Or are you playing games with someone’s heart?  Are you stringing this person along just so that you won’t be alone again this Saturday night and so you will have someone to date?  Is it more important to you to have someone on your arm or rather that you truly and genuinely care about the person you are dating?

These are important questions to ask and answer before you begin any kind of dating relationship—casual or serious.  “A social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character” involves feelings and intentions and is wide open for interpretation. 

I won’t candy-coat it:  dating is risky.  You can’t always see where you’re going out there.  So be prayerful and let God's Word light your way before you embark upon any type of relationship.  Also ... communicate, communicate, communicate!  And take responsibility for how your actions and words impact the other party. 

Remember, if you are both believers then he/she is not just a romantic interest—but your brother/sister in Christ as well.

And this is my prayer:  that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

— Philippians 1:9-11

HE is … Cliff Young, a Crosswalk.com contributing writer and a veteran single of many decades.  He has traveled the world in search of fresh experiences, serving opportunities, and the perfect woman (for him) and has found that his investments in God, career and youth ministry have paid off in priceless dividends.

SHE is … Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com’s Senior Entertainment Editor.  Since she’s only lived in four states in the continental U.S. and dipped her toes in just two oceans, she would one day like to experience life abroad … preferably where the views are lofty, the food is tasty and the shopping is cheap-y.

DISCLAIMER:  We are not trained psychologists or licensed professionals.  We’re just average folk who understand what it’s like to live the solo life in the 21st century.  We believe that the Bible is our go-to guide for answers to all of life’s questions, and it’s where we’ll go for guidance when responding to your questions.

GOT A QUESTION?  If you’ve got a question about anything related to living the single life, please CLICK HERE to submit (selected questions will be posted anonymously).  While we are unable to answer every inquiry, we do hope that He Said-She Said will be an encouragement to you.

**This column first published on May 8, 2008.