[Video: Question from Robbie of San Diego, California]
Robbie: Hello, my name is Robbie from San Diego and my question is what would you do if you love someone and you’re planning to marry them, but you two are different religions but you’re both Christian, just different denominations and you’re contemplating three options? Would you change your church to that person’s, try to convince that person to go to your church or you try to raise your family between the two?
[SHOW OPEN]
Brother Bob: Does the Bible give any insight to the consequences of having such kind of divided household? Absolutely. We turn to the Holy Bible in Matthew. Matthew, chapter 12, and here’s what it says there. There’s definitely going to be consequences, Robbie. And it goes like this in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ…
[On-screen text graphic]
SHOULD A PERSON MARRY AND BUILD A FAMILY WITH SOMEONE WHO IS OF A DIFFERENT RELIGION?
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
[Matthew 12:25 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: If then, Robbie, you or anyone, wants to ensure that your household, your family, will stand strong and firm and will not be divided and ultimately, ruined, Jesus made it very clear. There cannot be any division. But what if the two elements of the household, husband and wife, would have different beliefs? What must the household have concerning belief? Again, we just pose the questions together and we turn to the Holy Scriptures. Ephesians 4:4-6 reads this way…
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
[Ephesians 4:4-6 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: There can be only one faith. If the household, the family, wants to stand strong and firm and have a wonderful future blessed by God, they all have to be inside the one true faith. Because what’s the instruction of the Lord through the Apostle Paul, dear friends? If one will, as mentioned by Robbie in his question, that what if they love someone who’s not a part of the one true faith that one is embracing? What if, inside the one true church, they fall in love with someone who is not part of that one faith that was just described in those verses? Answer of the Bible again, we’ll read it in the LAMSA rendition of the Holy Scriptures. 2 Corinthians, chapter 6 is worded this way in verses 14-18…
14 Do not unite in marriage with un-believers. For what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity? Or what mingling has light with darkness? 15 Or what accord has Christ with Satan? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 Or what harmony has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As it is said: “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
17 Wherefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. And touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
[2 Corinthians 6:14-17 LAMSA Translation]
Brother Bob: What’s the instruction of the Lord, dear friends? “Come out from among them and be separate.” Do not make marriages with them. The household that is divided cannot stand; it will end up being ruined. And you know, dear friends, this is that instruction is…it’s not something new. Let’s consider, for example, in the book of Deuteronomy, a law of God since the very earliest times, I quote in Deuteronomy 7:3-4…
3 Do not marry any of them, and do not let your children marry any of them, 4 because then they would lead your children away from the Lord to worship other gods. If that happens, the Lord will be angry with you and destroy you at once.
[Deuteronomy 7:3-4 Good News]
Brother Bob: So Robbie, be together in one faith, here inside the one true Church Of Christ and God’s blessings will be with you and your household.
Thanks for watching. I’m Brother Bob Pellien and we’ll see you next time.
