Is it okay for a Christian to date a non-Christian?

[natel]

After voting in our poll, explain your response in more detail by replying to this thread.

[natel]

Poll results, with a total of 7 votes:
Yes - 14.29% (1 votes).
Yes, only if you're not a Christian leader - 14.29% (1 votes).
It's okay to go out in a group setting - 0% (0 votes).
Not at all - 71.43% (5 votes).
Not sure - 0% (0 votes).

[RaZella]

Dating a non-Christian is being "unequally yolked". Before I was married, I dated a non-Christian. It's hard to have a relationship with the Lord and a relationship with someone who does not believe in the Lord. The temptations of the world are things the other person may feel are not "sins" at all. And we can't turn to the other person to fill a void in our lives that only Christ can fill within us. We also can't count on the other person accepting Christ just for our sake. It is a personal journey we must all take. I believe we are called to love and witness the lost, yet dating a non-Christian is too conflicting for our spiritual walk with the Lord. One of the reasons I dated my now husband was because I knew he was a Christian. We both placed the Lord first in our dating and have been greatly blessed through it. Just my thoughts, although having been someone who dating non-Christians, I know how hard it is after being attached to someone to have to face the thought that maybe we shouldn't be dating.

[natel]

Thank you for your thoughtful response! Very well explained!