Dating can be a tricky thing. It’s hard to know when you’ve gone too far, or if your dating habits are too extreme.
As Christians, we want to make sure that we are living our lives in a way that pleases God. So how do we know what is acceptable and what isn’t?
In this post, we will explore the topic of Christian dating and how far is too far.
We will answer some common questions about boundaries and physical contact, and offer advice on what to do if you feel like you’ve crossed a line.
How Do You Know You Have Gone Too Far in A Relationship?
It’s a question that plagues many Christians, especially when they are young and starting to date.
There are so many physical and emotional temptations in relationships, and it’s hard to know where the line is between what is acceptable and what is not.
The Bible does give us some guidance on this issue. In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus tells us that if a brother sins against us, we should go to him and point out his fault.
If he listens to us, then we have won over our brother. But if he does not listen, we are to take one or two others with us and tell the matter again.
If he still does not listen, we are to tell the church.
This process is known as “church discipline.”
What is Church Discipline?
Church discipline is a way of holding each other accountable in relationships.
It’s not about being legalistic or condemning, but rather it’s about restoring someone who has strayed from God’s best for them.
If you are in a relationship with someone and you see them sinning, it’s your responsibility to go to them and confront them about it.
If they listen and repent, then praise God! But if they don’t listen, then you need to take action.
You can’t just sit back and do nothing while someone you care about destroys their life with sinful behavior.
As Christians, we are helped accountable for living a life that is pleasing to God.
3 Signs You May Be Crossing Boundaries in Christian Dating
There are a few key signs that you may be crossing boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed when dating as a Christian.
1. Dating Non Christians
The first is if you’re dating someone who isn’t a Christian.
This is a big no-no according to the Bible, and it’s something that you should avoid at all costs.
2. Dating Without the Intent to Marry
Another big boundary that shouldn’t be crossed is dating without the intention of getting married.
This is a huge waste of time and it’s something that you should avoid if you’re serious about following Christ.
3. Dating With Physical Intimacy
The last boundary that shouldn’t be crossed is dating with physical intimacy.
This means that you shouldn’t have sex before marriage, and you shouldn’t be making out or doing anything else that could lead to sex.
These are just a few of the boundaries that you should be aware of when dating as a Christian.
If you’re not sure if something is crossing a boundary, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and avoid it altogether.
How to Set Boundaries in Christian Dating?
Setting boundaries is an important part of any relationship, but it’s especially important in a Christian dating relationship.
The reason for this is because you want to make sure that you’re following Christ’s teachings on relationships, and boundaries help to do that.
Some of the boundaries that you may want to set in a Christian dating relationship include:
- No sex before marriage
- No making out or anything that could lead to sex
- No dating someone who isn’t a Christian
- No dating without the intention of getting married
These are just a few of the boundaries that you may want to set in a Christian dating relationship.
It’s important to remember that you can always set more boundaries as needed.
How Can You Tell if Your Christian Dating habits Are Too Extreme?
There is no definitive answer, but there are some guidelines that can help you determine if your dating habits are too extreme.
If you’re spending more time thinking about dating than you are about your relationship with God, then your priorities are out of balance.
If you’re more concerned with physical appearance and sexual attraction than you are with character and compatibility, then you may be headed in the wrong direction.
If you’re putting your relationship with God on the back burner in order to pursue a relationship with someone else, then you need to reevaluate your priorities.
If you’re sacrificing your time, energy, and resources on a relationship that is not honoring to God, then it’s time to let it go.
Living a God Filled Life While Dating
It’s important to remember that God should be the center of your life, and your relationship with Him should be your top priority.
If you’re dating someone who doesn’t share your faith, it’s important to remember that you will always have different values and beliefs.
It’s okay to date someone who is different from you, but make sure that you’re not compromising your own values in the process.
If you’re not sure what your values are, or if you’re not sure how to handle a situation in which your values are being challenged, talk to a trusted friend or mentor who can help you navigate the dating world in a way that is honoring to God.
What to Do if You’ve Crossed a Boundary in Christian Dating?
If you’ve crossed a boundary in Christian dating, the best thing you can do is to apologize and ask God and the other person for forgiveness.
If the other person is willing to forgive you, then you can continue dating.
If they’re not willing to forgive you, then you should end the relationship.
It’s also important to make sure that you don’t cross any boundaries in the future.
Here are some tips to help you do that:
- Set clear boundaries before you start dating.
- Communicate your boundaries to the other person.
- Respect the other person’s boundaries.
- Don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.
- If you’re not sure if something is a boundary, ask God for guidance.
Following these tips will help you have healthy, God-honoring relationships.
3 Reasons Why “Going Too Far” is Never Okay in a Christian Dating Relationship
1. Our Bodies are Vessels For God
The first reason is that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
This means that we need to take care of them and not use them in ways that would dishonor God.
This includes sexual activity outside of marriage.
2. Focus on God
The second reason is that our relationship with God should be the most important relationship in our lives (Matthew 22:37).
This means that we need to be careful not to let anything else come before our relationship with God.
Dating should be something that enhances our relationship with God, not something that takes away from it.
3. Living For God Not The World
The third reason is that we are called to be set apart from the world (Romans 12:21). This means that we are called to live differently than the rest of the world.
This includes how we treat our bodies and our relationships. We are called to a higher standard than the world around us.
Summary
So, what does this mean for our dating relationships?
It means that we need to be careful about how far we go physically.
It also means that we need to keep our relationship with God as the most important thing in our lives.
And it means that we need to be careful to not let anything else come before our relationship with God.
When we keep these things in mind, we can be sure that as Christians we are not going too far in our dating relationships.
We can also be sure that we are honoring God with our bodies and our relationships.
What are some other boundaries that you think Christians should be aware of when dating?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!