Is it wrong for Christian couples to move in together before marriage?

[Walk.by.Faith]

I was wondering if anyone could give me any verses to support why it is or isn't godly to move out with your significant other before marriage, and also some godly advice as well?

My boyfriend and I are planning on getting married in the future, and currently he is living with his parents and I am living with my sister. He's 23, i'm 20 and when i moved in with my sister we made an agreement i would be out May of this year. It also turned out that my bf was planning on moving out the same time with a roommate. Long story short, his roommate bailed and I was in need of one. So we decided that we could just move in together. We really want to keep things pure between us, and we both feel strongly that we can, but I know temptation will be present.

Has anyone been in my shoes or have any godly advice?

 

[mahlalie]

I don't know how much you'll find in the way of scripture. I think it's more of just a wisdom thing. It's easy enough to get into a compromising situation not living together. Living together must be so much more difficult. That said, I've never been in those shoes. Although I have to recommend against it and am under the impression you see why it may not be the wisest move, I get why it makes sense. I'll pray for you, kiddo.

 

[Luther073082]

Yes I don't think its a good idea at all. Also its not a very good witness, when a person lives with an unrelated person of the opposite sex a sexual relationship is typically assumed by most people.

I'd look for other options if possible.

 

[Keachian]

In that specific case I'd say no it is ill-advised, however if one of you were still living with your parents and the other also came to live under the parents roof in separate rooms of course I don't think it is that much of a deal, though I welcome disagreements on this

 

[twinserk]

ask your parents or pastor or something

 

[konakim]

I know it's widely looked down upon by Christians, but I actually think it's better if a couple lives together before they marry simply for the fact that you really don't know a person until you live with them. Case in point, my lifelong best friend and I moved in together our first year of college, and after about 1.5 months we came close to strangling each other. We had been best friends our whole life but were NOT compatible when it came to living with each other. In the case of marriage, if you happen to have the problem with your spouse after never living with them, you're trapped. You can't just move out and get on with life like I did with my best friend. We reconciled, by the way. Just found out we make much better friends when living in seperate quarters haha.

 

[Thunder Peel]

Even if you're staying pure I still think it's a bad idea. Part of the challenge and excitement of marriage is learning to live together and making it work. Moving in beforehand is taking the easy way out and once you justify that it will only be a matter of time before you begin doing it in other areas too. After all, if you're going to be married eventually then why not just have sex and jump the gun with everything else? It'll lead to trail of compromises and excuses until you may not even see the need for marriage at all.

I've known Christian couples who lived together before marriage and it always seemed to change the relationship and make the marriage less exciting. I can't speak from personal experience but I think it would be a mistake.

 

[EazyMack]

I've done it, and it is a VERY bad idea. Even if you are keeping your hands off each other (did that, too).

 

[Godzila]

My mind tells me its not a good idea...

but in your life, I'm not sure of the ENTIRE SITUATION...

so its possible it can work.

NOTHING in the scripture forbids you from moving in with another person.
But as Christians we understand we live in a fallen world, therefore you know very well if you give yourself the "opportunity" ...even if YOU are strong enough..your BF may not be.

 

[honeyny22]

I agree with everyone else and from my experience it was not a good idea, however I found out things about my ex that I probably would not have known otherwise, so would i do it again, probably.