Sin?

[Basherbelding]

Is is sin to be friends/marry/go out with a non-Christian?

[HeRestoresMyHeart]

Is is sin to be friends/marry/go out with a non-Christian?

I don't know that it is a sin, but as far as marriage goes the bible tells us to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers!  It may not be sin but in time you will realize that it will turn out to be a very bad decision as it is impossible to be one in heart, mind and spirit with someone who is at emnity with God while you are trying to follow Him and will end up creating hardship and disharmony in your own spirit!   Also, the train of thought that I will marry him/her to lead them to God is really just deceiving ourselves!

[Will Lee]

     Is marrying a sinner/unbeliever a sin? It may not be a sin to strap an anvil to your back and go swimming. After all, your not trying to be suicidal, You just want to swim with an anvil on your back. Its a very bad idea, and we know that the Bible teaches us to be equally yoked. That applies to going into a marriage. Things are different if a couple of unbelivers is already married when one of them gets saved. Then the trouble comes. But to plan a marriage between a Christian and unbeliever before hand, then yes it is probably of sin. God is not the author of confusion. Ignoring the Biblical wisdom is always a sin...
     It is exactly the same for a Christian to knowingly marry an unbeliever. Be warry...this is one contract that God will hold the Christian to; marriage. The sinner, whoever, is held to nothing. they will absolutely never...never...never...honor thier marriage vows. They will not be there emotionally for the Christian, and it will just never work.
     It is likely that Satan will enter into the unbeliever and make them really really want to marry the Christian, filling the unbeliever with an uncontrollable desire to wed the Christian, but this is just a weapon being formed by Satan against God, and the Christian that God loves. It will not last long after the marriage is a done deal. Then the bombardment of the Christian will start in full force.
     Satan will have a powerful weapon to use against the Christian then with the unbeliever, who is helpless to resist Satanic overtures. They will become the greatest enemy of the Christian partner that the Christian partner has on the planet, and nothing in the life of the Christian will be as harmful as marrying the unbeliever.It will be suffering and stumbling blocks like nothing the Christian partner has ever known. Satan will use them more than ever to drag down and destroy the Christian partner, being a constant and unending source of stumbling blocks for the Christian.
     So, if you are a Christian thinking of marrying an unbeliever...it is like knowingly sticking your head in a noose and hoping that the hangman will not pull the noose tight and hang you. In this case, Satan is the hangman, and he will always pull the rope and use it to strangle you. So you will be giving Satan a powerful weapon to use against you and many others in doing this thing. So, is that a sin? You bet!
     The solution is simple, go and find the Christian that God has in mind for you to marry. They might be close at hand, but vanity has led you to not see them. Avoid the unbeliever...run from them and go find the Christian to marry. And, make sure that they are a true believer, and not some lukewarm, say that they are a Christian but are not really truly devoted to God. Test them and make sure that it is real. Be wise.

[llewksgood]

It may not be recognised as a sin, but it depends on how you define sin. God is your Father, would you be honouring him?

[Howdyboyalan]

the sinner, whoever, is held to nothing. they will absolutely never...never...never... honor thier marriage vows.

Ofcourse, he is just generalising....a lot.....

[Rahn]

Is is sin to be friends/marry/go out with a non-Christian?

It is not a wise thing, but good can come of it. My mom was a Christian and married my dad who was not a Christian in the early 50's. He was a good and honest man though. I learned from my mom that her parents were pleased with him but had reservations about his not going to church with her.

At the various places we lived, my dad drove my mom and us to church for worship. He never interfered with her desire to attend. After many prayers and about 18 years my dad was baptized. That day was one of the happiest days of my mom's life.

Marrying a non-believer is not a good thing, but good can come of it. It takes a lot of prayers and patience. 

[fanuvmxpx]

After many prayers and about 18 years my dad was baptized. That day was one of the happiest days of my mom's life.

Did he become a Christian?

[Rahn]

After many prayers and about 18 years my dad was baptized. That day was one of the happiest days of my mom's life.

Did he become a Christian?

Yes he did, when he was baptized. (My dad and I are members of the Church of Christ btw) What other response can I give? 

