Another question...differences in faith

[LvMAgape]

I have met a wonderful guy who is almost six years older than I am. We started out as friends, were friends for about eight months, mostly communicating through internet and seeing each other now and then. Recently we've spent more time together, sometimes an entire day and about 2 - 3 weeks ago we became girlfriend/boyfriend at his inquiry.
I believe that I am starting to fall madly in love with him and there isn't a day that I don't think about him. Some of the biggest things that attract me to him is his great personality - he is humble, open-minded, understanding, compassionate, funny, smart, and caring.
He's also an O.K. Christian.

I say just O.K. because I feel that he doesn't thirst for God as much as he should (and as much as I do). I think he's just in this comfort zone with God and I can't feel too much of a spiritual connection with him. Sometimes I'm so excited to talk about God while he's just being nice and supportive always agreeing with me.
Some people at church have been telling me to be very careful with him b/c he comes from a divorced family where traditinal Christian values were not highly emphazised. But I don't look at the family (although I know it's very important) as long as I can see that what's negative about his family is not negative about him. That means, I look first at who he is, at "his" heart and go on from there.
I feel that because of his background, he is still the best Christian he knows to be. I know he tries. But I don't want him to see me as judging him or thinking that I'm better or whatnot, because that's something I would never do. I just want to support him and bring to light issues he might not see... but I'm having a hard time opening up to him about this and telling him how I feel. (I don't know how to as this is my first time being in this kind of relationship, while I'm like his 3rd girlfriend so far)
I'm more conservative, he's more liberal. Does anyone see this as something that can break our relationship? I believe that if we have true love, it won't but maybe I'm wrong. I don't ever want to let him go though, but I also want to be able to open up my heart to him about anything and everything. I'm praying to God asking His will to be done in here because I want our relationship to be from God. I suggested we both pray about this and ask God that His will be done and I would've expected him to be excited about it and say "oh that's a great idea!" but all he said was something like "true" and that's it. I know that he cares about me and we talk everyday, but I dunno where he stands with God. If anyone who reads this wishes to pray for me too, I would apreciate that very much.

Meanwhile, if anyone has any comments/questions/advice/thoughts to share please do. Thank you.

 

[micaela]

This is a tough one in many respects. Please be aware that he may never mature in his faith. Are you willing to be in a life relationship with someone with whom you can't share the most intimate part of your life together? It sounds like praying together is probably not an option right now - is that something you would want long-term? It is much harder to implement such a fundamental and intimate part of a relationship further down the track.

I have just come out of my first relationship - a similar story to you in that my S/O had 2 previous relationships. He has been a Christian since he was a teenager, and has a supportive Christian family, but while he is older than me in years, much further behind in spiritual growth. In the course of our relationship he came to realise that he did want more than a 'comfortable life', and that would mean trusting God more, but ultimately, the strain of feeling like he wasn't in control anymore was part of what ended our relationship. Although we challenged each other in our faith often, my challenges usually had more guts to them since I have more experience in my faith, a stronger relationship with God, and a greater trust in God. Over time, this wore my S/O thin, and it came to a very sad ending.

I beg you to pray openly and honestly about this relationship. Ask God to direct your feelings towards this man. Ask for guidance for, and honesty in your relationship when God-stuff does come up in conversation. As strong as you may be, the weight of carrying/bearing the strain of someone else's weaker faith is tremendous.

Have you asked your man how he views his faith? Does he desire to know God more? Love God more? Become a better man of God? If so, does he know how to start changing these things? Does he have supportive male Christian friends? Are you each in a bible study/home group?

I will pray for you, and if you ever need some one-on-one advice or prayer, please feel free to PM me.

 

[Pope Gonzo]

I see a couple red flags: 1)you started dating 2-3 weeks ago, and you think you're starting to fall madly in love with him. Love is an action, a conscious and continuous choice; not a feeling. 2)You're at very different places in your walks with God. If you're interested in him, I strongly suggest you stay friends and help his walk with God. How can he be the spiritual leader in the relationship(and eventually the marriage, because that's what dating leads to) if he has nothing to lead with?

There is nothing wrong with dating to marry, but sit down and talk with him about the stuff that you're asking us about. If he's really meant to be with you(though I argue that such a situation doesn't exist... but that's a whole 'nother matter), then waiting a little longer shouldn't be any trouble.

 

[Iggster]

I've dated women of the faith and women not of the faith: lukewarm even....It's very hard to stay with someone who is not on fire for the Lord. I found myself compromising here and there. Before you know it, I didn't feel God's presence in my life any longer. I did not seek Him daily, nor did I care to learn from His good book. Spritually, I was dying. My prayers were just words and I couldn't even concentrate on what I was praying about.

Then God introduced me to my s/o now. She's of the faith and is on fire for the Lord. I do my best to seek God daily in my life. I look forward to hearing my partner lift me up to the Lord and praying for us. I found myself asking her for advice on which book to read onto next about the Holy Spirit. It's encouraging to be with someone like her because I don't feel so alone in my battles.

Always be mindful of what God wants for you. God should always be your first love, and also his. But if you find yourself compromising here and there, then I'm afraid that this is not the relationship for you.

Satan has taught me that he will use anything and everything to draw me away from my true love. Be careful of wolves in sheeps clothing.