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[Poll]
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Christians dating/marrying non-Christians
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| Yes |
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| No |
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| Don't know - would need to study this subject before making a decision |
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Total Votes : 16
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(last vote on : 6/25/2008 1:35:42 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )
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Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 2:09:51 PM
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Little_1
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What is your understanding of the Bible's teaching regarding Christians dating/marrying non-Christians?
Is such acceptable? Please also give Biblical reference regarding your response?
The reason I ask is because I had a conversation with a Christian pastor this afternoon and a Christian colleague also joined the conversation; however, two of us had a difference in belief regarding this question from the third! The Pastor's daughter is the President of a well-known Christian womens' organisation and is dating a non-Christian. My colleague is an active member of another well-known Christian instituation which has been doing a good work all around the world for over 100 years and that leaves myself - I married a non-Christian in 2000 (I have been a Christian for over 20 years)! My husband has since become a Christian.
You may be surprised with our beliefs on this matter as they presently stand! I will share such a little later in the thread......
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/16/2008 2:52:13 PM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 2:43:54 PM
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Little_1
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I notice people are taking part in the poll without participating in their reason why they voted. Please give a reason for your choice wherever possible. Appreciated.
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 3:32:27 PM
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colliefan
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From: Raleigh, NC
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2 Cor 6:14 - 16 (ESV) 14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
In addition to the marriage covenant, I believe this madate extends to business partnerships. Can you provide scripture that supports a covenant between a believer and a non-believer?
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 3:48:54 PM
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ta_mosquito
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No. All over God's Word are warnings about this.
ETA: I've known of situations where the relationship works out swimmingly (the one partner becomes Christian, etc.), but that's the exception. And just because something "works" doesn't make it right.
< Message edited by ta_mosquito -- 6/16/2008 4:09:17 PM >
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Tricia
"There's a fine line between being open minded and being empty headed." ~Michael Coren
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 3:58:30 PM
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Little_1
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quote:
ORIGINAL: colliefan
...... In addition to the marriage covenant, I believe this madate extends to business partnerships. Can you provide scripture that supports a covenant between a believer and a non-believer?
I do not know of one Colliefan.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/16/2008 4:04:55 PM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 4:04:13 PM
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lexie
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From: Toronto
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What do you mean by non-Christian though?
When I met my husband I wasn't going to church or really living a Christian lifestyle. I believed in Jesus, but that really was the extent of it. I don't consider myself a Christian then, I wasn't saved or baptised. My husband was. He began reading with me and teaching me and I started going to church, and was baptised 2 years later. He took a chance on me, and things have turned out wonderfully in our marriage and in our walk with God.
But if you're talking being in a relationship or marrying someone who is Muslim, Hindu, Atheist or any other faith, then I would turn to the verse from 2 Corinthians that was posted above.
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I want to be more than an ordinary servant.
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 4:17:32 PM
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Little_1
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quote:
ORIGINAL: lexie
What do you mean by non-Christian though?......
By non-Christian, I mean someone who does not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/17/2008 3:01:58 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 6:41:19 PM
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SinnerSaved
Posts: 297
Joined: 10/28/2007
From: Belfast, N. Ireland
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I voted no.
Colliefan gave the main scripture regarding this in 2 Corinthian 6:14 (Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers).
I would also offer 1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
_____________________________
"No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
John Donne
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 7:27:18 PM
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pstrdebi
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As Christians, this shouldn't even be a question.
DON'T!
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"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 7:40:29 PM
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violinist_for_jesus
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My understand is that the Bible is pretty clear on whether to enter into a covenant with a non-christian.
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 8:34:58 PM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3576
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From: my mom by God
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You...can...do anything in Christ Jesus.
Its just....some things are not beneficial. I won't lose my salvation by dating or marrying or having a business relationship with an unsaved person....its just not wise.
Now, how far do you carry this? For example my wife has stopped going to church. Should I divorce her?
Should I ask every cashier if they are saved?
Should I find out if every service people I deal with is saved? My mechanic? Lawn service? Electrician?
I think we are called to have relationships with unsaved people....its hard to witness to them if we do not. I just think...getting into relationships with unsaved people should be done with caution. You knowwhat you are dealing with and....
not all christians are people you can trust either. Just because a business has a cross out front or christian in their name means they do good work. It should, I know, but, reality is reality.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 10:34:27 PM
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whisperingwaters
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The bible is clear that the answer is no and the verses were already shared. You may not lose your salvation over it but it is still wrong and can lead to years of heartache.
