This past Monday morning I opened Facebook and found out that I missed the biggest wedding of the year so far – The Bachelor wedding. Honestly I didn’t even know it was coming on. Downton Abbey takes precedence in T.V. watching these days, but had I known the Bachelor wedding was going to be on at the same time I may have recorded it. I’m a sucker for big weddings.

I confess that in years past I have been a Bachelor/Bachelorette fan. Every week I’d sit on my sofa watching girl after girl breakdown into tears, wanting to make fun of them, but instead being embarrassed that they eerily reminded me of myself. Yes, I was THAT single girl. The one who sobbed and begged and lost all ounce of dignity not even realizing it until months later. Then the thought of the incidence made me want to climb into a hole and never come out.

But there’s only so many times you can see two people fall in love in midair after jumping out of a plane while another girl sits back at the house hyperventilating from crying so hard. I haven’t been a big Bachelor fan the past few seasons. However, that hasn’t stopped me from keeping my eye on Sean Lowe.

Somewhere I heard that Sean Lowe is a Christian. Then I saw his interview by Priscilla Shirer. Celebrities who are Christians fascinate me. I’m not sure why exactly except maybe I realize how difficult it has to be to face constant opposition and remain steadfast in your faith. Plus, I think the purpose of a huge platform is to bring glory to God. It’s a stewardship like anything else. So anyway, I’ve been keeping up with Sean here and there.

When this came through my newsfeed, “Catherine Giudici Baptized Into Fiance Sean Lowe’s Church by His Father“. And I read this, “The two are incredibly close and currently live together, though they have explained that they live in separate rooms and will continue to do so until the wedding.”

Really? I wasn’t shocked that they lived together before they were married because that’s what you expect from the Bachelor show. I was shocked that the article is about the couple’s faith and they lived together before they were married. It got me thinking,

Is it okay to live with your boyfriend before marriage?

There are many different reasons people decide to live with each other before marriage. Two of the main reasons is probably to save money and to test to see if you’re compatible. (However, you’ve probably heard that the divorce rate is higher among people who lived together first.) Regardless, the primary concern shouldn’t be practical needs guided by fear. This is how the world lives. Instead, the only concern for a Christian should be honoring God in your relationship and preserving the honor of marriage.

Hebrews 13:4 tells us to “Let marriage be held in honor among all.” Marriage is an honor. It is a profound mystery that we do not understand and a part of its mystery is that our earthly marriages represent God’s relationship with His Church. By living together before marriage you are creating an intimacy, even if not physical, that is only intended for marriage. Outside of marriage, intimacy is premature and cannot be fulfilled in the way God intended.

Because marriage is an honor, you should desire to guard and protect your future marriage from any impurity or temptation. I often say the moment we think we are above any sin is the moment we should be afraid and fall flat on our faces in prayer to God. None of us are above any sin. Living together before marriage opens a door for temptation. Remember, the enemy hates, and I mean HATES, godly marriages and families. Think about it. It’s through godly homes that generational sin is broken and godly children are raised and leaders in the faith are born. Don’t give Satan a foothold by living together before marriage.

For a Christian, it is not okay to live with your boyfriend before marriage. Your one desire should be to honor God in whatever you do. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” Colossians 3:17. Would you be living with your boyfriend in the name of Jesus? I don’t think so.

Bible Verses for When You’re Thinking about Living with Your Boyfriend Before Marriage:

“Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Hebrews 13:4

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Do you think living with your boyfriend before marriage honors God?