So, I want to share with you today some things the bible says and how these particular scriptures relate to dating. I will try to be brief and to the point today!
First, in our efforts to weed out all potential suitors who have too many prayer issues for us to deal with to even consider going out with, we won't even address them. And, of course, these scriptures can and should be applied across all areas of your life. We are given life applicable scriptures and therefore we always refer to the word of God as a blueprint for our lives. It is important that we use the word as a tool and guide for instruction, corrections, and edification in all things that pertain to life. So, with that being said, let's dig in.
I Corinthians 15:33 tells us that bad company corrupts character. The word says birds of a feather flock together. In other words, being in the company of someone who does not hold to the same values as you will lead you down a path of compromise. I know we all have been there, whether its friends, relative, close relationship, men friends, spouses, etc. Who we are connected to influences either in positive or negative ways. I watched myself be broken down and compromise my own standard in relationships in the past. Sometimes you don't really think you're doing it until you disconnected yourself and look back. You realize that you never would have done some of things you did had you not been connected to who you were with. We can say even some our behavior, attitudes, language, etc is influenced by who we are connected to. We all seek to belong and want to feel close and connected to people, so in an effort to do that, we let down our standard and who we are to appease and fit in with more of who they are and less of who we are.
Your character gets compromise and you are no longer who you are, but you are a fragment of who you use to be. You find yourself laying aside the things which God has instructed you and told you. You find yourself laying aside the woman of God you truly are for who somebody else wants you to be. All of this because you choose to entertain someone with questionable character. I hope you don't get angry with me on today, but I have lay out as I hear the Lord speaking it to me. So, let me say this, if you think that constantly exposing yourself to the influences of whose with questionable character will not eventually take hold to you, let you are walking in pride. You cannot lay under the sun and think you won't get a tan. Even people with dark skin will tan. If you don't believe me, lay out there unshielded for a while in the Texas sun and you will get the revelation. Whatever you put in you is what will come out of you. If you are constantly putting things in your spirit that are corrupt, it will produce fruit after it's kind. Whether it is good or bad.
Second, the purpose for dating is for the purpose of marriage. Now, I understand that the secular view does not reflect the Christian value on this particular subject. A dating relationship in mainstream, is just that, a dating relationship. Many people in the mainstream just want to hang out as they say. They are not particularly looking for anything serious. They say, "let's hang out and see where it goes". But as a Christian, we do not do the "let's hang out thing, to see where it goes". The bible says in 2 Cor 6:14, not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Now, I know you're saying that this guy is not an unbeliever. I'm sure he does believe in God, but if he does not believe in whole counsel of God's word, then you definitely have a problem of someone who is not equally yoked with you. There are a great many people that believe in God, but believing does not automatically put someone in equally yoked status. The demons believe and tremble. Is it our desire to walk with one of them? A son and daughter is someone who loves God whole heartedly, seeks out and strives to walk in the principles of his word, and is Godly sorry when he/she misses the mark. We can dispel every preconcieved idea that we had about just finding a good brother in the church. The devil goes to church too on a regular bases, attends more often than you, and sits wherever he wants even in the pulpit. So, let's just be real clear on that point.
So my point being this, a true lover of Jesus Christ is what you want, not just someone who believes in God. Don't settle for the, "I'm a Christian". You want to dig deeper to see if there is any substance in there. In dating, we do want to ask those questions and not be afraid of the answers we might get. It might not be what we want to hear, but we still need to have the conversation.
Finally, Ephesians 5:3 says, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” Another translation says don't let it be named among you! This is a conversation that needs to be had as well. There are subtle ways that you can find this information out. I've learned to be very proficient at weeding. Folk say whatever you want to hear initially, but when you dig a little deeper, you find out who they really are. When I went on a date a few months ago with a "Christian" brother and I use that term very loosely as it relates to him, he immediately begin to ask me if I had seen the movie, "Think Like a Man". At the time, I hadn't. He continued with how he doesn't believe in the 90 day rule, etc. You see, people will tell on themselves without you even having to question them, sometimes. You can find out what's in somebody's heart.
In your dating dating experience endeavor to remember these things and know that its okay to ask the questions that you need aswers to or be patient and listen because everything hidden will eventually be revealed be blessed my sisters!
