young christian relationship?

[jumpinggiraffe]

I'm only 17 and a christian, i have been talking to a guy at my sixth form for about 4 months and really like him. he is very shy and he kissed me at a recent party so -
I feel that this could lead somewhere more but i am very "anti-relationships" because i'd like to abstain from sex until married,
he has no obvious interest in religion, so i'm worried that he wouldn't understand my beliefs. only 3 of my friends are christian, and are not in the same situation so find it hard to understand.

any thoughts?

[NIV]

I think your concerns are valid.

If I was younger I might go for it. Why? because it would fill a  desire and feel really good to be in a relationship. I haven't had any romance in many years, so I sort of understand.

Now that I'm old and hopefully wiser, I would choose not to get involved. Because I have been through some difficult really painful times.

I think you are struggling with instant gratification vs. delayed gratification, which we all struggle with.

I am almost a 100% able to say that God would not want you to "missionary date" and that He has a better match for you.

[chosenone]

If he isnt a Christian dont even go there. God doesnt want you to go out with a non Christian guy (even apart from the sex bit).

[yesult]

As above. 'Missionary dating' can cost you your own faith. Wait for the man God has for you, don't try to shortcut the process. It isn't fair to either you or the guy you end up with  because you won't be equally yoked.

Few people who do this keep their faith (because it's gernally preferring a person over God no matter how the christian trys to justify it) and the ones who do, can really struggle, sometimes at the eventual cost of their relationship.

It's not worth the risk.

Pray for him, invite him to church even, but don't encourage him into a false commitment to christianity to please you, or try to change him. Only God can do that. And God doesn't usually work around our agendas in this area (although that might sound like a harsh way to put it.)

Most christian singles face this at some point, don't worry. I nearly made a disasterous mistake myself in this area once. Many give in and the cost can be huge.