Dating can be complicated and challenging for many individuals, especially Christians who want to maintain their beliefs and values while searching for a lifetime partner. In navigating the dating world, there are many things that one should care about, and most Christians out there seek what the Bible says about how they should approach dating.
The truth is, there are no written scriptures in the Bible about dating, and none of which were mentioned except for marriages and such. The idea of dating started in the West and never existed in biblical times. Many cultures and traditions took place afterward with respect to dating, but still, there are some things that we should understand, and God should be the center above all things.
If you seek to know about Christian dating and how Christians approach dating, this article is for you. Below are some pieces of advice to guide you to finding love according to what aligns with your values, belief, and personality. So be guided and know what it means to love and be loved.
Know and Understand the Purpose of Dating
Christians need to seek light on the purpose of dating. Christians should know what it takes to date someone and what responsibilities you will have once you go down that road. Dating is not just about finding a spouse or a lifelong romantic partner but also about getting to know someone and determining if they are a good match for you.
Christians should approach dating as to what the future holds. Dating is an opportunity to create a relationship by knowing someone and seeing if they are compatible with each other rather than focusing on physical attractions, wants, and gratification.
Pray for Guidance and Wisdom
Before the thought of going into a relationship, Christians should pray for guidance and wisdom when dating. This helps ensure that every move is the right decision and should be worth it. Approaching dating this way honors God above all.
Praying also helps provide peace and comfort for both parties during a stressful and overwhelming experience, for we don't know what comes the way and what the future will bring. But, as they say, a calm mind guided by God's wisdom will always get you to the foreseeable future.
Set Boundaries and Limits
Christians should set and maintain boundaries. For example, when dating, setting limits will guide what not to do and what's best for every scenario. This includes setting physical and emotional boundaries and defining what is and is not acceptable behavior in a relationship.
Setting these boundaries helps to ensure that the relationship is healthy and that both partners are comfortable and respected. By doing this, concerns about each other can be solved peacefully and not by dealing with them repeatedly.
Be Honest and Transparent
Christians should approach dating with honesty and transparency. This means being honest about their beliefs, values, and intentions and being transparent about their past experiences and any baggage they may have.
Being honest and transparent helps to build trust and establish a foundation for a strong and healthy relationship. After all, a broken trust is equivalent to a lifelong journey of regrets and inconveniences. And only acceptance can solve that.
Focus on Character, Not Just Physical Attraction
When dealing with potential partners, focus on the character and not physical attraction. Of course, physical attraction can be a plus and important, but it is also worthwhile to consider a person's values, beliefs, and personality.
A person's character is a better indicator of compatibility and the potential for a successful and fulfilling relationship. This will help you decide if your thoughts and decisions can become one when you take that responsibility seriously.
Value the Opinion of Family and Friends
Christians should value the opinion of family and friends regarding dating. The input of those who know and care about them can provide valuable insight and guidance on potential partners. Family and friends can also offer support and encouragement during the dating process.
Be Patient and Wait for God's Timing
Christians should be patient and wait for God's timing regarding dating. This means not rushing into a relationship or settling for someone who may not be the best match for them. Instead, trusting that God has a plan and will provide the right person at the right time is important.
Sooner or later, God will reveal the one you are looking for. It's worth waiting for the right one at the right moment rather than rushing things out. Let God be your way, for He will guide you throughout.
Conclusion
Dating can be a confusing and challenging experience for Christians, but it is possible to approach dating in a way that honors God and aligns with their values. For example, instead of focusing only on their own preferences while looking for a partner with the purpose of marriage, Christians should prioritize God in their life and strive to be attractive to Him in whatever they do, including dating.
By understanding the purpose of dating, praying for guidance, setting boundaries, being honest and transparent, focusing on character, valuing the opinion of family and friends, and being patient and waiting for God's timing, Christians can navigate the dating world with confidence and success. In addition, because God is the ultimate source of satisfaction and love, focusing on one's love for God will offer a suitable perspective for romantic relationships.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).