DATING

Is there a right way and a wrong way to date?

Deuteronomy 7:3-4 --- Do not intermarry with them, and don't let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters. They will lead your young people away from me to worship other gods.

2 Corinthians 6:14 --- Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

In the Bible, God warns many times (not all are listed here) against being in a committed relationship with someone who's not a Christian. This applies not only to dating and marriage, but also to business and other areas of life. God says by doing so, you set yourself up to be drawn away from God and His plan for your life. Dating an unbeliever can lead to the kind of relationship (and maybe even marriage) that God warns against.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 --- God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honor -- not in lustful passion.

You should guard yourself against physical intimacy in dating. This intimacy is set aside only for marriage, and is to be enjoyed within the bonds of marriage. GOD ISN'T KEEPING YOU FROM FUN... HE'S SAVING YOU FOR FUN.

What does God say my boundaries should be in my dating relationship?

See the answer to How Far Is Too Far?

How can I handle someone who is pushing me toward a physical relationship?

1 Timothy 4:12 --- Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

It's better to keep yourself pure than to give into peer pressure, even if you really like and want to please the person you're dating. If the one you're dating is really a friend who wants to look out for what's best for you, then that person will honor your wishes to remain pure until marriage. If you've gone to far in the past and want to stop now, they should honor this as well.

How should we treat each other?

Philippians 2:3 --- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each person should look out for the other person's needs and desires more than their own. It's hard to have this kind of godly attitude and argue a lot, talk down to one another, push views onto the other person that they don't want, etc.

This DOES NOT mean to become a push-over, a 'mat' that they walk on. If someone treats you in an ungodly manner, then you should not be in a relationship with them. You can still pray for them without dating them. It is not God's will for you to date someone who abuses you.