Christian Boundaries: Five Guidelines to Set Scriptural Boundaries in Difficult Relationships
Written by Karla Downing
Do you struggle with setting Christian boundaries? Difficult relationships require you to set boundaries, yet the complicated relationship dynamics make setting boundaries hard to do. To make it worse, there are common misunderstandings about what the Bible says about boundaries that cause us to be too passive and willing to tolerate unacceptable things. You can use these five guidelines to help you set scriptural boundaries in your difficult relationships.
1. Boundaries should help you take care of yourself.
The main purpose of your boundaries is to protect yourself and to help you be a good steward of what God has given you. Romans 14:12 says, "Each of us will give an account of himself to God" (NIV).
2. Boundaries should influence the other person for good.
Your boundaries should encourage other people to make wise choices for themselves. They shouldn't be so harsh and rigid that they are impossible for the other person to attain, which will result in discouragement and hopelessness. Hebrews 3:13 says, "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness" (NIV).
3. Boundaries should keep you from enabling.
Each person is responsible for the consequences of his/her actions and needs to learn whatever lessons those consequences are teaching. You enable when you step in to prevent the person from experiencing those consequences. Galatians 6:7 says, "A man reaps what he sows"(NIV).
4. Boundaries should keep you from getting hurt.
When you are deciding what to do and not to do for other people, one good measure to use is whether your decision will hurt you financially, emotionally, relationally, or physically. If it does, don't do it. Romans 12: 21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (NIV).
5. Boundaries should keep other people from getting hurt.
Boundaries are needed when someone is being hurt or could be hurt by another person's actions or by his/her own actions. Romans 13:9b-10says, "'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (NIV).
Setting Christian boundaries will be easier when you use these five guidelines.
Article author
About the Author
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
A Look at Avoidant Attachment Styles and How They Work
The early development of avoidant attachment creates a coping mechanism that forms in childhood. Disconnected parent-child interactions typically trigger this condition. People who develop this attachment style learn to depend on their resources. They avoid deep emotional connections. People with this attachment style want intimacy, yet they remain afraid of becoming dependent on others. Understanding Avoidant Attachment Among the four primary attachment styles, avoidant atta
February 6, 2025
Article
Dr. Venus Nicolino: You Have To Make Yourself Available To Find Good Relationships
The idea of making yourself more desirable by making yourself less available doesn't make a lot of sense when you think about it. After all, Juliet would have plunged a premature dagger into the heart of her romance with Romeo if she hid in her room rather than go out on her balcony. The end of Sleepless in Seattle shifts from "awww" to "aw, no" if one of the two main characters skips the trip to the Empire State Building. As these examples from fiction show, making yourself
August 16, 2024
Article
Unspoken Moves: 5 Ways Women Drive Men Wild Without Saying a Word
Whеn it comеs to attraction, actions oftеn spеak loudеr than words. Womеn havе a uniquе ability to captivatе and еnticе mеn without uttеring a singlе syllablе. Whеthеr it's a subtlе glancе or a playful touch, thеsе nonvеrbal cuеs can crеatе an undеniablе chеmistry that words alonе could nеvеr convеy. In this articlе, wе'll еxplorе fivе unspokеn movеs that womеn usе to drivе mеn wild, tapping into thе powеr of body languagе, еyе
August 10, 2024