Unequally yoked- please advise!

What should I do?

  • End the relationship soon

    Votes: 17 54.8%
  • Try to convert him

    Votes: 2 6.5%
  • Wait and see what happens

    Votes: 7 22.6%
  • Stay with him

    Votes: 5 16.1%

  • Total voters
    31

mnphysicist

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If you had been together for a couple weeks, I'd bring up the unequally yoked thing, albeit that verse is much much wider in scope than relationships. Being its been a couple years, I'd go really slow as far as breaking up due to the issue of you growing in Christ, where as he is an unbeliever. While not an exact match to your situation, 1 Cor 7 seems a whole lot more applicable than 2 Cor 6.

That being said, it will make things more complicated, perhaps a whole lot more complicated if you run up on differences should you have children. I think such a convo will provide clarity for both of you. Ie, its one thing to not believe and be supportive of ones spouse, its a much bigger step to advocate your kids develop a walk with Christ along with your spouse when you yourself don't do so.
 
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S.O.J.I.A.

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this too is not that hard,

Christ or your BF, what's it gonna be?

your BF is going to do what he has to do to keep the relationship going and if that means putting up with you being religious, that's what he'll do, especially if it doesn't really infringe on his own life necessarily. it's you doing your thing while he does his. that will change once you get married and start having children.

everyone who has come to true saving faith has had to part with things and people whom they held dear. it's hard, but it's necessary. it doesn't mean you can't ever speak to him again and it doesn't mean you can't share the gospel with him and be spiritual influence in his life. it just means you need to break the unequal yoke.
 
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Bigork

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I'm sorry that you're experiencing such a situation

Here are some thoughts that I hope may be of help to you

Some may say that you should break up, and I think that is generally what you should do if your boyfriend were not supportive of your faith

However, I think what would make your situation different is that your boyfriend is supportive of your faith

1 Corinthians 7:12-14 if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband

In this verse, Paul talks about under what situations we should break up with non Christian partners. If we have non Christian partners that are supportive of our faith, then we should stay with them

The key is that they are supportive, not that they are non Christian

If you would like to be in a relationship with your boyfriend, you are welcome to do so

The bible verse, 1 Corinthians 7 : 12 to 14 is not talking about sisters and brothers that are engage but Paul was addressing the married brethren. However, if you read the passage further, you will see where Paul said, "If the unbeliever live, then brother or sisters that was married to the unbeliever is free to re-marry.

In this case, there is no marriage yet. I think the scripture 1 Corinthians 7 does not apply here. This my submit ion to your respond to the topic.
 
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toLiJC

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Hello all!

I have been in a relationship for two years- a healthy, caring relationship with someone who does not believe in Christ. This wasn’t an issue when we first started dating, because I was not practicing at the time. Now, however, I am refocusing my life on God and I keep seeing advice on breaking up with unbelieving partners. He does not seem to have any interest in pursuing God, but he is supportive of me doing it. I don’t know what to do.

This is not a casual relationship- we are embedded in each other’s lives and families and have been serious for more than two years. I know I should rely on God but the thought of leaving him tears me apart. Any advice?

Thanks!

i will just quote a passage

1 Corinthians 7:12-17 (NASB) "to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches."

Blessings
 
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mmksparbud

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You are not married. As to whether or not you've had a sexual relationship, that still does not constitute a marriage. You are then in sin. It was mentioned that you'd be considered married if you've gone sexual---however, even in ancient Israel, where an engagement was considered a sort of marriage which required a divorce to get out of, you were still only legally betrothed until the marriage ceremony and sex was not permitted. It is far better to end a sexual relationship than a marriage. The woman at the well was told by Jesus that she had been married several times, but the man she was living with now was not her husband. So Jesus recognized she was in a sexual relationship, but not married. There have been no vows made before God. Whatever God has joined let no man put asunder---but God has not joined you---you joined without God and have every right to end the relationship. Vows said to God must be kept. If you have made no vows to each other or to God--then there is no compulsion to stay together, once you marry before God---then the vows must be kept.
You're under the vow to God that you made to stay pure until marriage, if you have violated the pledge, then ask for forgiveness and give it up, He will forgive, but repentance means turning away from. So, repent, give up the relationship, and let God work on his heart and you may (or may not) get him back as a born again, God loving man that you can be equally yoked to.
 
