Should a Christian date a non-Christian? This is a question I've received a number of times from people in our church and here is how I answer when asked:
Let's look to the Bible, because God primarily reveals his will through his word. And as we read the Bible, we discover the best possible way to live our lives. As it relates to a Christian dating someone who isn't a Christian...2 Corinthians 6:14-15 says, "Donʼt 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? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" To best understand this New Testament verse, we need to look at an Old Testament one. Deuteronomy 22:10 forbade yoking a donkey and an ox as a work team on the farm.
Let's look to the Bible, because God primarily reveals his will through his word. And as we read the Bible, we discover the best possible way to live our lives. As it relates to a Christian dating someone who isn't a Christian...2 Corinthians 6:14-15 says, "Donʼt 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? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" To best understand this New Testament verse, we need to look at an Old Testament one. Deuteronomy 22:10 forbade yoking a donkey and an ox as a work team on the farm.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, Paul is borrowing the image from Deuteronomy 22:10 to teach the Corinthians that a Christian and a non-Christians are forbidden to be yoked together, in the same way a donkey and an ox are. Why? Because Christian values and pagan values are not compatible. He doesn't teach that Christians are to avoid all contact with the unsaved (1 Corinthians 5:9-10), but are to avoid close partnerships which involve compromise of Christian standards, practices or goals.
So to answer the question "Should a Christian date someone who isn't a Christian?" I'd have to answer no, based on what God's word says about it. But I want to encourage you to think beyond right and wrong. I want you think in terms of God's best plan for your life vs some secondary plan not nearly as good. The lifestyle God sets forth in the Bible is the best possible way for you to live your life. It's the "abundant" life Jesus died to give you. So my question is, why would you want to settle for anything less than God's best plan?
