Sermon
How to Tell If Your Christian Date Is Being Insincere (with Humor and Warmth)
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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Dating within the Christian community can feel like
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a breath of fresh air. You're navigating
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values, faith, and goals hoping to find that
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deep spiritual connection
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that's more than just skin deep.
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However,
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as with any dating pool, you might come
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across people who aren't quite as sincere as
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they seem.
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Maybe it's subtle, an offhand comment, a questionable
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reaction during bible study, or the way they
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gloss over prayer time.
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If you're wondering whether your Christian date is
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being genuine or just putting on a front,
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you're not alone.
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In this guide, we'll explore some of the
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telltale signs that your date might not be
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as sincere as they appear.
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But don't worry,
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we'll keep it light and humorous
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because sometimes
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the best way to handle these things is
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with a little laughter.
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One,
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over the top bible knowledge
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with no depth.
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We all know someone who can quote scripture
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like they've got an internal concordance.
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But when you dig a little deeper, it
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becomes clear they're more interested in winning most
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pious award than living out those words.
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If your date is quoting verses left, right,
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and center, but seems to fumble when you
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ask them how those teachings have impacted their
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life,
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that's a red flag.
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Let's put it this way. If your date
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is rattling off first Corinthians like they're auditioning
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for a seminary,
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but their personal stories involve little more than,
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yeah, I really like that verse,
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it might be time to consider whether they're
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putting on a show.
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Remember,
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sincerity is about walking the walk, not just
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talking the talk. What to watch for? Do
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they have a real relationship with their faith
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or are they simply showing off their bible
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quoting skills?
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Ask them how a specific verse has shaped
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their actions or mindset.
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Two,
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prayers that feel like mini sermons.
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We all know that prayer is a conversation
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with God,
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intimate,
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personal, and most importantly,
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sincere.
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But if your date's prayers sound more like
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an audition for the pastorate,
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something's off. It's one thing to be eloquent.
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It's another to make every prayer a mini
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sermon.
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If your date's prayer goes on for five
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minutes,
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touching on every single theological
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point ever mentioned in a study guide, you
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might start wondering,
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are they praying or performing?
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Genuine prayer doesn't need to be impressive, it
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just needs to be heartfelt.
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What to watch for? Are they praying with
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sincerity?
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Or do they seem more concerned with impressing
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you or God with their theological knowledge?
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If you find yourself mentally timing how long
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they've been at it, that might be a
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clue.
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Three,
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their church attendance seems a bit
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performative.
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It's great to have a date who loves
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attending church, but here's the kicker.
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Are they going because they're deeply engaged,
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or is it more about maintaining an image?
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You know the type. They check into every
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Sunday service on social media,
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post selfies from bible study, and make sure
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everyone knows they're at all the events.
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If their involvement feels more like a PR
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campaign
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than genuine
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spiritual engagement,
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take note.
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Here's the truth.
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Sincere people go to church because they're seeking
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community and growth.
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Insincere
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people go because it looks good on their
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dating profile.
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What to watch for?
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Ask about what their church community means to
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them. If they have a hard time describing
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any real connections or impact,
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that might signal they're just clocking in for
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appearances sake. Four, they're overly judgmental of others'
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judgmental dater.
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A classic sign of insincerity.
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If your Christian date is constantly pointing out
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the flaws in everyone else's faith journey, it
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might be a red flag that they're more
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concerned with appearing holier than thou than they
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are with genuine connection.
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Look,
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nobody's faith is perfect.
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We're all on a journey trying to figure
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things out. But if your date is busy
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criticizing everyone else's church attendance,
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prayer life, or gasp denomination,
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it could indicate that they're insecure in their
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own faith.
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Insincere people often deflect attention
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away from their their own shortcomings
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by pointing out those of others.
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What to watch for? Do they offer grace
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and understanding when talking about others' faith, or
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are they quick to judge? A sincere Christian
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recognizes the flaws in their own walk before
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pointing out those in others.
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Five,
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they avoid tough questions about faith.
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Dating a fellow Christian is about more than
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shared beliefs.
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It's about shared values and growth. If you're
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trying to have a deep conversation about faith,
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life challenges,
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or even doubts, but your date keeps dodging
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the topic like it's a theological minefield,
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that's cause for concern.
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Faith isn't always easy and genuine Christians will
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acknowledge that. What
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sincerity and faith involves being open about struggles
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and questions.
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If your date can't engage in these kinds
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of conversations or worse, if they get defensive
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when you try,
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it might be a sign they're not as
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invested as they claim.
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What to watch for? Do they seem open
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to discussing both the highs and lows of
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their spiritual journey?
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Or do they steer every conversation back to
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surface level niceties?
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Sincere people won't shy away from discussing tough
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topics.
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Six, the too good to be true syndrome.
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If your date seems too perfect, like they've
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stepped straight out of a Christian romance novel,
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there might be reason to pause. It's one
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thing to be committed to living a Christ
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centered life. It's another to pretend like you've
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got it all figured out. If your date
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never acknowledges any mistakes,
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doubts, or imperfections,
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there's a chance they're more focused on projecting
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an image than being honest about who they
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are. We're all sinners after all. So if
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your date is portraying themselves as someone who's
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never missed a quiet time, never struggled with
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faith, and never gotten impatient in traffic because
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let's be real, that's a challenge for all
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of us. It could be a sign that
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they're putting on a show.
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What to watch for. Are they willing to
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admit their mistakes and weaknesses,
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or could they paint themselves as the perfect
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Christian?
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Sincere people aren't afraid to be vulnerable.
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Seven,
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actions speak louder than words.
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This is the big one, folks. At the
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end of the day, it's not about what
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your date says.
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It's about what they do. Are they living
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out their faith in tangible ways, or is
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it all just talk?
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Sincerity is demonstrated through action.
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How they treat others, how they handle challenges,
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and how they navigate relationships.
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If your date talks a big game about
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loving others but treats the waiter poorly, that's
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a red flag.
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If they talk about generosity but seem to
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hoard their time and resources,
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take note.
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Faith isn't just a series of beliefs. It's
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a way of life.
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What to watch for.
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Pay attention to how they treat people, how
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they serve others, and how they handle difficult
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situations.
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Sincere Christians live out their faith even when
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it's inconvenient.
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Eight,
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they avoid accountability like the plague.
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We all need accountability in our faith journeys.
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But if your date bristles at the idea
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of being held accountable or avoids any kind
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of spiritual mentorship,
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that's a sign they might not be as
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committed as they appear.
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Genuine Christians recognize the importance of being in
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community with others,
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allowing themselves to be sharpened and refined by
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fellow believers.
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If your date can't name a single person
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who holds them accountable in their spiritual life
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or if they seem to scoff at the
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idea,
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it could mean they're not really interested in
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growing in their faith.
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What to watch for. Ask about their mentors
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or accountability partners. If they can't think of
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anyone or if they seem dismissive of the
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idea,
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that might be a red flag.
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Conclusion.
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It's okay to laugh and learn.
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Let's be honest. Navigating the dating world as
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a Christian can feel like walking a tight
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rope sometimes.
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You want to find someone who shares your
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faith, but you also want to make sure
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they're sincere.
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By paying attention to these telltale signs and
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keeping your sense of humor intact, you can
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protect your heart and your time.
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Remember,
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nobody's perfect, and you don't need to expect
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your date to be either. But sincerity,
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that's nonnegotiable.
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Stay prayerful,
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keep your eyes open, and don't be afraid
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to trust your gut or laugh when necessary.
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With a little discernment and a lot of
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grace, you'll be well on your way to
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finding a relationship that's built on truth,
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faith, and, yes, a good sense of humor.