[fanuvmxpx]

Yes he did, when he was baptized. (My dad and I are members of the Church of Christ btw) What other response can I give? 

Water baptism, by itself, is no different than taking a bath (as far as being saved is concerned). People get baptized left and right who aren't Christians.

Baptism, the symbol of dying to self & rising a new man is a symbol, much like communion...both are beautifully symbolic, but neither save.

[Rahn]

Yes he did, when he was baptized. (My dad and I are members of the Church of Christ btw) What other response can I give? 

Water baptism, by itself, is no different than taking a bath (as far as being a Christian is concerned).

Baptism, the symbol of dying to self & rising a new man is a symbol, much like communion. Neither are bad, but neither save.

There are plenty of threads about this. Yes, I agree water cannot save. It the act and the participation in the death, burial, and resurrection that saves. I do not see this in separate acts. 

[fanuvmxpx]

There are plenty of threads about this. Yes, I agree water cannot save. It the act and the participation in the death, burial, and resurrection that saves. I do not see this in separate acts. 

I haven't noticed the threads yet...I merely asked because I have unfortunately known individuals who were baptized but never sought after Christ (lived very carnally)...but believed they were going to Heaven still.

[Howdyboyalan]

There are plenty of threads about this. Yes, I agree water cannot save. It the act and the participation in the death, burial, and resurrection that saves. I do not see this in separate acts. 

I haven't noticed the threads yet...I merely asked because I have unfortunately known individuals who were baptized but never sought after Christ (lived very carnally)...but believed they were going to Heaven still.

Even homosexuals who are co-habiting with their lover while engaging in the pre-marital blood sacrificing of their parents to Ra....all the while stealing things?

[Rahn]

There are plenty of threads about this. Yes, I agree water cannot save. It the act and the participation in the death, burial, and resurrection that saves. I do not see this in separate acts. 

I haven't noticed the threads yet...I merely asked because I have unfortunately known individuals who were baptized but never sought after Christ (lived very carnally)...but believed they were going to Heaven still.

Yes, I know some individuals just like that. All they got was wet.

[HRoberson]

Depends.

[Mere Nick]

There are plenty of threads about this. Yes, I agree water cannot save. It the act and the participation in the death, burial, and resurrection that saves. I do not see this in separate acts. 

I haven't noticed the threads yet...I merely asked because I have unfortunately known individuals who were baptized but never sought after Christ (lived very carnally)...but believed they were going to Heaven still.

They seem to notice the baptism part of Acts 2:38 but not the repentence part, for example.

[Mere Nick]

Is is sin to be friends/marry/go out with a non-Christian?

Friends?  Depends on who is doing the influencing, and stuff like that.

Marry?  Probably not a good idea.

Go out?  Depends on if you stiff the waitress.

[Basherbelding]

I was mostly asking if you can be friends with a non-Christian. I dont understand what Nere Nick said. I want to know because all my friends say there not Christian.

[OneLung]

I was mostly asking if you can be friends with a non-Christian. I dont understand what Nere Nick said. I want to know because all my friends say there not Christian[/i].

That is unusual. Most people will claim to be Christian if asked, but simple observation shows them to lead completely secular lives with the possible exception of 2 hours on Sunday morning. IMO, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with people just because they don't share your theological beliefs and you would only be cheating yourself by limiting the pool of people qualified to be your friend to only those who fit some good Christian stereotype.

[Mere Nick]

I was mostly asking if you can be friends with a non-Christian. I dont understand what Nere Nick said. I want to know because all my friends say there not Christian.

What I'm saying is that it depends on who is doing to influencing.  Are they influencing you to do wrong or are you influencing them to do right?

[Basherbelding]

I would like them to do right, i have stopped them doing bad things before.

[JerryW]

Consider: James 4:4, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to become a friend of the world , becomes an enemy of God."

[HRoberson]

I was mostly asking if you can be friends with a non-Christian. I dont understand what Nere Nick said. I want to know because all my friends say there not Christian.

Yes, you can be friends with non-Christians. If you couldn't, how in the world would you ever show them Jesus?

