Should You Date Someone of a Different Religion? Should You Marry Someone of a Different Religion?

Should you date someone of a different religion? Should you marry someone of a different religion? Well, that depends on the different religion. A Christian should never marry or date a Buddhist, Wiccan, Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan, New Ager, or any of a number of other religions, and this goes double for Bible-believing Christians.

The reasons for not dating (I would allow one or two dates with these folks until you find out what their beliefs are if you do not know) is obvious. Different god's and different essential beliefs are of critical importance. The people may be the nicest people on earth, but Christianity is not compatible with Islam or any non-Christian religion. Christianity teaches that there is salvation in no one but Jesus, other religions may teach that Mohammad is the only way, so a Christian should never date any one from these religions.

Another consideration you might consider as part of the Christian religion is what is widely regarded as the cults. Sometimes this can be difficult. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormon's believe in a different God and a different Jesus than mainstream Christianity and therefore you should not date them and don't do witness dating. I would put some (not all) Churches of Christ and Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in the category of a cult. I would put some Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in the category of a liberal, non-believing church, especially if they are what is known as the United Christian Church.

I would not put Sunday worshiping believers from the Worldwide Church of God in the category of either a cult or a liberal church. When the last Armstrong leader of the Worldwide Church of God died, the new leader led the movement into a Bible believing church, but there are splinter groups. I would put some American Baptists (and missionary Baptist) and most KJV only, especially KJV of 1612 or 1611 Independent Fun?damentalist Baptist in the category of a cult.

So, if you're southern Baptist should you date someone who is a Missionary Baptist, Seventh Day Baptist, Seventh day Adventist, belongs to the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (Independent Christian Churches) or not? For a while, it may be OK.

It is often advised to never talk about religion or politics on a first date. Hogwash! That is evil advice, you should be willing to talk about both religion and politics and anything else that is important to you on a first or any other date. The eventual purpose of dating is to marry, but you begin by getting to know someone of the opposite gender. The less time you spend getting to know whether or not you could live with person until death do you part the better.

I use to hate the "let's just be friends" excuse for not dating someone, but as I have grown, I think that such reasoning has hurt me. A woman may not be a good match for me, but she may know someone who is. If we had remained friends, in spite of my deep romantic desires, she may have been able to help.

The spiritual maturity issue is important only to a point. I think I'll write another article on that issue to further define what I mean.

There are some critical issues to consider when dating someone of a "different" religion. Because many Baptist and many of the Church of Christ related churches are autonomous, you may be more compatible than you might think at first.

There are some issues you should consider when consider religion and politics. In the Christian religion the issues are the following. Since I'm male, I am using she (a potential dating partner) in the examples below. The points will work for either gender.

Does she accept the Holy Bible, as written in the original languages, as the Literal, Infallible, Inerrant, Inspired (meaning God Breathed) written Word of God?

Does she believe that there is no other name whereby we must be saved than Jesus?

Does she believe that Jesus is God the Son? Immanuel, God with us?

Does she believe like you on what is often referred to as "essential doctrine".

Is she a lesbian (probably not if she's dating a male) or bi-gender?

Politically, what is her position on Aborting unborn babies?

Does she believe in sex before marriage?

Does she smoke or drink?

It's rare that Baptists and Christian Church/Churches of Christ people agree on the purpose of Baptism, but it does happen.

Pentecostals and Baptist sometimes have differences. The Presbyterian Church USA is vastly different and more liberal than the Reformed Presbyterian Church and Orthodox Presbyterian Church. These beliefs and issues could affect and effect you in a long term in relationship?

On issues like smoking and drinking, you may be able to agree to disagree. On issues like salvation by Grace alone through Faith Alone in Jesus Christ alone you should NEVER compromise.