This is a complex but very important question. I thank God for the maturity He has given you, to think these things through before rashly jumping into a relationship. And I’m glad you were willing to ask the question. I hope you will continue to consider the ministry. The maturity you are expressing with this question is an important gift to possess for those in the ministry. But whether or not you do enter the public ministry, the faith of your future spouse is a very important part of a complete and strong relationship.

A major purpose of dating is to find a person who might eventually become your spouse. In a healthy marriage relationship, the issue of faith is just huge. The foundation of a relationship in which there is communication and sharing and unity has to start with understanding of the importance of what Jesus has done for us. A relationship with a Christian of a different denomination can be challenging because their understanding of our relationship with God is very different. I personally know of quite a number of people who thought they had talked things through about their differing Christian beliefs before they got married. In some cases, they actually thought they were in agreement about what they believed. As time went on, however, they realized that their discussions about faith had actually been very shallow. They lamented the fact that they hadn’t really had a heart-to-heart talk before the marriage. Because of their love for each other, they had assumed the spiritual issues would work themselves out. In the end, differing beliefs became a substantial obstacle that interfered with the growth of their love for each other.

In a way, I think it makes sense. If our souls are resting on different platforms, ultimate unity and closeness will be difficult to achieve. So there are definitely some cautions about dating a Catholic or someone of a different faith. However, I can’t decree that you can’t date someone of another faith. I know of several pastors who married women who were originally Catholic. In most cases they (the spouses) are wonderful blessings not only to their husbands, but also to the congregational ministry, because they know first hand how precious the message of total salvation through Jesus is to them, compared to the uncertainty they felt as they rested the hope of salvation in part on their good works. However, I do know of a case or two where the spouse became confirmed as an adult, but for the benefit of the marriage, and not out of strong conviction that the Gospel of Jesus is the absolute truth. That created challenges, both in the marriage and in the ministry of the person. I suspect the difference may have been in the amount of discussion that took place very early in the relationship, about spiritual matters.

If you are considering dating a Catholic girl, I would suggest first developing a strong friendship with her before you date. Maybe hang out in groups together. Look for opportunities to talk about what you believe, and how important that is. Get into spiritual discussions. Explain what the Bible says about Jesus’ work. If it becomes clear that spiritual matters aren’t important to her, or that she believes that any faith is good as long as you have some faith, I think you can see that a very important part of the foundation of a relationship would be missing. I think too that you should consider your age. I said above that you seem to be mature. And I mean that. However, you probably will become more mature as time goes on. If you are getting close to entering college, relationships sometimes tend to be more serious. People of that age may be more willing to think about the deeper issues in life than those who are younger. If you are at the lower end of your high school years your relationships might still be serious, but you will also find that you will change as you get older.

If you are younger, I would probably advise you to try to focus on girls who already share your faith. If you attend a large church, or if there is a Lutheran high school in the area, it may be easier to find girls who are in spiritual fellowship with you. If you attend a small church, there may not be as many potential prospects to chose from. But no matter which church a person, who you are considering dating, might attend, it is important to talk about your faith. When we are dating, physical attraction and emotional attraction can overshadow the other very important issues. Finally, what is more important than your faith, and that of your spouse and children. May God bless you with a spouse who loves Him, a spouse who will share a truly blessed relationship with you.