Breaking up with someone is usually an awkward, painful and depressing event. Sure, sometimes it can be refreshing. But if we wanted the relationship to work and have come to realize that it won't, it can be a very sad event.

Most of us don't want to hurt the other person when we break up with them. In fact sometimes we allow the relationship to go on longer than we feel we should because we don't want to hurt that person, especially if that person has strong feelings for us that are no longer reciprocated.

So how might a Christian approach this difficult situation? It will come up for the majority of us, even if it is simply us deciding we don't want a third date. So we'd better be prepared. I've been on both sides of this dramatic dance and have compiled this list to help walk you through the process if you decide you must break up with someone.

First ... Make sure you really want to break up. All relationships go through down times and you need to make sure this is not simply a temporary dip. Take your time and do your best to picture your life without being in your current relationship with this person. Decide whether or not the issues that have you wanting to break up are based on current circumstances or if they are permanent issues that cause you to feel the two of you are best served by going your separate ways.

Sleep on your decision.

Second ... If you've gotten past the first part and know that you need to break up with this person, then you need to plan your words and timing carefully. Jesus said, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12). So your top priority needs to be ending your dating status with this person with grace and love, even though it will not be romantic love. You need to break up with them "as you would have them" break up with you. No one wants to be dumped, but if it's going to happen there's certainly some ways that we would rather not experience.

Most of us don't want to hurt the other person when we break up with them. If we do want to hurt someone then we need to step back and evaluate our own spiritual health. It's going to hurt them no matter what, so it's best for us to try to hurt them as little as possible. Now is not the time for vengeance.

The Bible tells us to treat others with care. So that means we don't break up with them in an email or through the voice mail on their cell phone. We should give them respect and care by talking with that person face to face. So choose to care and show compassion toward the person you're about to break up with.

Third ... Sometimes in an effort to show compassion, you might end up leading the other person on. That means that instead of ending the relationship as planned, you are talked into hanging on a little longer because you don't want to hurt the other person. Usually this ends up causing more pain in the long run. So let me encourage you to refer back to the first rule and if you are certain you want to break up then do nothing less. It's like ripping a band aid off. It certainly hurts but isn't prolonging the pain by a timid series of attempts. So make a clean break if that is what you want to do. It's better to allow the other person to start the healing process than to give them false hope.