Concerned for a friend...

[llahlahkje]

I am writing because I am trying to find information for a friend of mine.

She recently broke up with a long-term boyfriend due to spiritual differences (unequally yoked)... and a lot of her (and my) friends do not understand why she did it (and are some are angry about it and are blaming it on other reasons)

I was looking for some information, mostly on WHY (supported information, like with verses, is preferrable) on why we, as Christians, should not be unequally yoked.

I have my point of view on it, but I don't have any support, but other points of view might help me further understand how to help my friends understand and might also help my friend feel better about it...

[for reference, a friend of mine asked why we should not be unequally yoked, and my friend replied to him stating that we have a responsibility to our spiritual development and a responsibility to our children, and I think she also said that it glorifies God, but my other friend had asked where in the bible it said any of that... I know it is an inferred message... much like it doesn't say "Thou Shalt Not Blow Things Up", it is inferred by Thou shalt not steal.. etc... anyway, any help you can lend is appreciated!]

 

[snoopy2]

Hi llahlahkje,

The verses you're looking for are 2 Corinthians 6:14-16,
Do Not Be Yoked With Unbelievers

14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[1] ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."[2]

It doesn't specifically state 'marriage', but could also be applied to business partnerships etc. That said, I don't know of any biblical precedence prohibiting the 'divorce' of business partners, so how much more important is it to heed the warning when talking about a lifelong commitment which will involve raising children. The old testament is full of God's warning to the Jews not to intermarry, e.g.

"Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you." [Deuteronomy 7:3-4]

It is much easier to be led away from the Lord when you are constantly living with worldly views and attitudes. You do not have the safe haven of a Christ-centred marriage, based upon biblical principles which you both adhere to. God gives specific instructions in His word with regard to the roles and responsibilities of husbands and wives which are extremely difficult to obey when you are the only party trying to honour them. I speak from experience, I have been married for over 20 years and a Christian for 19 of them, and my husband has not yet recieved the Lord .

Being married to an unbeliever raises so many issues that it is impossible to go into them all, but probably the hardest issue is that you are not able to share the most important and crucial part of your life, which is very lonely - plus the knowledge that your spouse will not be with you in eternity unless they are born-again (although, some might see that as a plus ). Then there is the issue of raising your children and the different influences upon them. I could go on and on.

All being said I think your friend has been extremely brave and God will honour her for her obedience. Marriage can be difficult enough, without the added burden of knowing that you have entered into it outside of God's will.

(I didn't intend to write an essay )

 

[WashedClean]

I agree with everything Snoopy2 just stated. Well said!