5 Christian Dating Red Flags You Don't Want to Miss
Dating can be a tricky process, even when you’re not a Christian. But when you add in the faith component, things can get complicated, especially if you're looking for a serious relationship. Whether you’re going on a first date or have been seeing someone for a while, check for these five Christian dating red flags to navigate the dating terrain and choose a great partner for you.
Christian Dating Red Flag #1: They are Controlling
Controlling behavior is a huge dating red flag, especially when you see these tendencies early in the relationship or even before you’re officially dating. Someone telling you how to spend your money, who you should or shouldn’t hang out with, or how to dress are all examples of controlling behavior. While these may seem like small things, controlling tendencies can lead to more severe abuse problems down the road. So, it’s essential to keep an eye out for this Christian dating red flag.
Christian Dating Red Flag #2: They Act Different with Their Friends
The way someone acts around their friends says a lot about who they really are. Most people are on their best behavior when they meet someone new. That’s why it’s important to spend time with a potential love interest around others to see if they treat people how you would like. Meeting someone’s friends is also important because, as it says in Proverbs 13:20, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” In other words, you are who you hang out with. If your date is kind, godly, and moral around you, but their friends aren’t this way, it could be a Christian dating red flag.
Christian Dating Red Flag #3: They Aren’t Walking with the Lord
Anyone can claim they are a Christian. It’s an entirely different thing to be walking with the Lord daily. Make sure the person’s words align with their actions. They may say they follow Jesus, but do their actions show that they actually do? Do they go to church, spend time in the Word, make life choices that glorify God? If not, they may not be the partner you truly want and deserve.
Christian Dating Red Flag #4: They Don’t Respect Your Boundaries
Boundaries in relationships are essential, whether they relate to loyalty, physical intimacy, communication, or something else. They protect each person and provide a safe and comfortable environment to get to know each other. If the person you’re seeing doesn’t respect your boundaries, it’s a huge Christian dating red flag. Not respecting boundaries can look like making fun of your boundaries, diminishing their importance to you, or pushing the boundaries to a point where you feel uncomfortable and disrespected.
Christian Dating Red Flag #5: You Don’t Have Peace About the Relationship
If you pray about your relationship and you don’t have peace about it, there’s a good chance the person isn’t the one for you. If you have a “gut feeling” that something isn’t right, don’t ignore it. That feeling might be the Holy Spirit protecting you from a negative relationship. If you feel like this isn’t the person God has for you, keep waiting until the right one comes into your life. They will be well worth it!