by Cathleene Filmore

Created on: February 09, 2008

Dating Guidelines for Christian Teens

Dating is such a tough thing for anyone these days whether you are a teen or a single adult. It can be a game that questions your ethics, compromises your morals and in some cases even risks your life. There are some very practical rules that every teen should follow when they start dating.

Before any teen ever starts dating they need to ask themselves a few questions. Why do I want to date? What is Gods plan for my life and what goal am I trying to accomplish by dating? If a teen is merely wanting to date because they love to socialize then this need may need to be met in some other fashion. If their goal is to find a mate then this may signal a greater problem that needs to be addressed.

Another very important questions is who is this person and where do I know them from? Meeting someone on My Space does not count as knowing him or her. If teens are going to date at all then they need to date people that they have grown up with whose family they know well. In this day and age more than ever parents have to meet their teens friends and acquaintances. It is pertinent that Christian teens date other Christian teens that they would be equally yoked with. Dating often turns to marriage, and dating a non-Christian is a recipe for disaster later. When the Bible says to be evenly yoked it is not just referring to faith. Evenly yoked refers to faith as well as personality, goals, values and priorities.

Proper dating guidelines for teens always include a public setting and accountability. A dark movie theater full of strangers is not accountability. A youth group outing, a church social event, or a double date with parents are all accountable situations. While this may sound harsh it is the right thing to do. While teens may be living in adult bodies, they are still little kids on the inside and they need guidance and boundaries. Finally a teens dating life should never take precedence over their relationship with God, family or school activities. Dating should never become the number one focus for any teen. While dating can be fun it is also serious business with some very adult consequences. If a dating relationship is taken seriously from the beginning, it could save a real heartbreak later.

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