Christian Dating Services

Yes, the title is cliche. Joshua Harris penned a simple novel with simple advice. If you are able to live the life he lived, then God bless you. However, most people in the Christian world enjoy dating, and it is not something to be denounced.

The idea of God having one person for each of us is not new. Christians have been courting one another and dating for centuries all in the hope that the Lord would lead us all to another wonderful Christian spouse. And it is what God intended for many people. In fact, He devoted an entire book in His Word that talks about falling in love and some say, sex. But sex, in fact, is not what has created an atmosphere of uncertainty about Christian dating.

It is not sex that makes people uneasy in the world of Christian dating. It is lust. Lust is what drives people to pre-marital sex, and that is, of course, the biggest no-no to most Christians. So, does that mean we all need to stop dating and just wait for God to drop our future husband or wife in our laps. Oh, no.

The blessing that Christians are given is grace and prayer. It is very simplistic to think that if you just pray enough, you won't fall into sin. Temptations surround Christians and bombard them from everywhere in today's hedonistic society. Christians need to be careful when dating. They need to keep their eyes open and their guards up.

But maintaining control does not mean that we have to cut ourselves off from developing healthy relationships with members of the opposite sex. Christians who date have great relationships with one another without having to worry about giving in to lust.

Learning to control lust versus letting lust control you is imperative in Christian dating. It is okay for members of the opposite sex to be attracted to one another. But to act on that attraction irresponsibly or to let that attraction control your actions is not biblical. Remember, Jesus was tempted on a number of occasions in His life. And by using the word tempted, we know that it is not the same as "offered." "Tempted" implies that he was being offered something he desired or needed, but that he knew would have dire consequences if He took it.

Obsessing over that temptation, for a Christian, leads to lust. When you first feel that pang of attraction, it is okay to ask someone out. It is okay to go on that date. However, if that attraction becomes wanting, true temptation that you feel you may not be able to control, then you have to evaluate your dating life. You need to determine if this is something you could take to marriage or if you need to end it to prevent something regretful happening.

If you determine that your attraction is controllable, and if you want to continue to date someone, as a Christian, you need to date responsibly. Christian dating means that you take responsibility for you and the person you are dating. It means that, if you are tempted, you date in public places. Going on dates to bookstores, restaurants, malls, museums, etc. ensures that you will not be in situation that makes it easy to fall. Christians need to know their own limits and not push themselves to a point.

This is not to say that all Christian dating situations are confounded by lust. Most Christians have a pleasant dating experience that does not hit the point where they feel they will lose control. The fun for most is in getting to know another person. And the best part of the process is that, if it doesn't work out, you know that you have made a connection with another Christian without the emotional fallout of many secular relationships.

Living a Godly life breeds happiness. And living a Godly life does not mean that you cannot date. It means knowing who you are in the Lord and knowing your own limits. All things are possible with God. If you trust in Him, and trust in His Word, then you know what is right for you. If God has warned you about your tendency toward lust then taking a different approach to dating might be necessary. You may want to look into Joshua Harris' book. However, if you know you can be a good Christian date, then by all means, yoke yourself to a fellow Christian. It could be a great time.

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