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The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook. Proverbs 18:4
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/16/2008 10:57:35 PM
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colliefan
Posts: 2531
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The issue of a Christian establishing covenant realtionship with a non-believer is a clear no-go. In an established marriage, the issue is also clear, if a non-believer wants to remain the covenant remains. If the unbeliever leaves, Paul gives cause for divorce.
People don't establish covenant relationships with cashiers and auto mechanics.
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/17/2008 2:46:29 AM
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Little_1
Posts: 939
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SonInMe1
You...can...do anything in Christ Jesus.
Whilst I agree with a certain section of your post SonInMe1 - with all due respect, I do believe you have taken the above quote out of context. Perhaps we can do all things righteous 'in Christ' and this is what you mean but anything unrighteous and sinful would not be 'in Christ'.
Also:
quote:
-- ORIGINAL Colliefan
People don't establish covenant relationships with cashiers and auto mechanics.
We are called to evangelize and love* the non-Christian but not get intimate with them (* i.e. the 'agape' type of love that is and not the 'erotic' type)......
Regarding our families - this would include 'agape' love and 'storge' love. Concerning our friends, this would include 'agape' love and 'philia' love.
See post on 'There are different types of love'
* The 'agape' type of love that is and not the 'erotic' type.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/17/2008 3:31:37 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/17/2008 7:17:12 AM
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Little_1
Posts: 939
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The Bible encourages us throughout not to become entangled / intimate with non-Christians and people from other faiths. The OT gives many examples of God telling the Israelites not to inter-marry with those who worship other gods but despite this many Biblical characters ignored God's guidance (including King David who is known as a "man after God's own heart"). However, in such cases, although the believer may find forgiveness with God in repentance - the fact remains that they have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives.
God is wise and He gives us such guidance as above to prevent us from disappointment and spiritual harm.
My own testimony is that I came to faith in Christ over 20+ years ago but backslid during the late 80's for a time. Knowledge of what was right and wrong remained an active awareness in my life, and I did not get married ignorant of that fact that I knew I was going against Biblical guidance! I married a non-Christian in 2000 and I was aware at the time that I did not have the blessing of my Heavenly Father going into this marriage partnership and this always tugged at my heart. I have since repented of turning my back on God's guidance and thank God for His abounding mercy.
However, although I know Almighty God has forgiven my sin - I none-the-less have had to live with the consequences of my sin and one such consequence is that I do not have any children of my own (not through being unable to but due to personal circumstances which I did not know about until after I married) and this caused a lot of problems between my husband and myself for a long, long time.
I love my husband very much but my love for God is first and foremost today. My husband has since come to faith in Christ but I am saddened in that we did not share the bond of Christ from the start of our marriage. I knew when I was taking my marriage vows that God was not in agreement with what I was doing and not to have God's blessing or peace on my marriage was something which played heavy on my heart. Also, I often wished I could share my faith with hubby after we married but any such attempts resulted in argument's. Our preferences in various matters also differed and caused much conflict.
God's Word gives guidance for specific reasons and He is never wrong. We often are and sadly have to live with the consequences despite receiving God's forgiveness.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/17/2008 7:33:58 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/17/2008 7:40:20 AM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3576
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
Status: online
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quote:
with all due respect, I do believe you have taken the above quote out of context.
1Corinthians 6:12
Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything.
quote:
You...can...do anything in Christ Jesus.
Its just....some things are not beneficial.
I may not have quoted Paul exactly but I think I represented it well enough.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Christians dating/marrying non-Christians - 6/17/2008 11:03:27 AM
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Little_1
Posts: 939
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SonInMe1
quote:
You...can...do anything in Christ Jesus.
Its just....some things are not beneficial.
I may not have quoted Paul exactly but I think I represented it well enough.
I may still be misunderstanding you. Forgive me if I am. I believe you are referring to Philippians 4:13 which says:
13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" - I believe the 'everything' referred to in this text is everything that is set out in God's Word regarding bringing glory to God under both good and difficult circumstances (see Philippians 4:10-13) but that would not include sin for obvious reasons.
Regarding sin - yes we can choose to sin and we have a free will to do so and but as you rightly mention - ... "some things are not beneficial" and sinning is definately not beneficial. I agree 100%.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 6/17/2008 11:25:36 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12
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