Should Christians Date Online?Sample
Dating In The Local Church
You need to make sure that your romantic interest is a Christian. It is also important to know exactly what this person believes. That is why there is no better place to find your future spouse than in the local church, a community of faith where you get to know people and live life together as Christians. You get to watch each other for some time. You walk through the ups and downs of life together. By the time you are ready to date, you know a lot about the other person. You have been able to observe their lives for a while.
In the same way, Christian families can be very strategic when it comes to dating, especially in the context of a local church. Here, families have lived their lives together. They have known each other for years. They have raised their children together. The children have seen each other grow up. So, you not only know a lot about the individual, you also know their family. It is true what they say: you do marry the whole family. Being from the same local church helps get you ready for marriage. You not only know the person but his or her belief system from childhood.
This becomes very important when you discuss your future family values while dating. For example, you should discuss divorce. Both individuals need to believe in the permanence of marriage. It is very important to know what kind of role models each person had before them growing up. Did their parents stay together? Have they modeled how to navigate marital conflict well? Both individuals must also believe in the importance of staying faithful to each other throughout the marriage covenant. These truths are very important for successful marriages. They are primarily taught by one’s family of origin. That is why you really do marry the family.
The Lord can certainly work through an online dating service to link people together. There is no condemnation in Scripture for that. How you meet really is not as important; as to how you date and how well you get to know each other before you tie the knot. That is why local churches are so important. They can be very helpful for couples to meet and to build lasting relationships.
About this Plan
Everyone wants to find someone with whom they can build a family and live happily ever after. Many online dating websites and apps have been created for people to meet each other. Christians wonder if a successful dating relationship can be done online. This devotional is meant to teach adult couples how to date successfully whether they meet online or in person.
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Plan provided by Straight Truth Podcast, in partnership with El Centro Network. Straight Truth Podcast is a production of Walking in Grace Ministries, which is the preaching ministry of Pastor Richard Caldwell. He is the pastor at Founders Baptist Church in Spring, Texas. For more information, please visit us at https://www.straighttruth.net and http://www.elcentronetwork.com