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What should Christian dating be like?

Explore six principles of Christian dating, from shared faith and getting to know each other to guarding your heart and preparing for marriage.

10 min readBy Editorial team

Tacky, old-fashioned and backward are some of the labels most people give Christian dating today.

Dating nowadays can mean anything (except Christian dating): casual flings, a “boyfriend-husband,” living together without being married, open relationships... it has become a real mess, and sometimes it is even difficult to understand what stage a couple's relationship is in.

And do not think this happens only outside the church: these kinds of relationships happen inside it too. It is hard to believe, but widening the narrow gate and doing what one thinks is right is becoming normal.

With Brazilian Valentine's Day approaching, this is the time to discuss true Christian dating here, the kind that should be valued and followed.

WHAT SHOULD CHRISTIAN DATING BE LIKE?

To help you understand how Christian dating works, let us divide it into topics:

  1. Christian dating is for getting to know each other;
  2. Do you share the same faith?;
  3. Beware of burning desire;
  4. God, you and your relationship;
  5. Observe the flaws;
  6. Hold your heart in check.

CHRISTIAN DATING IS FOR GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

This is the main purpose of Christian dating: knowledge. At this stage, you should not prioritize kisses but discovering who the person you are dating truly is, including whether your goals are aligned.

As you talk, observe their character above all. Are they faithful to God? If they cannot be faithful to God, it is almost impossible for them to be faithful to you.

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Christian dating is meant for you to talk about everything: professional, personal and spiritual life.

You should pray together, share spiritual commitments and discuss subjects from the Word of God, rather than only shallow topics.

When a couple prays together, they grow stronger and do not keep falling into traps that let the devil work through arguments, excessive jealousy and immorality.

*“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Amos 3:3*

BEWARE OF BURNING DESIRE

One of the devil's aims in Christian dating is to weaken the couple through sexual desires. What begins with heated kisses and wandering hands can end in sex and a breach of holiness.

To avoid tarnishing Christian dating, be careful where you go alone. Choose outings to places with other people nearby, such as shopping centers and parks. Do not stay alone in rooms at home; always have someone nearby to avoid sin.

Nowadays there is another danger: the virtual world. With the internet making so many things easier, sin is no exception. Nudity and pornography are practical examples of what you should keep far away from Christian dating.

Therefore, in Christian dating, be mindful of the time. Do not keep talking until the early hours, because this is when the devil takes the opportunity to stir desire, creating a sense that “no one is watching.”

*“Flee fornication. Every sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the one who fornicates sins against their own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:18-19*

DO YOU SHARE THE SAME FAITH?

Much is said about love overcoming every barrier, including different beliefs, but that is a myth!

Could an atheist and an evangelical Christian, for example, live in the same home as a couple? It would be very difficult.

You may think so, and at first it may even seem it will work very well, but at some point someone will be offended by the other's faith, creating conflicts.

A clear example is Maaca and David. If you are following the seventh season of Reis, you know what I mean.

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Maaca initially gave up her gods to marry David in the sixth season, and it even seemed noble of her.

At first everything was beautiful. Between one of the princess's whims and another, she followed the Israelites' faith, and David was happy about it.

But only years later, in the seventh season, when David and Maaca already had two children together, does Israel's king discover that his wife still offered sacrifices to her gods.

After a major argument, David no longer wants his wife's company until she asks to leave for her father's home with her children.

A great sorrow for the king, but one that could have been avoided if he had not married someone of another faith.

There is no getting around it: oil and water do not mix. So instead of making yourself suffer while trying to fit in someone with such different principles and values, think carefully now, before you are married, and choose someone who shares your faith.

*“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” 2 Corinthians 6:14,15*

GOD, YOU AND CHRISTIAN DATING

Remember this order well:

  1. God
  2. You
  3. Christian dating

There is no point trying to reverse it, because any attempt will make you fail. In the book “Namoro Blindado,” by Renato and Cristiane Cardoso, you can learn in detail why this order is so important.

God must always come first in your life. If your work comes first, you will fail. If your family comes first, you will fail. Even if your little dog comes before God, you will fail.

