Some say that you can’t help who you fall love with, but what do you do when you fall for someone who doesn’t share your religious beliefs? Do you try to convert them or just agree to disagree? This article discusses falling in love with someone who isn’t a Christian.
Follow your heart
When entering into a relationship, seek the Lord’s guidance and follow your heart. But what do you do if the one that makes you happy doesn’t share the same religious beliefs. Let’s start by looking at what the Bible tells us about having an unbelieving spouse. I have heard someone use the following passage of scripture to prove that it is acceptable to marry anyone they want, even if the person is not a Christian. In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul writes to the Church of Corinth saying; “But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband. Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace. For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?” 1 Corinthians 7:12-17
With the above scripture, you could argue that the Bible says it’s ok to marry an unbeliever. Notice though, that it refers to husband and wife, not boyfriend or girlfriend. In this passage, Paul is talking about a man and a woman that marry while they are both unbelievers. If one of them accepts Jesus Christ and becomes a Christian, they are not to divorce their unbelieving spouse. You should stay with your unbelieving spouse and be the example to them in hopes that they will also know to know Christ through you.
A more accurate scripture to answer the question about marrying an unbeliever is found in 2 Corinthians 6:14. “Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”
This should clearly answer your question.
What should I do now?
Start by praying for your partner, that they will come to know Christ. Pray for God’s guidance for you in talking to them. Explain to them, the reasoning behind your beliefs and why being Christian is so important to you. Don’t assume that they are against Christianity; they may not know any better. Maybe no one has ever shared the Gospel with them.
You can’t (and shouldn’t try to!) force Christianity on someone else but, by showing them how it makes you a better person and why it plays such an important role in your life, you may convince them to follow in your footsteps and accept Christ. Don’t get offended if they don’t, maybe this relationship isn’t what God has planned for you.
Find someone who shares your beliefs
Now that you know the importance in finding a partner that is also a fellow Christian, make sure that is a priority in your search.
Religion is a deal-breaker for many people. Falling in love is the most amazing feeling, and it will happen to everyone at some point. Just make sure you are not sacrificing who you are and what you believe, just to find someone to settle down with.
Photos courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparker/3611605160/ & http://www.flickr.com/photos/bsabarnowl/6210030910/.
This is a sponsored article on behalf of eHarmony UK.