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fat wee robin

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1 John 4:1 - "Do not believe every spirit, but prove whether the spirit is from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world". That was written 2,000 years ago, before paganism and Rome got entwined with Christianity, and before democracy came along to make people think that human rights gives them a right to insert personal desires into church doctrine where a majority agrees. So it is even more relevant in the present day, that most people have been led far, far away from the authentic spirit of God, especially with Television having had a huge influence on public perception and belief of what Christianity is all about.

Jesus said "let no man separate what God has joined together". You are joined on the foundation of love. Beliefs are not greater than love, but are a reflection of knowledge. If you have a spiritual connection through love, it shows you have similar values in heart. Then why he believes differently to you is not a matter of differing values, but of knowledge (experience, teaching, information). You obviously understand the history of Jesus well, and why it is significant in the world. So consider, if he was to understand as you do, would he be Christian or not? There is your answer, and if so, then prayer can connect you with God, to know His will for how you should act, what you should say, to sow seeds of knowledge in his mind and to show forth the light that will draw him to Christ.

1 Corinthians 7:12-16 addresses this precisely. It is in fact not your decision to make, but his, and you should not try to influence him in that decision. Rather, what happens as someone becomes a believer, is that The Holy Spirit through them begins the war over the soul of the partner, and it is a spiritual war that you might not realise is going on. But that partner has to make choices about whether he is comfortable with who you are becoming, and it will produce that either he will hate The Holy Spirit that is in you and will desire to leave - then you must not forbid it (1 Corinthians 7:15). But if he continues to love you even when you have holy spirit, then he is one who loves The Holy Spirit and eventually The Lord is able to bring him into a knowledge of salvation too (1 Corinthians 7:16).

This is the nature of life in faith! Your life is not yours to live however you want, but it is a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) so that through your patience and faithful love, He is able to save souls as they come to enquire of you, recognising that you are a reliable witness of The Holy Spirit.

It is unusual that you should consider destroying a thing that is only good, especially where it will cause him to forever hate God for having irrationally taken his partner away and ruined his life, when he had been supportive all along! .. So beware the wolves who come in sheep's clothing, who inwardly seek to devour.

.. unless you can provide some rational reason for why you should leave him, I say do not allow fear to be your master. The one who fears has not been perfected in love, but perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

Dear Lord God, I thank you that our sister can so freely ask for advice, and we thank you that you have kept her safe from following the deceiver's lies to destruction. I ask that you will give her greater wisdom to discern those that are good for her from those who would ruin her, and to recognise that a badge does not necessarily denote honour. We ask for your blessing upon this family, that love will reign to your glory. We ask that you will stir up in our sister a real desire to find that intimate relationship with you so that she can always look to you for advice, to guard her from making mistakes through trusting the advice of fallen creatures. I pray in Jesus' name that Your Holy Spirit will succeed to save the souls of this couple as you know them to be well matched and capable of working things out together through love, loyalty and service to each other's needs. Amen.
If only most priests and pastors were as wise.
 
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salt-n-light

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Hello all!

I have been in a relationship for two years- a healthy, caring relationship with someone who does not believe in Christ. This wasn’t an issue when we first started dating, because I was not practicing at the time. Now, however, I am refocusing my life on God and I keep seeing advice on breaking up with unbelieving partners. He does not seem to have any interest in pursuing God, but he is supportive of me doing it. I don’t know what to do.

This is not a casual relationship- we are embedded in each other’s lives and families and have been serious for more than two years. I know I should rely on God but the thought of leaving him tears me apart. Any advice?

