The Bible does not specifically address the issue of dating, but the Bible
does provide us with many guidelines and principles, which should most
certainly be considered and applied to dating and dating activities.
WHO SHOULD I DATE?
The Bible does command, �Do not be yoked together with unbelievers��
(2 Corinthians 6:14)
�Do not be misled: �Bad company corrupts good character.�
(1 Corinthians 15:33)
It is my opinion that Christians should never enter into a serious dating
relationship with anyone who does not trust in Christ as Savior and who
does not desire to study God's Word. Many Christians will start a
dating relationship with a non-believer not realizing its potential consequences.
Often Christians will like someone enough to convince themselves that
it�s not wrong and that it�s only a �short term� relationship.
Unfortunately this �short term� relationship often turns into a more serious
relationship but can not progress to marriage because of 2 Corinthians 6:14.
However, once a person is emotionally attached to such
an extent they will often forget 2 Corinthians and rationalize the marriage
by ether hoping to convert their spouse or by thinking love is enough to get
them through. And from there such a person will experience
many problems involving an unequally yoked family.
SO WHY EVEN RISK SUCH A PREDICTABLE SITUATION.
And don�t forget the complications that might arise when your boyfriend has different values about
sex, drugs, and a handful of life�s issues. And don�t say �but this guy is different�,
or �It won�t get serious� because its been said before�only to have the same outcome.
So my suggestion: Just don�t go there!
Stick to being equally yoked. Many have led very troubled lives, and even lost the faith,
because they failed to heed this counsel from God's Word,
So take it to heart!
Sexual Boundries
�Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body,
but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is
a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God? You are not your own.�
(1 Corinthians 6:18-19)
The Bible makes very clear that sexual activity is reserved for the marriage union.
The Bible also says: "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision
for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).
Since all are inclined to have sinful thoughts and desires,
those who date ought not attempt to incite such desires by their dress or activities;
and great care needs to be taken to avoid places and activities which provide
opportunity for our flesh to fulfill its lusts and desires. A good question to consider
before any dating activity is whether or not you can in this glorify Christ and do His will.
Love is patient and kind....Love does not demand its own way
(1 Corinthians 13: 4-5)
What is LUST?
"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
1 Peter 2:11
Lust is the desire for something or someone. It is sinful longing. An inward sin which leads to the falling away from God.
What is LOVE?
"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace..."
2 Timothy 2:22
What does the Bible Have to say about Lust?
"It teaches us to say 'NO' to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controled, upright, and godly lives in this present age."
Titus 2:12
Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness.
Luke 11:34
Lust is not just the sexual. It is possible to lust for many things such as power, wealth, and material things. However,Sexual or material, when lust is allowed to take up residence in our mind, it tends to consume our thoughts, and the light of God is pushed aside. We should fill our heart and mind with purity and goodness slowly driving lust away.
Final Words of Wisdom:
What is true love and how do you know when you have found it?
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record or wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8a
We can only identify true love and know when we have found it based on what the Word of God. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (above) clearly outlines the characteristics of true love. But how can we identify if a person is truly right for us? Well first we need to compare the relationship up tp what the Word of God says that love is. Second, when making this comparison it is important to be honest with yourself. No matter how bad you want the relationship to work out you need to TRULY ask yourself "Is this Love". And last, when you are trying to identify if a person is truly right for you you need to ASK GOD. Pray about it, talk to your Pastor, mature christian friends, and adults. If it is wrong ask God to show you - and He will. But only if you are turly seeking an answer and are ready to accept the response.
Identifying True Love:
Sex is not Love!
Our culture has taught us that sex and love are one in the same. This is a lie. Sex is a beautiful God-given activity WHEN practiced within the boundaries of Biblical marriage. That is not to say that premarital sex does not bring momentary pleasure, however, it often leads to pain and disappointment for those who are seeking true love.
The Bible says that when two people are married they become one flesh (Ephesians 5:31) Sex is consummation of that union. When two people break off their relationship after having sex, it is like ripping apart the flesh as well as the heart. When you have sex with someone it is like giving a part of yourself to that person. When you break up, it is as if you have lost a part of yourself.
And in light of I Corinthians 13:4-8 (above) it is eazy to see that premarital sex is all to OFTEN not patient, it is not kind, it does not protect, and it is almost always self-seeking. It is not love.