7 Christian Dating Tips or Rules To Follow

With the huge impact that online dating has had on the world, we have been able to meet new people with ease through looking at profiles, emails, smiles and texting. The dating world is much bigger today than a decade ago. Whether you meet someone online or at a church function, the one thing that shouldn’t have changed is the way we date each other. Here are 7 rules that should always be followed when dating someone.

“The Truth" Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Dating Is Heterosexual

I know that this is a very sensitive subject to many, but God’s Word is clear on how we are to find mates for ourselves. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This is not up to interpretation. If uncertainty still arises Romans 2:26-27 go further into detail saying, “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another; men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” God made us male and female for a reason. We need to take God at His Word and follow it.

Friends First

I strongly recommend becoming friends before dating someone. I’m not saying be best friends, just have an idea of who this person is before you decide to pursue a relationship with them. We are all wired differently and many of us will mesh well with some, but not with others. We all have our own set of “deal-breakers” and it is a good idea to find out if someone you are interested in is going to be a good match for you. So, give it time and see if pursuing a relationship is worth your time.

Respect Boundaries

We all carry our own baggage with us from previous life experiences and some things are not shared until later on in the relationship. If your partner starts to trust you with some info, don’t push for more. Let them tell you in their own time. A relationship must be built on trust and no one will learn to trust you if you are forcing them to say or do things they don’t want to. Listen to your partner and show them you are trustworthy by allowing them to do things in their own time. Respect their boundaries and I guarantee they will respect you for it.

For The Men

Men, chivalry should not be dead! Open the door for your date. Tell her she looks amazing! Be affectionate with her in a respectable manner. Make her feel cherished when she is around you. Give her the “time of day”. Get to know her because you want to and not because she is “talking your ear off”. Lead her throughout your date by holding her hand and talking with her. The bottom-line can be said this way: make her feel like she is the only person around when you are with her. And please, pay for everything when you are on a date. Unless she insists on paying for something, always offer to pay.

For The Women

Women, respect your man! Men engage easily on what is around them. Don’t change the radio station if he is listening to a song he likes. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like it. He is going to listen to many songs that he probably won’t like of yours. It’s okay to have and respect each other’s differences. The BIGGEST thing to stay away from is talking about the other men that are around you. We never feel respected when you are focusing on other men. Elevate your man by saying things that you like about him when you are with him. When you elevate a man, he will find it very easy to make you feel cherished if he is a good man. If he never makes you feel cherished, kick him to the curb and find one who does. The bottom line can be said this way: make your man feel like he is the only one that you care about when you are with him.

Date Each Other/Not The In-laws

This is one of the biggest problems in marriage down the road. In-laws seem to want to get in the way. Set up boundaries with each other’s parents when you are dating. They don’t need to know every detail. If you are very serious with someone, then make them #1! Women, you hate it when men choose mom over you. Men, you hate it when women choose their parents over you. It is so important to put God first, you two second and then the rest of the family third. If you do this you will have a thriving relationship that can lead to marriage.

Put God At The Center

If you want a solid Christian relationship with someone, put God first in your relationship. Spend time praying with each other. Read the Bible with one another. Attend church and Bible Studies together. Follow the guidelines God has set up for us. Stay pure until marriage. Don’t steal from the beauty of the wedding night before you are married. By all means long for the sexual side of things, but do not pursue it. Wait until “I do’s” are said first. Pray for your partner when you are not with them. Praise God for them when you are not with them. Give God the glory in everything you do and you will definitely have an amazing time dating. Hopefully that will lead to wedding bells down the road!

Conclusion

Dating is a wonderful thing and God wants us to find a mate. When you are with someone, please make them feel loved when you are with them. Spend time talking with each other, praying with each other and learning more about each other each time you meet. God bless you all!

If you are thinking of dating online, check out this article about dating websites.  Christian Online Dating Sites:  2 To Check Out

Resources- ESV Holy Bible, Youtube, photo credit: LyndaSanchez via photopin cc