Thanks!

Assuming that you're not in covenant with him, I would talk to him. Tell him that you take your faith seriously, and share you desires for him to get to know God. If he's supportive, that means he is open to learn more about God and is open to being witnessed to him. In saying that, at this point, it would hard to be in a relationship with someone who isn't growing with God in a level that you would probably need your husband to be at. And it would be harmful for you to wait and bank on him actually doing that. Ultimately, only God can save him. My advice would be to be just friends and see how it goes with him. Pray for him.
 
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salt-n-light

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I'm sorry that you're experiencing such a situation

Here are some thoughts that I hope may be of help to you

Some may say that you should break up, and I think that is generally what you should do if your boyfriend were not supportive of your faith

However, I think what would make your situation different is that your boyfriend is supportive of your faith

1 Corinthians 7:12-14 if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband

In this verse, Paul talks about under what situations we should break up with non Christian partners. If we have non Christian partners that are supportive of our faith, then we should stay with them

The key is that they are supportive, not that they are non Christian

If you would like to be in a relationship with your boyfriend, you are welcome to do so

The only thing is that that scripture its addressing those who have made the covenant already. They haven't. What if it gets to the point where he would want to make a covenant (which im guessing the level of involvement they have, she's seeing that being possible), would it be wise to continue?
 
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sparkle123

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I married a nonbeliever from a secular home while I wasn't practicing the faith. Then I came back... let's say it isn't easy. We are expecting a child now and though he is approving, it is up to me alone to raise her to know God. Our family is already spiritually divided. i would not choose to start a marriage this way. You should certainly pray and seek counsel from priest or pastor or trusted advisors before you make any move toward marriage. I love my husband but our marriage will always be lonely because we don't share the most precious thing-- faith and love of the Lord. Some days it's a very painful reality, even when things are good for us. But this truly depends on you and what you want for your life, so good luck....
 
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JacksBratt

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Hello all!

I have been in a relationship for two years- a healthy, caring relationship with someone who does not believe in Christ. This wasn’t an issue when we first started dating, because I was not practicing at the time. Now, however, I am refocusing my life on God and I keep seeing advice on breaking up with unbelieving partners. He does not seem to have any interest in pursuing God, but he is supportive of me doing it. I don’t know what to do.

This is not a casual relationship- we are embedded in each other’s lives and families and have been serious for more than two years. I know I should rely on God but the thought of leaving him tears me apart. Any advice?

Thanks!
I'll just add my two pence...

Marriage is hard. Harder than you think. It's easy to look forward and believe that you cannot possibly have any problems that your beliefs will affect or compromise.

Sooner or later there will be a decision or event that will need to be founded on your beliefs.

In my marriage, the ONLY thing that is kept it together on these occasions, is the fact that we both look to God first.

Raising kids comes with all sorts of decisions that need to be founded on God. Finances, job decisions, ethics with friends, neighbors, work....

You may not see it now but not having a common denominator as a solid foundation for you marriage...it can be the nail that kills it.
 
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Bigork

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I thank God for your faith in Him and you will never regret it.

Alright, to your question. We have what we called God's will and our own will. Because we are human not Angle, God allow us to have free will or self will. If Angel was sent on assignment, they have to carry out everything in detail. But human being can decide on what to do. Most of the time, God will always want us (Born Again Christian) to always walk in His will.

At times, when God permit us to decide on what we want, some people called this PERMISSIVE WILL. That God allowing us to have our way. This is not good because it come with its own repercussion.

As a Christian, our will is to do the will of God not our own will nor permissive will of God.

Marriage is one of the areas that God is expecting us as a Christian to follow His leading. Because, this is the first institution that God created from the beginning. From that time, Satan has been looking for opportunity to set us as Christian against God's will for our life. If you make it in every area of life but failed in marriage, that person is said to have failed in all.


