Apostolic Youth Ministry FORUM

What are the Biblical guidelines for dating relationships?

      The Bible gives us some very clear principles to guide us in making   decisions about dating.

God wants the best for us in every area of our lives.

Don't allow peer pressure to force you into dating situations that are not appropriate. The Bible gives us some very clear principles to guide us in making decisions about dating.

1.      Guard your heart.
The Bible tells us to be very careful about giving our affections, because our heart influences everything else in our life.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life        (Proverbs 4:23).

2.      You are known by the company you keep.
We also tend to become like the company we keep. This principle is closely related to the first one and is just as important in friendships as in dating.

Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character                               (1 Corinthians 15:33).

3.      Christians should only date other Christians.
Although it is fine for Christians to have non-Christian friends, those who are especially close to our heart should be mature believers who are seeking to follow Christ with their lives.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).

4.      Is it really love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 defines real love. Ask yourself these questions:

1.  
   • Are you patient with each other?
   • Are you kind to each other?
   • Are you never envious of each other?
   • Do you never boast to or about each other?
   • Is your relationship characterized by humility?
   • Are you never rude to each other?
   • Are you not self-seeking?
   • Are you not easily angered with each other?
   • Do you keep no record of wrongs?
   • Are you truthful with each other?
   • Do you protect each other?
   • Do you trust each other?

If you answered "yes" to the above questions, then 1 Corinthians 13 says that you truly have a loving relationship. If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, then maybe you should discuss those issues with your boyfriend or girlfriend.