Last updated on April 2, 2022
Question:
Is having a girlfriend a sin?
Answer:
There are things in this world that are morally neutral — by themselves, they are neither right nor wrong. For example, food is needed to fuel the body but that doesn’t make it righteous or sinful. Giving food to someone in need is an act of righteousness. Eating more food than you need is an act of sin (gluttony). But the food itself is neither right nor wrong.
Having a girlfriend is a necessary step toward getting married. Marriage is a good thing. However, you can use your girlfriend wrongfully, such as by getting involved in lust, lewd behavior, or even sex. It isn’t the girlfriend part that is wrong but how you treat her that can become wrong.