that have taken over popular though on the subject. It would be a good book for Christians as well as non-Christians because it is so simply to the point.

This is not a book that crams religious or faith values down a persons throat but rather objectively shows the truth found in scripture. The author also shows secular research (or "evidence") that corroborates the scriptures.

I will be recommending this book to anyone I know that is considering the decision to live with someone.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review copy.

[Jacquelyn Merryfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know in 1970 it was illegal to live together before marriage? I didn't know that. Now, unfortunately, it is commonplace.

"Imperfect people cannot ever be good enough to a conditional and performance based marriage. It is no wonder the chances of divorce are twice as high for people who live together before marriage. Cohabitation sets a couple up for a performance based relationship."