“Recently, I've been getting disapproval because of my personality. I act really friendly with people, and give anyone hugs. If I fake flirt, it's across the board—guys and girls. I'm assuming that everyone knows that it's all in fun; I am definitely not serious about it at all. Is that un-Biblical?”
Answer
Good question! This is a topic that is very pertinent to the location in which I currently reside—college.
Not everyone would answer your question the same way, but my personal view is that it is unbiblical to flirt even if it’s just for fun or if one “doesn’t mean it.” Now, I say that with a particular definition of “flirt” in mind—namely “leading someone to believe that one likes them even if one does not.” I think the reason why such behavior is wrong is self-explanatory. The Bible admonishes believes not to lie—which is what is being done when one flirts since that is meant to illicit the appearance of one being attracted to another. Lying is not an acceptable practice for the Christian and accordingly should not be a way in which a believer behaves. Consider Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV):
“9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
I hope that answers your question adequately.
God bless,
Robert A. Rowlett