Marriage

[Yusuf Evans]

Are Christians allowed to marry non-Christians? If so, where does it state this in the Bible?

 

[Mr Dave]

Yes. 1 Corinthians 7 talks about marriage and talks of how it is ok for a believer to be married to a non-believer.
A common argument against this is 2 Corinthians 14 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" This doesn't say that they cannot be together; by talking of yokes it is expressing being burdened by a non-believer who prevents you from being free in religion.

This is different to Christians and members of another faith, as to that I'm not sure.

 

[98cwitr]

Doesn't make for a healthy marriage.

 

[aiki]

Are Christians allowed to marry non-Christians? If so, where does it state this in the Bible?

No where in the Bible are Christians encouraged to marry non-Christians. In fact, Scripture plainly opposes such a thing:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
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?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."
17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord.Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."
18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."

Seems very plain to me that believers are not to marry those who do not know God as their Heavenly Father.



Selah.

 

[All Englands Skies]

No you shouldnt.

If your already married and convert to be Christian, then you may stay with wife/husband (but let them go if they want to leave)

But if single and Christian/become Christian before marriage, then no, you should only marry another Christian.

 

[seashale76]

No. It is only acceptable to be married to a non-Christian if you married them when you were also a non-Christian. Then, the continued marriage is up to them, if they choose to stay married to you after you converted to Christianity.

For the Christian, everything can be related back to communion/eucharist. Marriage is a sacrament. It is also considered a martyrdom. You deny yourself for the sake of your spouse. You aren't joined together with someone who also isn't in communion. When one is baptized into Christ they are part of the body of Christ- the temple of the Holy Spirit- receiving Christ in the Holy Mysteries. When one marries out of the true faith, they are putting their soul in danger.

 

[a_ntv]

Are Christians allowed to marry non-Christians? If so, where does it state this in the Bible?

In Christianity there are different churches and denominations, and this issue is ruled differently.

The range goes from the full permission, to full prohibition.
The position of the Catholic Church is in the middle: mixed marriages are allowed if approved by the bishop. It is also required that the children will be baptized and grown up as Christian.

By the way the Bible is not a "Law" as the Qum'ran is for Muslim.

 

[generalbreadbasket]

The disciples and Paul concluded that it would be better not to marry at all... if you can.

 

[Sketcher]

Christians are not to marry non-Christians. However, if two non-Christians are married, and one of them converts, the convert is not allowed to initiate or instigate divorce. That's what 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 refers to.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Why would you want to marry a non christian. I have a lovely christian wife with no hangups. In my eyes totally perfect. Free from all the addictions and problems that often are associated with living a life isolated from God.

In fact I asked God specifically who I should marry, becuase I could not find a wife. He showed me a person on a dating website. I never persured them, nor tried to convince them that God had told me anything. They contacted me. Over time we went out together, eating out seeing movies just normal dating stuff. We got engaged, then married. It was the best decision that I ever made. The bible says "a wife is a gift from God", and "he who finds a Godly wife finds a good thing".

 

[The Gentleman Atheist]

Free from all the addictions and problems that often are associated with living a life isolated from God.

Hullo, FandaH. I am hoping that you might be able to cite your source for this. I am most interested in pursuing a study of the phenomenon that you describe here, and your assistance would be valued.

To the opening post-er, I should say that you might consider forgoing a formal marriage altogether. This would allow you to both focus your attentions on your life together, and to avoid all of the piffle and bother of paperwork. Just a thought and a bit of helpful encouragement from one who shares in just such a wonderfully and happy arrangement.

Omnia vincit amor.

The Gentleman Atheist

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hullo, FandaH. I am hoping that you might be able to cite your source for this. I am most interested in pursuing a study of the phenomenon that you describe here, and your assistance would be valued...

I am glad that you are happy with your life. That things are going well for you. A happy life is a gift from God. There are a lot of people who do suffer however. From addictions to drink, drugs and other stimulants, that often leave their partners in harms way. I have seen first hand the violent effects drink has on certain individuals. I once saw a drunk man beating his girl friend, and it was a scary experience. Violence against women is quite common according to my wife who did a (secular) Diploma in Social Work. She was quite shocked by the instances of violence that was documented, i.e. the high percentage of women who had suffered some form of domestic violence. I can not say for certain but men and women are not that different and there would be some women who do suffer the same problems from excessive drinking. In my opinion, a genuine Christian will be freed from the love of drink, drugs etc. For this reason I say I would rather marry a Christian wife.