We need to seek God in prayer to guide us in our marital life. Before I got married in 2013, I once have a girl friend who said she loves me but she is not a Christian. When we started, I know that this is against God's plan for me but I want ahead. At a point within me I was like, I cannot marry this lady. So for me to make the best decision, I have to write someone of my faith to give me advice on what to do. Apart from this, I told the lady that I have never have sex before. To my surprise, the lady told me that she will do everything in her power for me to have sex with her. From that day, I decided to cut off my relationship with her.

God does not move by our emotion. One of the ways that Devil attacks Christians is through our emotion. Beloved, that relationship is not healthy. What make you believe that the man that is supporting your faith will support it once you married him?

Please is a different ball game all together in marriage. I had of a man that came in to the Church just because he was after a lady in the choir who happen to be choir lead. Everybody was happy that the lady will be getting married. During their reception, the husband was asked to come and give his vote of thanks. The man said, I finally have what am looking for. He said he is not a Christian and he will never be but I decided to join the Church so that he can take their best work/minister out of her faith.

My advice, broken relationship is better than broken marriage. Don't think that after you are married to your partner and you find out that his not what he claim to be, you would quite the marriage. You cannot quite the marriage after both of you has been joining together. Before you say I do. Ensure that this is the will of God for you. There is nothing like devoid in Christendom. Is for better for worst till death do us part. God dislike divorce.

Run to God, He will give you the best. One more thing, some people might say that you can convert the man to become a Christian after marriage. It is only God that can convert a man.

Shall we pray, O Lord you help me out in my own time, kindly help Your daughter out in this relationship, show her Your will for her in marriage in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
 
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limerick

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The only thing is that that scripture its addressing those who have made the covenant already. They haven't. What if it gets to the point where he would want to make a covenant (which im guessing the level of involvement they have, she's seeing that being possible), would it be wise to continue?
 
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limerick

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The only thing is that that scripture its addressing those who have made the covenant already. They haven't. What if it gets to the point where he would want to make a covenant (which im guessing the level of involvement they have, she's seeing that being possible), would it be wise to continue?

I apologize for adding to this thread

I would like to answer a question that was asked in response to my post. I was not able to figure out a way to message individually

The reason I think it would be wise to carry on the relationship is because it has become a real relationship where the two have grown closer

The fact that her boyfriend is supportive of her faith is a sign that he does care about her, and is willing to look past his own opinions if it means that she would be happier

That is why Paul emphasizes that if the unbelieving partner is supportive, then the relationship should be carried on

Breaking up would harm not only her but also the boyfriend, who has done no wrong. It seems to me that he has done something that we are supposed to, that is be kind to each other
 
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faroukfarouk

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The only thing is that that scripture its addressing those who have made the covenant already. They haven't. What if it gets to the point where he would want to make a covenant (which im guessing the level of involvement they have, she's seeing that being possible), would it be wise to continue?
It would be good if ppl would just consider Amos 3.3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
 
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ConvictionofGod

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Hello all!

I have been in a relationship for two years- a healthy, caring relationship with someone who does not believe in Christ. This wasn’t an issue when we first started dating, because I was not practicing at the time. Now, however, I am refocusing my life on God and I keep seeing advice on breaking up with unbelieving partners. He does not seem to have any interest in pursuing God, but he is supportive of me doing it. I don’t know what to do.

This is not a casual relationship- we are embedded in each other’s lives and families and have been serious for more than two years. I know I should rely on God but the thought of leaving him tears me apart. Any advice?

Thanks!

don't be silly. if your lives are this entwined, i beg that you two continue life together.
 
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aiki

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Hello all!

I have been in a relationship for two years- a healthy, caring relationship with someone who does not believe in Christ. This wasn’t an issue when we first started dating, because I was not practicing at the time. Now, however, I am refocusing my life on God and I keep seeing advice on breaking up with unbelieving partners. He does not seem to have any interest in pursuing God, but he is supportive of me doing it. I don’t know what to do.

