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5 Tips for Online Dating for Single Christians

Last Updated: February 20, 2014

tips for online datingThere are pros and cons to online dating.

Pro: There are great people online (I have found them, know them, and am one of them).

Pro: For someone immersed in a career or ministry, online dating can open up opportunities that normally would not exist.

Pro: There is intention. There is no “Well, I plan on dating someone for six years while I finish my Star Wars collection (sorry, guys), master the art of cooking Ramen, and move out of my mom’s basement; then, maybe I will consider marriage.” For the most part, the people on dating sites want to be married—soon. It is the next goal in their lives.

However, for every good, godly guy online, there is a bad one. This brings us to the biggest con of online anything:

The bad guys lie.

Extremes on Both Ends

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says that 1 in 5 children are sexually solicited online. According to Match.com, 1 in 5 relationships begin online. Connecting with people online has two sides. It could be your worst nightmare or a dream come true. Choosing to date online means navigating a world full of predators, knuckleheads, and potential marriage partners. The problem is, you cannot tell the difference at first.

If we caution our teenagers, children, and young women to stay away from strangers they meet on line, does it then make sense to turn around and encourage them to do just that—meet strangers online?

I have seen both extremes. I have read the news stories of girls going missing after meeting up with men they met online. These men lied about their ages, their locations, and their intentions. Then, I have friends who met their husbands online. They met, married, and had children with stellar men of God that honestly made me step back and ask, “How were these guys still single!?”

Still, it is the Internet. Still, people lie. Still, men prey on seemingly desperate women in order to get what they want.

Is It Worthy the Risk?

There is no background check verifying all members of Site A are top-quality men (or women for that matter). I would consider myself a decent Christian woman who loves the Lord, so surely there could be decent Christian men on there as well, but not all of them are. There is always the slight minority that could end up killing me. So, is it worth the risk?

Not to be coy, but it depends on the risk you are taking. No parent would encourage a child to play in the street, but we do teach children how to walk across the street. What makes the difference? Intent, direction, and caution.

It is not that streets are bad, cars are evil, and every car is out to run them over. The fact is streets can be dangerous and cars can kill you. Being cautious can go a long way in preventing injury.

Tips for Online Dating

For those considering online dating, I have this advice to help curb some of the risk. Think of it as “Stop, wait for the walk sign, look both ways, make eye contact with drivers, listen’ for the cyber street.

1. Pray. Do not (I repeat: do not) go into this in some Jonah-like attempt to wiggle your way out of where God has you right now. It is much easier to make unwise decisions when you are making them rashly. Get God involved on the ground level. If you do not have peace or, if at any point this becomes an obsession, stop.

2. Do Not Run Into Traffic. Look around you first. A friend of mine shared a story from one of her previous churches. The church had a significant singles ministry and many were involved in online dating. One of the men was matched repeatedly with his friends in the singles group. He would e-mail them, “Well, that was awkward.” Then, he would block the profile. If you are in a zone with potential for marriage, look there first before searching online.

3. Be Yourself. If you are seriously considering marriage, it makes no point to lie. Lying about your likes, interests, goals, and passions might seem like a nice way to ‘bait’ someone, but no one likes being tricked. So, yes, close the Photoshop. It is better to have no marriage at all than a shell of a relationship built on a sand bar of lies.

4. Do Not Be You. Yes, be yourself, but do not be you. Do not freely give away personal information. Limit the number of pictures you use. Use a screen name that you do not use elsewhere (IM, Facebook, bank account, etc). Guard your personal contact information carefully. It’s not paranoia; it’s intelligence.

5. Date Smarter. Drive separately. Meet in a public place. Go with a group if you are more comfortable with that. Tell people where you are going and what your plans are. Give them whatever information you have just in case. The reality is, you are meeting a stranger, and as much as you hope this stranger has been as truthful as you have been, there is always that chance they have not. Put yourself in an environment that discourages things like rape or abduction.

