Is Online Dating Biblical?
One of the topics that Christians enjoy arguing is online dating. Some say that looking for love online demonstrates a lack of faith in God’s provision of a partner. According to them, the seemingly infinite lists of online profiles foster a superficial consumer mentality that undermines Christ-centered love’s sacrificial nature.
On the other hand, some argue that internet dating is simply a tool that God can use to bring two people together; consumers put their faith in God rather than the matchmaking site. They point to a neighbor, sister, uncle, or friend who met his or her spouse online and has a nice, healthy marriage. What could possibly be wrong with that?
Both sides have valid points to make. Online dating, like many other things, isn’t necessarily good or bad. Sometimes it’s not so much about what we do as it is about how we do it. The Bible frequently emphasizes overarching ideas over specifics. After that, we may apply these huge principles to our daily life and the decisions we make.
I’m going to provide some advice from one of my female coworkers to help you answer this question. She met her spouse online and has a lot of experience transitioning from a dating site match to a face-to-face meeting.
1. Meet in-person as soon as you can.
Consider online dating to be nothing more than a means of meeting new people. My husband and I are aware of a number of other Christian couples who met and married after meeting online. We all had one thing in common: we wanted to get out of the internet world as quickly as possible. When meeting online, there’s a tendency to keep it there because it’s so “secure.” You can share from your heart, revealing only the best aspects of yourself while concealing the less pleasing aspects. That is why it is preferable to meet in person sooner rather than later.
It allows you to get to know the person in a more natural setting. It’s crucial to observe how this individual interacts with others, handles ordinary stresses, and carries himself.
Scheduling the in-person encounter before you develop serious feelings will help you make informed judgments about whether or not you want to pursue this connection further.
2. Common sense is as important online as it is in the real life
Take precautions. Meeting someone on a Christian dating service does not guarantee that the person you’re interacting with is who they claim to be. Schedule your first face-to-face contact in a public location. Inform your friends and/or family about your plans.
3. Assimilate this person into your community as quickly as possible and learn about theirs.
When my husband and I first met in person, I brought along someone I trusted (an older male) to ensure that this “virtual guy” was genuine. I also made certain that he met with a few of my trustworthy friends early on so that they could provide me with feedback. The fact that he was willing to be vetted gave me confidence that his motives were genuine and his heart was modest. I knew his intentions were serious since he made sure I met his friends and family right away.
4. In all things, trust God and follow His lead.
At the end of the day, we don’t even consider meeting online. God brought us together through online dating, but we had to pray, trust, and obey through every step of the dating and engagement process, just like couples who meet in more traditional ways.
We’ve been married for four and a half years and have two wonderful children. We have no doubt that God, not our dating service, was the final matchmaker for us.