Pastor Symintha Radford
First, in our efforts to weed out all potential suitors who have too many prayer issues for us to deal with to even consider going out with, we won't even address them. And, of course, these scriptures can and should be applied across all areas of your life. We are given life applicable scriptures and therefore we always refer to the word of God as a blueprint for our lives. It is important that we use the word as a tool and guide for instruction, corrections, and edification in all things that pertain to life. So, with that being said, let's dig in.
I Corinthians 15:33 tells us that bad company corrupts character. The word says birds of a feather flock together. In other words, being in the company of someone who does not hold to the same values as you will lead you down a path of compromise. I know we all have been there, whether its friends, relative, close relationship, men friends, spouses, etc. Who we are connected to influences either in positive or negative ways. I watched myself be broken down and compromise my own standard in relationships in the past. Sometimes you don't really think you're doing it until you disconnected yourself and look back. You realize that you never would have done some of things you did had you not been connected to who you were with. We can say even some our behavior, attitudes, language, etc is influenced by who we are connected to. We all seek to belong and want to feel close and connected to people, so in an effort to do that, we let down our standard and who we are to appease and fit in with more of who they are and less of who we are.
Your character gets compromise and you are no longer who you are, but you are a fragment of who you use to be. You find yourself laying aside the things which God has instructed you and told you. You find yourself laying aside the woman of God you truly are for who somebody else wants you to be. All of this because you choose to entertain someone with questionable character. I hope you don't get angry with me on today, but I have lay out as I hear the Lord speaking it to me. So, let me say this, if you think that constantly exposing yourself to the influences of whose with questionable character will not eventually take hold to you, let you are walking in pride. You cannot lay under the sun and think you won't get a tan. Even people with dark skin will tan. If you don't believe me, lay out there unshielded for a while in the Texas sun and you will get the revelation. Whatever you put in you is what will come out of you. If you are constantly putting things in your spirit that are corrupt, it will produce fruit after it's kind. Whether it is good or bad.
Second, the purpose for dating is for the purpose of marriage. Now, I understand that the secular view does not reflect the Christian value on this particular subject. A dating relationship in mainstream, is just that, a dating relationship. Many people in the mainstream just want to hang out as they say. They are not particularly looking for anything serious. They say, "let's hang out and see where it goes". But as a Christian, we do not do the "let's hang out thing, to see where it goes". The bible says in 2 Cor 6:14, not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Now, I know you're saying that this guy is not an unbeliever. I'm sure he does believe in God, but if he does not believe in whole counsel of God's word, then you definitely have a problem of someone who is not equally yoked with you. There are a great many people that believe in God, but believing does not automatically put someone in equally yoked status. The demons believe and tremble. Is it our desire to walk with one of them? A son and daughter is someone who loves God whole heartedly, seeks out and strives to walk in the principles of his word, and is Godly sorry when he/she misses the mark. We can dispel every preconcieved idea that we had about just finding a good brother in the church. The devil goes to church too on a regular bases, attends more often than you, and sits wherever he wants even in the pulpit. So, let's just be real clear on that point.
So my point being this, a true lover of Jesus Christ is what you want, not just someone who believes in God. Don't settle for the, "I'm a Christian". You want to dig deeper to see if there is any substance in there. In dating, we do want to ask those questions and not be afraid of the answers we might get. It might not be what we want to hear, but we still need to have the conversation.
Finally, Ephesians 5:3 says, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” Another translation says don't let it be named among you! This is a conversation that needs to be had as well. There are subtle ways that you can find this information out. I've learned to be very proficient at weeding. Folk say whatever you want to hear initially, but when you dig a little deeper, you find out who they really are. When I went on a date a few months ago with a "Christian" brother and I use that term very loosely as it relates to him, he immediately begin to ask me if I had seen the movie, "Think Like a Man". At the time, I hadn't. He continued with how he doesn't believe in the 90 day rule, etc. You see, people will tell on themselves without you even having to question them, sometimes. You can find out what's in somebody's heart.
In your dating dating experience endeavor to remember these things and know that its okay to ask the questions that you need aswers to or be patient and listen because everything hidden will eventually be revealed be blessed my sisters!
Pastor Symintha Radford
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