Dating Within your Faith: Challenges and Rewards
The pitfalls of dating in the modern world are many, and
even the strongest individuals are sometimes caught in the
snares of temptation. Even in the case of a person who's
basically of good moral character, poor judgment is sometimes
used and the reasoning that's applied to their error is flawed.
For instance, people who do their best to live an upright life
but fail in the area of chastity will often offer such
justifications as, "I just couldn't help it, and I really love
him/her." While this may be true, Christians must be able to
overcome such obstacles through the power of prayer, regular
Mass attendance and spiritual instruction. When a firm
commitment is made to living a Christian lifestyle, you can
expect to be tempted (and, often, greatly), but the tools that
you have to defend yourself against such spiritual attacks are
at hand and can fortify you during those times of your greatest
trials.
The rewards of your faithfulness to the Christian life are many.
Remember that being Christian doesn't mean that you can't have
any fun or experience any of life's pleasures. When you find
that you're enjoying a happy experience, simply praise God and
keep a humble perspective about where this goodness came from -
especially if you've found a good Christian mate. Since chastity
is called for within Christian dating, focus on the fact that
your actions are pleasing to God when you obey the guidelines of
the Church. If you truly have a Christian mate, they'll want to
abide by these rules, too, and a wonderful life-long
relationship can be formed, which will be blessed by God. The
rewards that you experience will be both earthly and heavenly.