The Rules of Dating Christians

It is difficult to be a Christian, truly pursue your convictions and beliefs and still be perceived as cool by those who do not share your faith. If you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ and desire to put your dating life in line with your beliefs, then you would be amenable to the following guidelines:

1. Limit your prospective dates to fellow believers only. Christians are encouraged to befriend and associate with fold from all faiths. When it comes to dating however, it is best to consider only fellow believers. For one, if you share the same beliefs and convictions, you rid yourself one less thing to worry about should the relationship progress any further. Also, limiting your options to "Christians only" protects you as you are obeying an outright command "to not be equally yoked with unbelievers".
2. Be clear about physical boundaries while dating. Christians are called to be pure and remain pure. Utmost discretion is required especially in this area since one thing can lead to another. Kissing and making out of any sort are out of the question before marriage. This is because sexual arousal may be awakened much too early before its appropriate time, which is within marriage. Prude as it sounds, moving in and living together are, of course out of the question as well.
3. Avoid compromising situations. In order to keep within the boundaries, it is best to be proactive in order to protect yourself from giving in to temptations. Choose public places where there are many people or choose to go out in groups. Plan how you would spend the time together. Choose to be creative and don't just give in to what feels like. Our own hearts can deceive us at times and mislead us.
4. Give the relationship time to grow. Whether the nature of the relationship is just friendly, or even romantic, it needs time to grow. If it begins with an innocent friendship and later blossoms into something romantic, then it will take the time it takes to mature accordingly. If it will lead into a lifetime partnership, then their union would have benefited from the lessons they have learned through the various stages of their being together. Pray for each other. Pray for God's guidance and direction for your relationship. Like a triangle, as you both get closer to God, you grow closer to each other as well. Make God the top third party in your relationship. He was the one who designed marriages and its ideals.
5. Resolve to glorify God even in your dating life. In 1 Corinthians 6 verse 20, we read that as Christians, we "...were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies." Our lives are no longer ours. We have given up the control and direction of our lives for God's purposes.

God and the commands that He has set out in His word, the Bible are intended to protect us. We should not look at them as restrictions to our potential enjoyment. We can trust Him. As Christians, we believe that God is omniscient and He knows what is best for us. Choose to glorify God in your love life.

REFERENCE: Eden Laura Quirino