There are 4 ways to set boundaries in relationships as a Christian. So much is taught about loving people, giving to people, and going the extra mile in Christian relationships. But not much is really taught or understood about boundaries. These are also very much a part of the bible and must be implemented to have healthy relationships. Love is not a feeling —- feelings may change and are not always constant. Love is a decision of how you choose to treat people and see people—- you choose to love people in your actions, thoughts, words, even in your feelings

What are Boundaries to be set in Christian relationships?

a. something that indicates bounds or limits; a limiting or bounding line.

b. Boundaries in any relationship help each person know what each person is comfortable with and how you would like to be treated by others.

c. Boundaries say a lot about who you are, how you relate with your external world

d. Boundaries are violated by actions

e. Boundaries need to exist in relationships for love to be true, genuine, and purely motivated.

4 Ways to set Boundaries in Christian relationships?

How you treat people and how people treat you matters. Without this you will have relationships that are unfruitful. There is the saying — when the purpose of anything is misunderstood — abuse is inevitable

Before even properly setting boundaries —- you must Know –who you are – and celebrate who you are. So often the issues that may arise are internal and not external. For Christians —Jesus is our example: He knew who he was and did not hesitate to declare often —- who he was —- his purpose, his identity, and his boundaries! He defined who he was only by his relationship with His father—- He didn’t allow anything or anyone tell him who he was (Jesus did not entrust his heart into the hands of men. Jesus made his boundaries abundantly clear in John 2:23-25.

 John 2:23-25:  verse 23–  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. Verse 24 – But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, verse 25 – and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

Jesus also understood his purpose — he refused to allow anything or anyone take him off his purpose. In the gospels, when Peter told Jesus he would not die on the cross, Jesus rebuked Peter – telling Peter to get thee behind him. With this statement Jesus set a boundary with Peter letting him know he could not stop him from fulfilling his divine purpose.

Why is it important to set boundaries in Christian relationships? 

Boundaries are not just for others but they are also for us. Healthy relationships have non negotiables — of how we will be treated and how we treat others. —– this is important.  Never let anyone try to diminish or derail you from your purpose –This was Paul’s admonition to Timothy. 

Why do we need Boundaries?

Boundaries are necessary – they help us define how we want to be treated and how we treat others. Boundaries help us not take people for granted and also not being taken for granted

To get more information on how to handle Christian relationships, check out this post: How to deal with difficult people as a Christian.o