Loving God together
You can spend time devoting your love to God together, with a mutual understanding of putting the Bible first.
Faith and dating
Can I Date and Be True to My Faith?
Yes, you can. Here is what the Bible says, and how to date with God at the centre.
Yes, Christians can date
Yes. Christians are allowed to date, and you can date while staying true to your faith. The Bible has no word for dating, because the custom did not exist when it was written, but it gives clear principles: love God first, guard your heart, be honest, honour the other person and look for someone who shares your faith.
Finding love can be hard. Finding love with someone who shares your faith and values can be harder still. A Christian dating site lets you meet like-minded people without the uncomfortable conversation about whether they are Christian at all.
What the Bible says about finding a partner
Scripture starts with companionship. "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18, NIV). Wanting a partner is not a lack of faith; it is part of how we were made.
It also asks us to take our hearts seriously: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23, NIV). In dating, that means going at a sensible pace and not handing your heart to someone who has not earned your trust.
And it asks us to treat each other well. Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is the one most couples know, and we look at it closely in Corinthians: cliché or the clue to true love?
Where faithful Christians see it differently
On some questions, sincere believers land in different places. It is better to know that than to be told there is one answer.
Dating or courtship
Some Christians prefer courtship, with family involved and marriage the stated aim from the start. Others date more freely to get to know someone first. Both can be done with integrity.
Dating someone who is not a Christian
Many point to 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers" (NIV), and only date Christians. Others read it as being about deeper partnerships and see friendship and dating differently from marriage. Most churches would urge you to marry someone who shares your faith.
Kissing, sex and waiting
The historic teaching of most churches is that sex belongs in marriage, and many Christians wait. Views on kissing and physical affection before that vary a good deal. Our post on waiting until marriage and our guide to Christian dating rules set out the main views fairly.
Where you are unsure, pray about it and talk it through with your own minister, priest or a trusted friend from church.
How to date as a Christian, with God at the centre
- Pray first. Ask God for wisdom about who you are looking for, and whether you are ready.
- Know what you want. If you are dating with marriage in mind, be honest about that, gently.
- Talk about faith early. What church means to each of you matters more than which church it is.
- Agree your boundaries. Talk them through before you need them, not in the moment.
- Involve people who love you. Friends and family see things you might miss.
- Be patient. Love that lasts grows slowly.
Why it matters
The joy of dating someone who shares your faith
Dating a Christian comes with a lot of advantages.
The same values
You share the same values, and going to church is a priority for you both, not a negotiation.
Someone to pray with
You can pray for each other and support each other spiritually, in the good weeks and the hard ones.
Finding your match online
Using a dating site can feel a little overwhelming when you are looking for a lifelong partner. In fact it gives you plenty of chances to build your confidence and meet someone you might never have met in your day-to-day life.
- Be open-minded. Love often turns up where you least expect it.
- Choose a photo that shows who you really are.
- Be yourself. Warmth and honesty draw the right people.
- Make your profile a mirror of you. Every detail matters, and each one brings you a step closer to the right person.
Our Christian dating profile tips go further, and how Christians find love online takes you from profile to first date. You can get to know someone safely from home, and Christian Love is built around the most important quality you are looking for.
For advice written for you, read dating advice for Christian women or Christian dating advice for men.
Questions about dating as a Christian
Are Christians allowed to date?
Yes. No passage of scripture forbids it. What the Bible asks is that you date honestly, purely and with love for God and the other person at the centre.
Is it a sin to date as a Christian?
No. Dating is a way of getting to know someone you might marry. What you do while dating is what matters, which is why many couples agree their boundaries early.
Can a Christian date a non-Christian?
Christians differ. Many only date fellow believers, citing 2 Corinthians 6:14; others see dating and marriage differently. Most churches encourage marrying someone who shares your faith. Pray about it and talk to your church.
How do I start dating as a Christian?
Pray, be clear about what you want, and go where Christian singles are: church events, friends' introductions or a Christian dating site made for people who share your faith.