Intermarrying with those who are not people of God. This was not a good thing!
And... for those who have married and still marry those who are not of the same faith it is still a pretty tough thing. I can't even begin to remember how many marriages I have attended or officiated at where one was at the time a Christian faithfully worshipping God and the other was not. The marriages may endure, though there are so many more trials and tribulations for them to endure. How many times I have heard of the sadness of the believer that their spouse cannot share their faith - the loneliness that is felt as they go off to worship on Sunday mornings - alone. On rare occasion, the faith of the non or marginal believer (if there is such a thing) will grow thanks be to the witness of Jesus Christ through the believer. But, more often, the one who was once faithful begins to follow in the ways of the world, in the ways of the spouse and they are no longer seen communing with the Body of Christ, either.
Because of the grace of God, all things are permissible, but not all beneficial. It sure would make life easier if we would take into consideration the faith of our future partners in life when we make that commitment to love them until death parts us. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is like a marriage. When we choose to bind ourselves to things or people of this world that would draw us from him, that is adultery and it leads to idolatry.
No matter which way we look at it - marrying an unbeliever has you treading on dangerous ground.
And... for those who have married and still marry those who are not of the same faith it is still a pretty tough thing. I can't even begin to remember how many marriages I have attended or officiated at where one was at the time a Christian faithfully worshipping God and the other was not. The marriages may endure, though there are so many more trials and tribulations for them to endure. How many times I have heard of the sadness of the believer that their spouse cannot share their faith - the loneliness that is felt as they go off to worship on Sunday mornings - alone. On rare occasion, the faith of the non or marginal believer (if there is such a thing) will grow thanks be to the witness of Jesus Christ through the believer. But, more often, the one who was once faithful begins to follow in the ways of the world, in the ways of the spouse and they are no longer seen communing with the Body of Christ, either.
Because of the grace of God, all things are permissible, but not all beneficial. It sure would make life easier if we would take into consideration the faith of our future partners in life when we make that commitment to love them until death parts us. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is like a marriage. When we choose to bind ourselves to things or people of this world that would draw us from him, that is adultery and it leads to idolatry.
No matter which way we look at it - marrying an unbeliever has you treading on dangerous ground.
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