 

[Duckybill]

Are Christians allowed to marry non-Christians? If so, where does it state this in the Bible?

NO WAY!

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (NKJV)
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? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."

 

[Duckybill]

No you shouldnt.

If your already married and convert to be Christian, then you may stay with wife/husband (but let them go if they want to leave)

But if single and Christian/become Christian before marriage, then no, you should only marry another Christian.

There are no valid excuses for Christians to divorce.

 

[The Gentleman Atheist]

I am glad that you are happy with your life. That things are going well for you. A happy life is a gift from God. There are a lot of people who do suffer however. From addictions to drink, drugs and other stimulants, that often leave their partners in harms way. I have seen first hand the violent effects drink has on certain individuals. I once saw a drunk man beating his girl friend, and it was a scary experience. Violence against women is quite common according to my wife who did a (secular) Diploma in Social Work. She was quite shocked by the instances of violence that was documented, i.e. the high percentage of women who had suffered some form of domestic violence. I can not say for certain but men and women are not that different and there would be some women who do suffer the same problems from excessive drinking. In my opinion, a genuine Christian will be freed from the love of drink, drugs etc. For this reason I say I would rather marry a Christian wife.

My dear sir, this does sound a titch "airy fairy" to me. I should be rather surprised to find this to be a shared consensus among all christians. The cases of violence that you mention above are certainly examples of a most cowardly crime, but the connexion you draw between them and christianity has little substance. I wish for the sake of humanity, that it were as easy a solution as that which you describe; however, I am afraid we have to work harder to fix this terrible ill than to provide a blanket christianifying of all persons. I must say that I do admire the compassion from which your idea springs; however, I do recommend that you better investigate the conclusion that you have composed.

All of the best to you,

The Gentleman Atheist

 

[The Gentleman Atheist]

NO WAY!//There are no valid excuses for Christians to divorce.

Oh dear goodness, Duckybull.
I now feel bad for berating Mr. FutureandHope for being too shallow in his thinking.

 

[razeontherock]

Yes, such piffle!

 

[onemorequestion]

Yes. 1 Corinthians 7 talks about marriage and talks of how it is ok for a believer to be married to a non-believer.

Falling in love is a tough thing to try to curb.

A common argument against this is 2 Corinthians 14 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" This doesn't say that they cannot be together; by talking of yokes it is expressing being burdened by a non-believer who prevents you from being free in religion.

This is different to Christians and members of another faith, as to that I'm not sure.

Being yoked to unbelievers is far more likely to be in the form of working on social issues with non and anti Christians. Notice Paul says that the children of this union are covered by the belief of the Christian parent.

Yoked, is certainly a picture of working togther on a project. As a Christian that married a non Christian, there was never any tension about my working for the Gospel. BUT, my working with non Christians in the work place and on social issues of real importance, and there was contention about how to do this or that FOR others, FROM the unblelievers.

My wife, became a Christian after watching and living with and listening to the Christians I surrounded myself with.

I woke up one morning and she said: "It happened last night. I became a Christian."

When I asked why?

She had talked with a family friend who was in China doing work as a missionary.

 

[Key]

A marriage can be a hard thing to deal with on a daily basis, and if you feel isnpired to marry a non-christian, then do so, but know that this will be a problem for you as time goes.

I had this discussion a few years ago on this forum, and the end result will be "One of you will give" and that means either you will dress up and go to church and play puppet allowing the religious views of your spouse to permeate your entire life, or your mate will forsake their religious convictions.

If neither of you will bend, you will both break.

So why add that trouble to the relationship?

Find someone that shares your views, ideas, and interests and likes and marry them, don't add complications to an already difficult institution, and religious difference is a very big complication! So if you go down that path, then be ready for someone to give, and expect it to be you. If you won't give or are unwilling to bend to their views and beliefs, then don't get married.

 

[Duckybill]

One of the big reasons Israel fell away from God is because they mingled with and married unbelievers. The warning is clear.