The Internet presents us with many dangers. It is wise to be cautious. For the most part, the risks of online dating are avoidable. With prayer, intent, direction, and caution, a person can avoid the dangers and reap the benefits of great friendships and, perhaps, one day, marriage.

Picture credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc
  1. Those who can seize the opportunity to walk in front of them will succeed in all likelihood

  2. I DO NOT recommend online dating sites, I feel if GOD wants you to have a man or woman in your life he will bring one when he feels you are ready, So many woman are being fooled into bad people on the internet, Your feelings get hurt, they want money and after 5 months of being on the internet with the same man you start to trust him only to find out he wants money, or he isn’t who he says he is, Then they start saying i thought you loved me show me you love me!. Now your hurt your heart broken, he makes you feel so bad you send him money. STOP STOP this internet BULL>>> Head games” Isn’t life hard enough……Read the bible: Temptation 1 Corinthians 10:13 {No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.}

  3. Sabrina

    Very well said! Thank you.

  4. Rightly said! Very much valuable tips on dating! The online dating path is not same for all. There are some daters who get their dream partner and get married within some months, and there are some who get betrayed by their dating partner and have bitter experiences with the dating sites. So the online daters must move with caution. There are people who open dating profiles only to cheat the desperate women and steal their money by making some emotional drama. So, it is always suggested to perform a background check on the person to know the person is genuine and telling truth.

  5. thank you for the advise really it help us who are putting our self out there. be bless

  6. Thank you so much for your thoughtful tips on how to use an online dating service responsibly. I really loved your thoughts about looking in the area you’re in before searching online for dating prospects. I would imagine that one way to help you have a good experience with an online dating service would be to find one that is tailored towards people who share your faith.

  7. Aaron

    I think the author is taking a pretty logical, reasonable view on the subject matter. She doesn’t sound extreme to me. She’s not saying, “lock yourself in a room and rely on superstitions to get married.” She is also pro-online dating (safely of course), if she were real extreme she wouldn’t even accept the internet as a place to meet men. She is simply stating that wisdom is necessary in a world full of evil and, precautions must be taken if one is to date safely. Plus, marriage is supposed to be taken VERY seriously and, it’s important then to know who you are getting involved with. So, I think she’s reasonable and logical. That’s all.

  8. Spider

    You make it seem like there are a lot of men out to get women?

  9. Speaking for single Christian men around the world

    Do you realize your published blog here is actually creating alot of stereotype and fear for women? Maybe instead of suggesting there are so many bad apples try to be more positive in terms of giving hope that most men dont have the intentions you are suggesting. I have experienced first hand how hard it can be to break these stereotypes partly because of irrational comments you are writing about men, why dont you share the “horror” stories of crazy women? This article goes to show that you need to take everything you read online with a grain of salt. Please be more accountable with your public blogs, maybe even talk to a few guys before you write again.

    • Kay Bruner

      Women absolutely need to understand the world as it really is today. As a counselor, I see far too many young Christian women who were naive and believed all the best of every guy met, and ended up in terrible, terrible situations.

      Young women need to know the truth about what’s out there so they can make good judgments when the time comes. All too often in Christian culture, young women are told to be sweet and submissive, when in today’s world, they actually need to be wise and discerning as never before, with strong, healthy boundaries and the capacity to say “no” to any and all relationships that they don’t want.

      Peace to you, Kay

    • Koa

      I disagree and thank you for what you did say, because it’s needed and if we pray God will caution us to be patient. It didn’t seem like you were saying there more bad or good apples but just to be cautious, prayerful and honest and what you want. Thanks again

    • This is a fear producing article geared toward women that implies “most men on the sites are liars, trolls, or predators” and if u happen to get lucky there will be a “diamond.” (How were you still single?) This article shames divorcees, single men, Star Wars fans, men living with family, and especially good guys who struggle w sexual integrity.

    • Sylvester Walakufe

      I love these wonderful experience.

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