THE ASHOKATHAI

For Christians, honesty is part of the upbringing. Lies are not tolerated, and even if social circumstances force one into silence rather than a lie, it is still an uncomfortable feeling, and you hear the voice of your parents or your priest in your mind, telling you to tell the truth. Honesty has just a little less value in the real world, and though Christians are not taught to value what the world values, it just places them in a little more difficult social situation when lies are required.

So when a Christian tries to enter the world of dating web sites in hopes of a stable Christian relationship with the opposite sex, this very honesty puts the Christian at a disadvantage immediately. While it is probably best for him to be at that disadvantage when others place less value on honesty, it does make life difficult. While others who know how to make just the tiniest of lies to make that connection with a potential partner, a real Christian must refuse the compromise.

Christian dating is almost a conflict of terms, but it is a narrow road Christians must traverse anyway. The fact is that honesty really has a premium value, especially in relationships, no matter what other young adults believe. Christian singles who keep to this ethic of honesty might be sacrificing the immedite rewards of lying, which is the real temptation, for the far more satisfying reward of a stable relationship with a chosen partner, built on the sturdy foundation of honesty.