When the word, “romance,” is mentioned in any human conversation, especially during a dialog between members of the opposite sex, who are attracted to each other, then all kinds of emotions are aroused. When this word is mentioned, the idea of sex immediately drips down the hearts of those involved. But what really is romance? Is it all about sex? If you were to do a survey, asking people randomly, to define romance, the result may surprise you! The result will be all over the map and it seems to mean different things to different people.
Romance is a love story and this love story entails series of actions taken by the actors in the story that may lead to sexual intimacy. Romance is never static but is love in action. Always doing something not to gain anything but as a demonstration for the care and concern. Sex is part of romance but romance may include sex and it is much more.
When the term “erotic,” is mentioned, all kinds of ideas pop up in people’s minds. The idea of uncontrollable sexual activities comes to mind. This word is widely understood to mean wild sex, by free women and men, sometimes doing erotic dancing. This may be true but this word also carries the idea of a healthy sexual relationship in a committed marital union. So erotic romance can be good or bad depending on the actors.
On the other hand, theological romance is an extremely vast subject that cannot be handled in a simple blog post. Remember that I defined romance as a love story that entails series of actions taken by the actors. Erotic romance strictly involves sex but theological romance means that God in the romance not as a passive participant but an active one. In theological romance, God Himself is the protagonist. God initiates a romantic relationship with His subjects. The marriage relationship in a God ordained monogamous marriage is a theological romantic relationship. The sexual union between a man and a woman is part of theological romance, for God Himself is part of that union. “A threefold cord is hardly broken.”
