A Pastoral Response to Online Dating

Isaac Hydoski, one of pastors at Covenant Life, has written a paper addressing the topic of online dating. Here’s an overview of the big points.

Concerns:

1. Expensive
2. Time-consuming
3. False hope
4. Safety
5. Compromise
6. Can reinforce self-focused view of relationships
7. Loss of protection from church community
8. New temptations

Counsel:

1. Discern your motives (Jeremiah 17:9; Luke 6:43-45; James 1:14)
2. Involve your community (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 20:18, 24:6; Hebrews 3:12,13, 10:24,25)
3. Know your values and convictions (Ephesians 5:10)
4. Communicate your values and convictions (Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians 4:15, 25)
5. Ask about their values and convictions (Ephesians 5:6,7; Proverbs 24:21; 1 Corinthians 15:33)

Here’s his conclusion:

In summary, if you are participating in online dating, please know that we love you and we support you. Our concerns are just that: concerns. We want to see you experience God’s grace in Christ Jesus and we want to be faithful to show you some of the significant pitfalls as we see them, so you can be protected from discouragement and danger.

Ιf you are considering participating in online dating, please weigh our concerns and make your decision carefully and with much prayer and counsel.

Read the whole article at Joshua Harris’s blog.

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