What To Look For In A Mate For Evangelicals
If you are sizing up the possibility of a life long mate and you happen to be an Evangelical then there are some serious factors to consider. You have to examine your beliefs and values that you hold dear and at least some of them have to be present in the other person. It is impossible to find all of what you desire in one person but the most important characteristics must be there.
The foundation of Christianity is to put God first and it is important that any future mate feels the same about that priority. In order to place God first this would mean that your Christian values have to be aligned with each other. You should both feel the same way about premarital sex, about drug and alcohol use, about having children, about attending church, and about the friends that you will have.
Christians, according to the Bible are to be equally yoked together because there can not be light where there is darkness. Basically, believers have nothing in common with non believers. This is especially true when it comes to finding a mate. Just like anyone else, Evangelicals have the desire to share their life with that special someone but they have to find someone that they can grow in faith together with and their choice should delight God as well. There must be much more than physical attraction in common.
Christian expectations are quite high, especially when they are looked at from non believers. The reason for this is because most secular people initially find a mate with their eyes. Evangelicals are more of a minority so while the task of finding a mate might be frustrating at times, particularly when looking around at non Christians who seem to be dating left and right. “Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
The most important thing to look for when seeking a mate is to make sure that they have the same commitment to God that you do. If they do not don’t think that things will change as they likely will not and your relationship would be unequally yoked. Make sure that they have similar ideas about how to raise children, education, where the two of you would live if you marry, and how this person gets along with family and friends.
These things are the foundation of any relationship but yet they are still secondary to your first and foremost priority, which is God. When you have made God number one He will bless your relationship and there will be nothing that can break it apart. While those that you know in the secular world seem to be having fun now, rest assured that you are planning far beyond the “right now” of things and you are building a rock solid foundation for a life that will never be shaken, a life held closely by the one and only God.