Should unmarried Christian couples vacation together? Here’s another topic that the Bible doesn’t speak specifically on. And when there’s not a PASSAGE that specifically addresses an issue, you have to move on to the PRINCIPLES from the Bible that can be applied.
So I’m not going to come out and say Christians may never take vacations with a significant other, or that they should for sure do so. I can’t speak where the Bible is silent. But I can give you some things to think about that will help you make that decision in a God-honoring way.
Is this vacation going to put me in a place of extreme temptation?
Let’s cut to the chase on this question: What kind of sleeping arrangement is there going to be on this vacation? If you’re going on vacation with a partner and are intentionally sharing a hotel room and a bed, you’re intentionally putting yourself in a place of temptation.
But the Bible says we should flee from lust and make no provision for the flesh. We shouldn’t purposely put our flesh in a place where it will want to yield to temptation.
My wife and I took a vacation together to New York City when we were dating, but we stayed in separate places, so that at night, when the temptation to sexual sin would be the strongest, we were separated. During the day, we were busy sight-seeing. We eliminated the possibility of yielding to temptation.
Can we take this vacation with a group?
Do you have to take this vacation alone with your significant other? Does it have to be just you two, or can you get a group together that can hold you accountable? That way, you can enjoy the same vacation without the high risk of sin.
How will this decision affect the people who look up to me?
Let’s say you’re able to take a romantic vacation to Hawaii and not sin because you have perfect self control (highly unlikely). Those people looking up to you aren’t going to assume you didn’t do anything sexually. They may view it as permission for them to do the same thing, which could cause them to sin.
Think of it like this. If your pastor was single, how would you feel if he was taking his girlfriend on vacations?
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.
Just because you have the freedom to do things, you still have to exercise wisdom about whether you should.
How will this affect my ability to witness to unbelievers?
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world.
Just because you’re free to do it, is it wise to set that example for unbelievers? Will that hinder them from being open to Christ because of how they interpret your actions? Is it worth it if that’s the case?
Conclusion: Should unmarried Christian couples vacation together?
So, should unmarried Christian couples vacation together? My advice is that if you want to take a romantic vacation with a significant other, save that money until after you’re married, so you can enjoy each other the way God intended.