Grace Thoughts
Teaching Notes – Is It Wrong For Christians To Date?
Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
These teaching notes are from a radio series.
[These notes are from almost 50 years ago.]
One of our viewers mailed a letter asking if it wrong for Christians to ‘date?’ I suppose if you mean by ‘dating’ that a couple becomes physically involved with each other sexually, then yes it is wrong for Christians to ‘date.’ If you mean by dating that a couple becomes emotionally involved with each other to the degree that the ‘other’ becomes more important to them than their involvement with God, then yes it is wrong to ‘date.’ If you mean by dating that a Christian has an emotional or physical relationship with an unsaved person, then yes it is wrong to ‘date.’
There seems to be one legitimate purpose for ‘Christian dating’ and that’s to build ‘spiritual oneness’ with a person you are considering marrying. It’s very well and good for a single Christian to go out with a group of Christians for a spiritual project, but when you settle down with just one person exclusively then you are beginning a process that should build towards marriage.
The writer mentioned that they were frustrated with their Christian parents’ reaction to his dating. Let me ask you a serious question. Are you frustrated because you want to go out with a girl to have sexual relations with her? Are you frustrated because you want to become emotionally involved with a girl to the point that God takes second place in your life? Or are you frustrated because you want to go out with a girl for the purpose of praying with her, studying the Bible with her, and share Christ with friends and people you meet? If that is your reason, then there is no reason for frustration on your part or hers. God will guide and lead you both in following His perfect will for your lives.
God has given you a gift in Christian parents who care about your spiritual life. As the Bible reminds us – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). Thank God for your parents and ask Him to give them strength and wisdom in guiding you in your relationships with Christian girls.
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from almost 50 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your life and ministry.]
Published by gracelifethoughts
Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts
