Hypothetical, is it obligated for a Christian to date another Christian?

[Socreta93]

As an example, lets say by some miracle I find a girl I like and she likes me back. I'm christian but she is not (either atheist, agnostic or other beliefs). Is it okay to continue with the relationship or should I find Godly companionship. Remember the old saying, the two things you don't talk/ask about on a first date is religion and politics.

I've seen people here say you have to date christian people if you are christian and my mom has said the same that she wants whoever I date to be christian period.

 

[Oncefallen]

[SUP]2 Corinthians 6 (nasb)

14 [/SUP]Do not be [SUP][j][/SUP]bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? [SUP]15 [/SUP]Or what harmony has Christ with [SUP][k][/SUP]Belial, or [SUP][l][/SUP]what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

Drops mic and walks off stage.

don't worry Lynx, it was a cheapie

 

[ChandlerFan]

I guess it depends on what you mean when you say "is it obligated." When the Bible gives us a command, it's basically God communicating to us a guideline that He knows will bring us the greatest degree of joy based on how He created us--something that only He as our Creator could truly know. So in Scripture it is clear that Christians should only marry Christians because things aren't going to go well for us if we do otherwise.
But moreover, you have to keep in mind that Christ left heaven, came to earth, and died in order to pay the penalty for our sin and reconcile us to Himself, and if you truly grasp the grace and mercy that is required on God's part for you to be a Christian at all, obedience to Him becomes less an obligation and more an act of worship.

In short, not marrying non-Christians may or may not be an obligation depending on your outlook, but either way it is a command we are called to obey.

 

[Lynx]

Ditto what ChandlerFan said.

If you start with "Do I have to do it this way" you have already started from the wrong direction. Sure you can date and even marry a girl who is not a christian. The Bible is not a rule book that you have to follow in order to be allowed into heaven.

But the rules in the Bible are there for a really good reason, and usually it even tells you why you should and should not do certain things. If you go and marry a nonbeliever you're going to have some friction. If you want to put up with that, that's your choice.

 

[Dino246]

Well, you've received the Bible answer... don't be yoked with unbelievers. This applies to business partners as well as marriage partners, but that's for another thread...

About a year ago, my divorce was finalized (after almost three years of separation), so I was free to explore new possibilities. I considered asking out a lady I like who is not a Christian... and considered the possible outcomes. She might want to do things which I wouldn't (pre-marital sex, for example), she might not want to participate in the things which are valuable and important to me (regular church attendance), she might actually like me and tolerate my position on those things, and politely resist accepting Christ, or she might be hurt that I would not marry her if she didn't become a Christian.

I decided that dating a non-Christian was just a bad idea. There is a small possibility that she may accept Christ, but then she would also need to submit the relationship to the Lord for His input... and might not be willing to do that. Better to avoid all that headache and start out with someone who already knows the Lord and serves Him happily. Spiritual alignment is a huge blessing in a relationship.

 

[JesusRules1]

God told the Jews not to marry the people of the other nations,but it was not because of the different ethnic group,but because He did not want them to be led away with the heathen practices of them,which many Jews fell victim to,especially the king of Israel when marrying Jezebel,and she brought all her heathen ways with her,and influenced Israel with those practices,until Elijah interceded and turned them back to the LORD,and all her prophets slain,and eventually Jezebel was slain.

In the Spirit it does not matter the ethnic group,for if they are both a Christian they are on the same side,but if marry an unbeliever they might get led away with their ways,and become worldly.

Unless you want to roll the dice.