When I first started dating as a Christian, I made the common mistake of treating relationships like they existed in their own special category with different rules. I learned that treating potential partners first as brothers and sisters in Christ helped maintain proper boundaries and respect. The tendency to blur lines because “we’re dating” led to regrets I could have avoided.
Looking back, I realized how important it was for men to take spiritual leadership rather than defaulting to passivity in relationships (which SO many seem to do). Setting both emotional and physical boundaries early on proved essential, not just for purity but for protecting both people’s hearts.
Keeping God as the priority, rather than the relationship itself, helped prevent compromising on values just to maintain harmony with my partner.