Can I date a non-believer?

And yet here I’m, struggling to see if there may be any loophole that would sanction dating a non-believer. This is partly because I detest adding more bad things about Christians or Christianity. But the foremost reason is that I don’t desire anyone to take God for a grumpy killer joy.

At the identical time, I won’t do you any good by lying to you. So can we discuss it? One tip to get you thru this text is to maintain an open heart. (Especially if you happen to’re already dating an unbeliever.) Let’s have a look at possible the reason why you would possibly consider relaxing your standards and dating just anyone.

1. Compromise

As God’s people, we’re set apart for His use (1 Peter 2:9). For this reason, God draws a line around who we’re allowed to marry: “Stop being unequally yoked with unbelievers. How can righteousness relate to lawlessness? What relationship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14ISVs).

Dating is alleged to function a prelude to marriage. As such, dating an unbeliever means you support having the ability to share the remainder of your life with someone who doesn’t share your faith.

What is a dangerous business.

As Jesus said, “even if you happen to were to accumulate all of the wealth and power of this world—at the fee of your individual life—what would that accomplish? And what may very well be more precious to you than your individual soul? (Matthew 16:26TPT).

Compromise poses serious risks. Before you compromise your beliefs by dating outside biblical boundaries, consider every little thing rigorously.

2. Nothing serious

But possibly you are just having fun. Maybe you are not able to calm down and are only looking totally free food. Flirting. What’s mistaken with dating an unbeliever if that is your mindset?

Lots of. Even if you happen to dated with a pure heart, since all of us influence one another, dating a non-believer can trick you into their way of pondering.

Here’s how the Living Bible puts it: “If you take heed to them, you will start behaving like them” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Also, someone who has little or no respect for God’s Word may welcome unhealthy and destructive activities. After all, while Scripture serves as a compass for what’s edifying and what just isn’t (1 Corinthians 10:23), non-Christians don’t necessarily see it that way.

A non-believer can take anything as fair game, no matter how it could affect you. For example, what in case your non-Christian date desires to end the evening sexually? Have you mixed your drink with a dangerous substance? Force you to desert your moral beliefs?

Will you suppress your conscience and sin for the sake of a date?

3. Loneliness

Do you are feeling lonely? You aren’t alone. After the pandemic, 58% of Americans share your opinion.

But if loneliness makes you date anyone, think twice. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a date as “normally a romantic social gathering to fulfill someone.” But no romantic subtext is mandatory if the goal is to cure loneliness. Adding romance to the combo – especially when the opposite party is not a believer – is begging for trouble. At best, it’s possible you’ll be heartbroken, and at worst, it’s possible you’ll walk away out of your faith.

You can enjoy a meal or a movie with another person. Even while maintaining a strictly platonic character.

4. Evangelistic Dating

Perhaps the person you’re dating just isn’t only a knockout but additionally caring. So what in the event that they don’t profess Christ? You can evangelize them while dating. Normal?

I even have a cousin whose love story has taken this trajectory, so yes, this road will pay off. However, for each successful evangelical dating story, there are much more stories of Christians who lost their beliefs after dating non-believers. In one case, a devout atheist married a Christian woman, and while each retain their worldviews, their children and grandchildren are agnostics.

Ultimately, the subsequent generation is the rationale why dating an unbeliever is inadvisable. Malachi 2:15 he explains it this manner: “Isn’t he the one God made you? You belong to Him body and spirit. And what is that this one God searching for? God’s offspring.”

We’re not getting married only for ourselves. We marry fellow believers in order that together we will procreate and lift the subsequent generation for God.

5. Sexual health

Can we be brutally honest? Some single adults go on dates. Others for sex.

I even have heard of 1 such man. When his friends asked how this guy who claimed to be a Christian could justify sleeping around, he explained it was for the sake of his “sexual health.” This sort of logic has no basis in Scripture. In fact, God commands the precise opposite: “But our bodies can’t be said to be made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares for our bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:13NLT).

God designed that sex should only be practiced inside marriage (1 Corinthians 7:2). Anything that violates His perfect standard will cause heartache in the longer term because His Word has a protective function for us (Psalm 81:14).

If staying single and celibate is difficult, remember how Jesus walked the earth in a male body while remaining sexually pure. Ask Him concerning the secret. Also, read the top again 1 Corinthians 6:13, a verse we passed a couple of paragraphs ago. The Lord cares to your body; due to this fact, pray for help that it’s possible you’ll “govern your body in a holy and dignified manner” (1 Thessalonians 4:4).

6. God lasts too long

You could have been attempting to get that compatible Christian to this point, but that person remains to be absent. Perhaps it is the dry — not to say long — expectation that leads you thus far an unbeliever.

I understand in case your patience is running out as time seems powerless to vary your single status.

No one who waits for God can be put to shame (Psalm 25:3). He listens to your pleas for a partner. Moreover, our compassionate Father has an impeccable memory. God remembers your need and can meet it regardless of how long it takes.

Habakkuk 2:3 says: “This vision is concerning the future. It describes an end that can be fulfilled. If it appears to be coming slowly, wait patiently, because it can come. It is not going to be delayed” (NLT). Use this verse to strengthen your commitment to never accept less—even when it could seem to be your God-given spouse won’t ever come.

The only Yes

I discovered! While I stand by every little thing we just discussed, there may be indeed an affirmative answer to the query we began with.

Can you date an unbeliever? The only “yes” is that God says so.

Whether you hear Him appropriately, nevertheless, is something we will take care of one other time.

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