This is not a casual relationship- we are embedded in each other’s lives and families and have been serious for more than two years. I know I should rely on God but the thought of leaving him tears me apart. Any advice?

Thanks!

Amos 3:3
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?


This is the rhetorical question the prophet Amos asked millenia ago. The obvious answer to it is, of course, "no." If you want to walk with God, you must be in agreement with Him. That means living in accord with His commands, and spiritual principles, and truth. One of those commands is to avoid being unequally yoked with an unbeliever:

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?


Why does God issue this command to avoid intimate relationships with unbelievers? Not for His sake, you can be sure. He's perfect; He needs nothing, not our obedience, or even our existence. His commands to us, then, are for our sake. His commands protect us and help nurture our life with Him. When you disobey Him, the very first casualty of your disobedience is your fellowship with Him. Our sin hinders our walk with God very seriously and can obscure Him severely - especially when we are sinning willfully, against a divine command of which we are fully aware.

Isaiah 59:2
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.


So, you can obey God and walk well with Him, growing into full, rich fellowship with Him or you can continue your relationship with your lost boyfriend and sacrifice your relationship with God to it.

If your boyfriend is not a help to your relationship with God, he will eventually become a hindrance to it. It will be much easier to compromise your faith, your obedience to God, when your boyfriend is not encouraging you toward Him. The World will urge you away from God; the devil will be working toward the same end in your life; and your own flesh will tempt you to sin. Not having your life-mate supporting you against all these enemies of the Christian life but actually in his unbelief aligned with them, you can be sure that it will be very difficult to walk well with God.

Really, though, I think you've already made up your mind what you're going to do. The last two lines in the quotation from your OP above make that quite clear. There is no argument we can make that will overcome the "embedding" and the deep emotional attachment to your boyfriend that has resulted. God will have to show you from bitter, painful experience, I think, the truth of what I've shared with you. You may have to suffer the loss of true intimacy with your Maker (assuming you now possess it) before you see the value in obeying Him even when it hurts. The terrible thing is, however, that you have yet, I suspect, to really taste of the sort of abundant life with God that is possible. Such a life takes time to develop, but your relationship with your unsaved boyfriend cuts off the potential for such a relationship with God at the knees.

You're at a place where the life God invites you into with Him is still largely an unknown. Why would you set aside the known quantity that is your boyfriend for the unknown that is God? Most people faced with this choice do not choose God. Who will you choose?
 
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salt-n-light

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I apologize for adding to this thread

I would like to answer a question that was asked in response to my post. I was not able to figure out a way to message individually

The reason I think it would be wise to carry on the relationship is because it has become a real relationship where the two have grown closer

The fact that her boyfriend is supportive of her faith is a sign that he does care about her, and is willing to look past his own opinions if it means that she would be happier

That is why Paul emphasizes that if the unbelieving partner is supportive, then the relationship should be carried on

Breaking up would harm not only her but also the boyfriend, who has done no wrong. It seems to me that he has done something that we are supposed to, that is be kind to each other

That's assuming that, granted without God present, he is going to be the supportive guy to the day he dies.

Paul emphasized it on the pretense that they were already in contract, in a situation that they can't simply leave. Paul also said that if the unbeliever wants to leave the marriage let them leave. Not even if the believer wants to, its if the unbeliever wants to. The person is in a position where she is not in contract. Yes, although she has emotional tied herself to someone, it is another level when you make that a covenant under God. Its one thing to be supportive, its another to be of one flesh.

Breaking up is not a punishment. Breaking up is not a death sentence to the relationship. Breaking up isn't the end of the world, and its beyond feelings. Breaking up is a decision based on weighing in important factors.God is a crucial, and the main factor. As supportive as he can be, what profit would it be if its gonna lead into a situation where she can't be one flesh with her husband? Where it puts her in a situation ,where if he doesn't feel like being supportive anymore that its to the point where Paul is like " if they want to leave, if they want to divorce, let them go". It wouldn't be wise to risk it.
 
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