Dating Non-Believers: A Wise Choice for Christians?

Question:

Can I date a non-Christian or non-believer? 

Answer: 

It seems like this question is coming from a believer, a disciple of Jesus, who wants to follow Him. The question is, "Can I date someone who is not a believer, who is not a Christian?" My answer would be no, as it's not a wise decision and goes against what God's Word teaches us.

There are a couple of things I want you guys to look at. 

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 NLT says: 

"Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil, and how can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" 

It's evident here, as Paul writes this inspired by the Holy Spirit, that he's emphasizing the challenge of being in a partnership or relationship with a non-believer. Considering this in your own life, why would you want to date someone who is not a believer?

You might have feelings and attraction towards that person, and there may be great qualities about them. However, if Jesus is truly the Lord of your life and the center of your life, and if you desire to follow Him and center your life around Him, why would you want to enter into a close and intimate relationship with someone who doesn't share those same values or prioritize the things of the Lord?

And so, as Paul would say, he just asks these questions. "What harmony can there be between a Christ and the devil, and how can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" 

Even in a dating relationship, the principle of being unequally yoked applies. Just as it's unwise to enter into a marriage with a non-believer, the same applies to dating. A dating relationship is special and involves a closer connection than other types of relationships. You want to be heading in the same direction as your partner. If they are headed toward worldly pursuits rather than toward Christ, their life will likely follow that direction, too. It's not wise, doesn't honor the Lord, and sets you up for potential failure, heartache, and pain.

Another verse I'd like to share is from Amos 3 NLT in the Old Testament. Amos, a prophet, poses a simple yet profound question that's worth pondering as you consider who you want to date and the relationships you want to pursue.

 "Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?" 

So, think about the direction of your life. Is your life headed in the direction of growing in the Lord, serving the Lord, living for the Lord, laying your life down for the Lord? If your life is directed towards Christ, the person you're dating or pursuing a relationship with must also be headed in the same direction. Otherwise, how can you really walk together? How can you really have a relationship? 

I hope that answers your question. How can you walk together without agreeing on a direction? And if you don't agree on who Jesus Christ is in your life, how can there be a relationship?

To Listen to more or ask your own questions, click here: https://youtu.be/CFwnzM-AEvw

Can I Date A Non-Christian or Non-Believer? - Calvary Youth Apologetics

Question: 
What's the difference between Christians and Catholics?

Answer: 
I love the way young minds are spinning, seeing the world we live in and then trying to gauge what we hear from a biblical worldview, even within a church like ours. So, let's break down some of the key distinctions between Catholics and Christians.

We have to go back to church history. I'll summarize this as quickly and concisely as possible, but when you go back into church history, when you read the book of Acts 2:1-4 NLT, you'll see that the early church began and had this beginning where they were gathered together. 

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

It says that they were of one mind and of one accord, and they would have these gatherings. But then, of course, the church continued to multiply and spread. It's exactly what Jesus intended, to go from Jerusalem to Judea's Samaria, that surrounding region, into the uttermost parts of the earth.

But what has happened over time is, and, unfortunately, what tends to happen is that we take something that starts with the right foundation, but then we develop man-made traditions and ideas. And so, Catholicism, when you think of the word in general, Catholicism is actually not a negative word, or a bad word, or an ultimate false sect or religion, but "Catholicism" simply means universal. 

The idea of universality is correct, and we are one church. When I say "one church," like anybody who is a true believer in Jesus Christ, is part of the church. That is exactly what the word "catholic" means. So, probably to distinguish your question is more in line with the manmade religion known as Roman Catholicism.

You can think of a man by the name of Martin Luther, who was a Catholic priest who realized that a lot of the traditions that came from the Roman Catholic Church in about the 1500s, he recognized that a lot of those were actually contrary to what the Bible taught. 

Martin Luther is most well-known for hanging up the 95 Theses on the door of the church. In these 95 Theses, he shares his struggle with the contradictions he sees in the man-made religion of Roman Catholicism versus what the Bible teaches. This was what launched what's known as a Protestant movement.

Although Calvary Church is considered non-denominational, where we don't hold to any denomination, we do find ourselves in the sense that we would consider ourselves Protestant, which simply means we protest against some of the man-made ideologies that the Roman Catholic Church has developed. 

One of the key issues is praying to saints because the Bible tells us that there is one God and one mediator between God and man, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. So, praying to Mary or praying a tradition like praying the rosary, where Jesus said, "Don't think we will be heard by our vain repetitions." 

So those are a couple of examples, but let me also be clear: we don't take this hardcore stance against the Roman Catholics or against people who say they're Catholic. We have a lot of similarities, too. I think most Catholics would fully subscribe to the essentials of the faith that they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, they believe that He died for our sins, that He was buried and rose again. And the Bible couldn't be more clear that if you confess the Lord Jesus Christ with your mouth and believe in your heart, He's been raised from the grave, you shall be saved.

To listen to more podcasts or to ask your questions, click here: https://youtu.be/GmShBFq5ynw

What's the Difference Between Christians and Catholics? - Calvary Youth Apologetics

Calvary Youth

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