Hacking Dating: A Dating Guide for ChristiansНамуна

Always Be Honest

Honesty isn’t just the best policy; it’s also the Christ-like way to date. While sometimes you might feel like withholding the whole truth will make it easier to find someone to date, the long-term percussions aren't worth the short-term benefits. Instead, be honest with yourself and others from the beginning.

Be Honest About Your Intentions

Respect is an essential part of dating–respecting yourself and others. And it starts with being honest and upfront about your intentions. Doing so will minimize heartbreak because everyone will have clear expectations from the start. For example, if you’re dating to find someone to spend the rest of your life with, be sure to make that known so you can find someone with the same intentions. Some people date simply to have a good time. Trying to form a lasting relationship with someone who just wants a fling will never end well. This is where communication comes in handy–ask the important questions early on when you meet someone so you can decide if investing more time and energy in the relationship is the best choice.

Be Honest About Your Faith

You may be tempted to keep your beliefs private so you’re not judged by them, but that’s likely to backfire. Being a Christian is nothing to be ashamed of, and anyone who thinks it is probably isn’t the person God has for you anyway. If you’re not honest about what you're looking for, you’ll likely end up in a relationship that isn’t right for you. So whether that’s putting a statement about your faith in your online dating profile or bringing up religious beliefs early on in a conversation, do it. If finding someone who accepts, respects, and shares your faith is important to you, be honest about it from the start.

Be Honest About Your Boundaries

Having physical and emotional boundaries is essential to building a mutually beneficial and respectful relationship with a potential partner. What’s even more important is communicating your boundaries with someone you’re dating. Doing so also creates space for them to share any boundaries they have. When boundaries are in place, both people can feel free to be themselves, knowing that their relationship is built on a solid foundation of trust and mutual respect. Some common boundaries for Christian dating that may resonate with you include:

• Meeting in a public place for your first (or first few) dates
• Waiting to kiss until you’re in a committed relationship
• Waiting to have sex until you’re married
• Dating one person at a time
• Waiting to share personal or private information until you build trust
• Being friends first before diving into a romantic relationship

By being honest about your boundaries, you can keep yourself safe, comfortable, and pure. Not everyone will like your boundaries, and that’s okay, as long as they try to understand and always respect them. When you do the same, it can be the start of a wonderful relationship.