❓ Questions Young People Might Ask

❓ Questions Young People Might Ask

1. “Is it really that bad to use dating apps if I’m just looking for someone?”

Answer: Not all dating apps are evil—but many are built on worldly values. If the app encourages lust, superficiality, or emotional detachment, it’s pulling you away from God’s design for love. The Bible says, “Flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18) and “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Ask yourself: Is this app helping me seek a godly spouse, or just feeding my flesh?

2. “What if I feel lonely and these apps help me feel noticed?”

Answer: Loneliness is real—but false connection won’t heal it. God sees you. He values you. “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up” (Psalm 27:10). The attention from strangers may feel good for a moment, but only Christ offers lasting love. Build friendships in faith communities. Let God fill the void before you seek someone else to.

3. “Is it wrong to post selfies or get likes?”

Answer: It depends on your heart. Are you posting to glorify God or to gain approval? “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth” (Proverbs 27:2). There’s nothing wrong with sharing joy—but beware of vanity. Likes fade. God’s love doesn’t. Ask yourself: Would I still feel valuable if no one liked this?

4. “How do I know if I’m addicted to my phone or apps?”

Answer: If you reach for your phone before prayer, if you feel anxious without it, or if it’s affecting your sleep, mood, or relationships—it may be addiction. “All things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Fast from your phone for a day. See how your spirit responds. God wants you free, not enslaved.

5. “Can’t I be a Christian and still have fun online?”

Answer: Absolutely! But fun must be filtered through faith. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If your online fun leads to compromise, confusion, or comparison—it’s not worth it. True joy comes from walking in the Spirit, not chasing trends.

6. “What if I’ve already messed up?”

Answer: Then you’re exactly who Jesus came for. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). You are not defined by your past. Repent, receive grace, and walk forward. God restores what the world tries to ruin.

7. “How do I guard my heart in a digital world?”

Answer: Start with Scripture. Fill your mind with truth before you scroll. Set boundaries—limit screen time, unfollow toxic accounts, and invite accountability. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Guarding your heart means choosing what enters your eyes, ears, and emotions.

8. “Is it okay to want love and connection?”

Answer: Yes! You were created for relationship. But God’s way is patient, pure, and purposeful. “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4). Don’t settle for counterfeit love. Wait for the kind that reflects Christ’s love for His church.

Would you like me to format this Q&A into a printable discussion guide or add journaling prompts for youth group reflection? I can also help create a matching coloring page or devotional poster to reinforce the message visually.

Ask your pastor for counsel on finding a mate for life.

That’s wise counsel, and it’s worth repeating: Ask your pastor for guidance when seeking a mate for life.

Your pastor isn’t just a preacher—he’s a shepherd, a spiritual mentor, and someone who’s walked through the valleys and mountaintops of marriage and ministry. He knows the Word, he knows your walk, and he can help you discern between fleeting attraction and godly connection.

Here’s why it matters:

🕊️ Biblical Wisdom Over Worldly Advice

Apps and algorithms can’t see your heart. But a pastor rooted in the King James Bible can help you weigh character, calling, and compatibility through the lens of Scripture.

“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” — Proverbs 15:22

💬 Honest Conversations

Your pastor can ask the hard questions:

• Are you spiritually ready for marriage?

• Are you seeking someone who will walk beside you in faith—or distract you from it?

• Are you building on sand or on the Rock?

🛡️ Protection from Counterfeits

Not every “Christian” profile is Christ-centered. Your pastor can help you spot red flags, avoid emotional traps, and stay anchored in truth.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers…” — 2 Corinthians 6:14

🙏 Prayerful Support

There’s power in having someone pray with you and for you. Your pastor can intercede, encourage, and even connect you with a Godly community where real relationships grow.

If you’re serious about finding a mate for life, don’t just swipe—seek. Don’t just match—pray. And don’t just hope—ask for help from someone who knows the Word and cares for your soul.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2025© LanceReport PBKBANNABENGEORPMNMRM60123#3

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

🕵️‍♂️“Swiped: The App That Changed Dating—and Our Souls” Some Teens/Young Adults

📚 Word Bank: Definitions to Know Before You Dive In

1. Affection – Deep feelings of love or care. In Colossians 3:2, it means setting your heart’s desire on heavenly things, not worldly distractions.

2. Deceitful – Misleading or dishonest. Jeremiah 17:9 warns that our hearts can trick us into thinking something is good when it’s actually harmful.

3. Diligence – Careful and persistent effort. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts with diligence—meaning we must be intentional and alert.

4. Instant Gratification – Wanting pleasure or reward right away, without waiting. Many apps feed this desire, but God teaches patience and purpose.

5. Superficiality – Shallow or lacking depth. Dating apps often encourage judging people by looks or profiles, not by character or faith.

6. Conviction – A strong sense of right and wrong, often prompted by the Holy Spirit. It’s that tug in your heart when something doesn’t feel godly.

7. Commodity – Something bought, sold, or traded. When affection becomes a commodity, people are treated like products—not souls.

8. Exploitation – Taking advantage of someone for selfish gain. Some apps lead to emotional or physical harm by encouraging selfish behavior.

9. Algorithm – A computer program that decides what you see online. It’s not neutral—it’s designed to keep you hooked, often by feeding your flesh.

10. Purity – Cleanliness of heart, mind, and body. In Scripture, purity is not just about avoiding sin—it’s about being fully devoted to God.

