Dating & The Bible

What does the Bible say about Dating?

The Bible doesn't explicitly talk about dating as you'd imagine - since dating as we know it is a relatively new thing. But obviously people have always met and become familiar with each other prior to marriying - except in arranged marriages. However the Bible is quite clear about the kind of people we mix and match with in general and it would sensibly follow to apply this to the even more serious matter of dating and eventually marriage itself. Here are some hints from The Bible...

1 Cor 6:18
"Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body."

1 Cor 15:33 B
"Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

2 Cor 6:15
"Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?"

In dating it would make great sense to keep the abouve principles in mind.

The fact is you usually end up marrying those you date, therefore, consider the person's you are dating and their relationship to the Lord (2 Cor. 6:15). The child of God should always put their relationship to the Lord first. If we date people who are not in a right relationship to God (perfection is not the issue since none of us are perfect), and we end up marrying them, there is a good chance that the unbeliever will cause us to fall away. My experience is that about 90% of such marriages cause the believer to fall away and every relationship I have been in with a non believer has been short lived and ended in quite an unpleasant way. Remember the unbeliever is not in their mind constrained by the Biblical principles you are and therefore the balance is uneven and it is YOU that will have to change and compromise since your partner is already compromised. This is not tobe dogmatic and say that relationships of this kind can never work if the unbeliver is converted - this does happen. However you are at far greater risk statistically to end up in a 'bad' relationship so just think about it wisely before steaming ahead:)

Secondly, "flee" or RUN from immorality.(1 Cor. 6:18). RUN FROM situations that will put you in a possible position where you will be tempted to engage in immorality. Define sex with common sense. Don't listen to the President on this issue.

Thirdly, "do not be deceived." If you hang around with creeps, you will become one! (1 Cor. 15:33).

Related Christian topics
Christian marriag advice | Christian Discernment | Christian Marriage web sites
Guidance by God | sexuality and the Bible

Christian Bible help on dating @ christian advice.net 2006