My boyfriend refuses to attend church

Dear Pastor,

I am 18 years old and I am in love with a 25-year-old man. I am living with my stepmother and father. My stepmother knows my boyfriend, but my father doesn't. I have a good relationship with my parents.

My stepmother told me that she does not think that my boyfriend and I are compatible so I should not put my heart on him. She says that he is not ambitious.

I want to be a doctor, and whenever I talk to him about that he says he doesn't think that he can wait on me because it would take too long for me to finish my studies and for us to get married.

He is anxious for us to have sex, but I am a Christian, so we can't have sex. Every time I talk to him about church, he says that he is not going to stop me from going to church, but he does not believe in church.

I would like my boyfriend and I go to church now, and when I get married my husband, I and the children ought to go to church. My stepmother, father and I go to church. It is something we look forward to every Sunday.

Sometimes my boyfriend has nothing to do and he doesn't attend church, and he tells me he is busy.

I love him so much. I don't know what to do. Every time he tries to talk about sex, I tell him to talk to me about something else because I am not interested. Am I right or am I wrong?

P.S.

Dear P.S.,

I am glad that you have a very good relationship with your stepmother. So often girls don't get along very well with their stepmothers. Perhaps your stepmother is a genuine Christian. She does not only love your father, but she loves you. From what you have written about your boyfriend, it seems to me that your stepmother is quite correct. You and this man are not compatible. This man has made it clear that he is not going to cooperate with you. He doesn't feel he can wait until you have completed your studies in med school.

You love to go to church and he is not interested. Therefore, I would encourage you to give a listening ear to your stepmother. She is trying to lead you right. End the relationship with this young man.

Pastor