It is the same with dating: if it comes first, you will soon remove the One who gives you all your support in good times and bad, and you will devalue yourself for someone who cannot meet your expectations (do not forget, your boyfriend is not perfect).

You need to come second in your life, because you must value yourself above any other person. When someone does not value themselves, no one values them.

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You know when you see an intelligent, kind, financially independent, attractive, charismatic person beside someone who only mistreats them, does them no good and puts them down, yet they cannot leave that relationship? They probably do not value themselves.

Your relationship should come only third. If you follow this order in Christian dating, your relationship will move forward. Do you know why?

You will be people who please God first, so He will help you have wisdom during Christian dating. You will value yourselves, making the other person admire their partner even more.

OBSERVE THE FLAWS What should Christian dating be like?

It could even be “observe the qualities and flaws,” but when you are dating, your lovestruck eyes can see millions of qualities. It almost seems your loved one has no flaws, but they do (and plenty!).

Therefore, in Christian dating, you should carefully observe the person's flaws, but not to keep pointing them out and acting as the relationship's judge, because no one can stand living with someone like that.

When you know your partner's flaws, you understand whether they are ones you can accept. It is at this point, during Christian dating, that you decide whether you can handle your partner's flaws or would rather end things there.

Beware of extremes: do not become a constantly judgmental person, but do not be a fool who accepts everything either.

Be careful, because...

*“Do not be deceived: bad company corrupts good habits.” 1 Corinthians 15:33*

HOLD YOUR HEART IN CHECK

During Christian dating, keep your emotions in check. I know your heart wants to speak louder, the butterflies in your stomach will not stop fluttering and you want to write enormous social media posts for the person you love. But hold back a little, because the heart prevents you from seeing people and situations clearly.

This is the last topic for a reason: if you do not watch over your heart, it will trip you up and prevent you from following all the points discussed earlier.

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Before diving headfirst into the relationship (and hurting your head soon afterward), use reason in Christian dating, seeking to set emotions aside and always ask God for direction.

Being cautious with your own heart will help you make the right choice.

*“Above all that you guard, guard your heart…” Proverbs 4:23*

HOW SHOULD CHRISTIAN DATING END?

Yes, young person, every Christian dating relationship is meant to end one day: in marriage or in a breakup.

After considering these six topics and others, you will weigh whether the person beside you is the one you want to marry. Christian dating should not take years and years to lead to engagement and marriage.

If you can both already support yourselves, ideally it should last no more than two years before moving to the next step, because you can reach a decision within that time.

If you both decide to proceed to marriage, the boyfriend needs to ask the young woman's family for her hand, and you should begin preparing for the wedding.

Set a date as soon as possible so you do not keep delaying the marriage and leave openings for sin during the process.

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If you both decide it cannot work and choose to break up, each should go their own way.

Do not get into breaking up and getting back together. If you decided to end it, face the loneliness you may feel at first by taking it to God, but do not pursue your ex to fill that need.

Remember: if you decided to break up, there is a significant reason for it. Make those reasons clear to yourself, or you will keep getting back together and breaking up in an exhausting loop.

PREPARING FOR CHRISTIAN DATING

There is nothing better than entering Christian dating prepared because you were already a diligent single person. Univer Vídeo can help with that!

It offers hundreds of Terapia do Amor talks, a new episode every week and live viewing every Thursday at 8 p.m.

Renato and Cristiane Cardoso teach on topics such as “Superando o passado,” “Quem Busca Perfeição, Acaba na Solidão” and “Quando Você é o Problema,” so you can evaluate yourself and seek to be a good partner first, before wanting someone else.

You can also watch “The Love Musical,” a musical telling the story of The Lovelândia's residents, who sought happiness in their love lives at any cost but suffered disappointments because of past baggage and a lack of discernment.

I am sure this story will teach you a great deal while making you laugh.

Escola do Amor is also available to answer your relationship questions and help you avoid pitfalls.

Click here to explore Univer Vídeo's plans and access these and more than 10,000 hours of content to enjoy with the whole family.

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