Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
Online dating is mainstream, and that means Christians are doing it. So how can Christians do it while honoring God?
Key Points:
- The online world can often lead to isolation and dishonesty. Some tips to counteract this are to be slow, to be careful, and to be in community. Accountability is important, and rushing into a dating relationship is often unwise.
- Consider inviting trusted people into your search for a mate. Give others permission to ask questions of you as you search. This doesn’t mean they’re reading your emails, but check in with someone once in a while.
- We can end up in emotional affairs with those we meet online, developing a deep sense of connection before having the grounding to truly know the other person. Because our contact is limited, we become infatuated and create ideas of what we think the other person is like rather than gaining an understanding of what they’re actually like.
- Online dating can create “grass is always greener” syndrome. It seems like there are countless options for dating, but this isn’t true. Just because someone shows up on on your profile doesn’t mean they’d want to date you.
- We can look at others superficially and show interest – or lack of interest – for the wrong reasons. Because we are only seeing a few photos, we become obsessed with how people look.
- Online dating itself is not necessarily a problem, but we must each examine ourselves to ensure we are not making dating, a relationship, or marriage into an idol.
Quote This:
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever tried online dating? What made you take the plunge?
- What would you say are some pitfalls or red flags in online dating?
- Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve known someone who looked or acted very differently in person than online?
- “The online world can often lead to isolation and dishonesty.” How can you counteract these things while using online dating websites and apps?
- In what ways can online dating be superficial? How can you be aware of this and counteract superficiality in your own online behavior?
- Have you ever experienced yourself or seen someone who made dating/marriage into an idol? What happened?
- What are some ways you can ensure the people you are meeting online are quality people?
- How can you protect yourself physically and emotionally when meeting people online?
- Read Matthew 6:33. How should this verse guide the way you go about dating?
- What would you say is the ultimate purpose of dating? How does this affect the way you go about dating and/or online dating?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