11. Validation – Seeking approval or worth from others. True validation comes from knowing you are loved and chosen by Christ.

12. Spiritual Warfare – The battle between good and evil that affects your soul. It’s real, and it often shows up in subtle ways—like through your phone.

🕵️‍♂️“Swiped: The App That Changed Dating—and Our Souls”

An Investigative Documentary by Lance Whitaker, Baptist Christian Reporter, Husband, Father, and Defender of Truth

📍Introduction: A Father’s Burden, A Reporter’s Calling

My name is Lance Whitaker. I’m a Baptist, a husband to my beloved wife Ruth, and a father of two precious children—Caleb and Abigail. I write not just as a journalist, but as a man burdened by the spiritual erosion I’ve witnessed in our culture. I hold the King James Bible close, and I believe in truth, righteousness, and the power of testimony. What you’re about to read is not entertainment—it’s a wake-up call.

In 2015, a dating app called Tinder exploded onto college campuses. It was marketed as a way to “connect,” but what it really did was redefine intimacy, commitment, and even identity. Fast forward to 2025, and a movie called Swiped—a dramatized biopic of Whitney Wolfe Herd, co-founder of Tinder and later Bumble—has reignited the conversation. I’ve spent months investigating both the film and the cultural fallout of these apps. What I found is disturbing, illuminating, and deeply personal.

🎬 The Movie: “Swiped” and the Rise of the Girlboss

Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg and starring Lily James, Swiped chronicles Whitney Wolfe Herd’s journey from idealistic entrepreneur to tech mogul. The film opens with Wolfe Herd pitching a charity app, only to be lured into the testosterone-fueled startup world of Hatch Labs, where Tinder was born.

The movie touches on her harassment by Tinder’s co-founder Justin Mateen, her lawsuit, and her eventual creation of Bumble—a dating app where women make the first move. It’s framed as a redemption arc, a “girlboss” triumph. But beneath the glossy montages and startup jargon lies a deeper story: one of spiritual confusion, moral compromise, and cultural upheaval.

📱 The App: Tinder’s Cultural Shockwave

Tinder’s swipe-left/swipe-right mechanism reduced human connection to a reflex. It gamified romance. It turned courtship into consumption. And it did so with chilling efficiency.

Let me share the testimony of Daniel, a 22-year-old college student I interviewed in Ohio:

“I used Tinder for two years. I thought I was just meeting people. But I ended up feeling emptier after every date. It was like I was collecting experiences, not building relationships. I stopped praying. I stopped caring. I felt disposable.”

Daniel’s story is not unique. Studies show that dating apps have contributed to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among young adults. The illusion of endless options has eroded commitment. The Bible says, “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth” (Proverbs 5:18). But Tinder teaches the opposite—never settle, always swipe.

💔 Emotional Fallout: The Cost of Convenience

I spoke with Rebecca, a 29-year-old single mother who met her child’s father on a dating app:

“He seemed perfect. We matched instantly. But he ghosted me after I got pregnant. I thought the app would help me find love. Instead, it gave me abandonment.”

Apps like Tinder and Bumble promise connection, but often deliver exploitation. They’ve normalized hookup culture, blurred gender roles, and commodified affection. And while Bumble claims to empower women, it still operates within the same framework of instant gratification.

🧠 Thought-Provoking Truths: What Are We Really Swiping Away?

Let’s ask the hard questions:

• Are we trading depth for dopamine?

• Are we raising a generation that confuses validation with virtue?

• Are we building relationships on algorithms instead of prayer?

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Dating apps conform us to a world of lust, comparison, and superficiality. They teach us to judge by appearance, not character. They train us to seek pleasure, not purpose.

🕵️‍♂️ Other Apps of Concern: The Silent Spies

Beyond dating apps, others pose spiritual and privacy dangers:

App Name	Concern	Spiritual Impact
TikTok	Data harvesting, addictive loops	Vanity, distraction
Snapchat	Disappearing messages	Secret sin, deception
Instagram	Comparison culture	Envy, pride
Whisper	Anonymous confessions	Isolation, shame
Grindr	Hookup-focused, location tracking	Exploitation, lust

These apps don’t just spy on your data—they spy on your soul. They shape how you think, feel, and relate. And they do so without accountability.

🗣️ Character Witnesses: Real People, Real Pain

• Pastor Jim, Akron, OH: “I’ve counseled more young men addicted to Tinder than I can count. They come in broken, ashamed, and confused. These apps are spiritual warfare.”

• Sarah, Youth Leader: “Our girls are bombarded with messages that their worth is in their looks. Bumble didn’t fix that—it just rebranded it.”

• Elder Thomas, Retired Missionary: “We used to teach courtship. Now we teach damage control.”

🙏 Conclusion: A Call to Repentance and Restoration

I’m not here to condemn technology. I’m here to call for discernment. We must ask: Is this drawing me closer to Christ or pulling me away? The movie Swiped may glamorize ambition, but it also exposes the cost of compromise. The apps it portrays have reshaped our culture—but not always for good.

As a father, I pray for my children’s purity. As a husband, I cherish my covenant. As a reporter, I vow to tell the truth. And as a Christian, I urge you: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Let us swipe away the lies. Let us swipe toward truth.

📖 Written by Lance Whitaker, Baptist Investigative Reporter For the glory of God, the protection of families, and the restoration of hearts.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2025© LanceReport MPMBCPANNABENGEORGEKBPBNMRMPM77767##

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.