The caution is not to be so friendly with them that they begin to draw you away from the faith.

But that's up to you, and isn't covered entirely in your question.

[sopranette]

Consider: James 4:4, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to become a friend of the world , becomes an enemy of God."

No, that's talking about loving the world, not about having non-Christian friends. We are to be the salt of this world.

love,

sopranette

[fanuvmxpx]

Consider: James 4:4, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to become a friend of the world , becomes an enemy of God."

No, that's talking about loving the world, not about having non-Christian friends. We are to be the salt of this world.

love,

sopranette

Correct, and its also an excellent example of not "doing the things of the world" in order to receive the world's friendship/acceptance. Its a "who are you trying to please" verse :)

[sopranette]

Consider: James 4:4, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to become a friend of the world , becomes an enemy of God."

No, that's talking about loving the world, not about having non-Christian friends. We are to be the salt of this world.

love,

sopranette

Correct, and its also an excellent example of not "doing the things of the world" in order to receive the world's friendship/acceptance. Its a "who are you trying to please" verse :)

Seriously!  Of course we can have non Christian friends.....unless you want to live in a bubble for the rest of your life.  There are passages about inviting non believers to participate in the day to day activities of your life, but I can't remember exactly where they are at the moment.

love,

sopranette

[JerryW]

Consider: James 4:4, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to become a friend of the world , becomes an enemy of God."

No, that's talking about loving the world, not about having non-Christian friends. We are to be the salt of this world.

love,

sopranette

Consider, 2 Cor.6:14-15, "DO NOT be yoked together with UNBELIEVERS. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with a unbeliever?

[sopranette]

Consider: James 4:4, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to become a friend of the world , becomes an enemy of God."

No, that's talking about loving the world, not about having non-Christian friends. We are to be the salt of this world.

love,

sopranette

Consider, 2 Cor.6:14-15, "DO NOT be yoked together with UNBELIEVERS. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with a unbeliever?

When it comes to marriage, yes, that is correct.

love,

sopranette

[chosenone]

I have always felt that not loving the world means not taking on the worlds standards or beliefs and being different. I have never felt that it means that we are not to be friends with those who dont know Christ.. Many in my extended family are not Christians, and my neighbours are not Christians, people that I babysit for are not Christians but I am friendly to them and who knows when God will use us to reach them? 
I suppose its when we spend too much time with people who may drag us down that we have to be careful, or maybe with people who are doing thinsg that we arent supposed to do.Then we have to stand up for God and bow out of whatever it is.
Its a question of balance I think.

[Serenity432001]

Is is sin to be friends/marry/go out with a non-Christian?

Those are good questions basherbelding.  Its good you are thinking and considering your actions.  Thats awesome!  I'm really glad you are here.  Heres how I see it.  When I keep my relationship with God first and foremost and am in constant contact with Him seeking His will and His guidance then, I think He can lead and guide me in this area.   Its been my experience that when that relationship is as it should be that God will actually place folks in my life that don't know Him and even uses me to help point them to Him.  The important thing here is be honest with yourself about where you are.  Always have a support system around where you can call someone if you do see yourself getting weak and maybe they start having more influence over you than you do over them.  Have a plan.  But, I say, keep yourself spiritually fit, love and serve others, Christians and non-Christians.  Thanks so much for sharing.

[BornToReign]

 
I suppose its when we spend too much time with people who may drag us down that we have to be careful, or maybe with people who are doing things that we aren't supposed to do. Then we have to stand up for God and bow out of whatever it is.

Amen


This also holds true from within the circle.

[chosenone]

Is is sin to be friends/marry/go out with a non-Christian?

As I already said I am sure that is OK to be friends, but marrying someone who isnt a Christian is a no no. Also I do wonder what the point would be going out with someone wgo isnt a Christian if you cannot ever consider marrying them.
It is good and helpful for you though to spend time with other Christians of your own age and not just with your non Christian
friends as that will build you up and encourage you.
Good question.             

[OneLung]

Also I do wonder what the point would be going out with someone wgo isnt a Christian if you cannot ever consider marrying them.             

Billy Joel may have answered that best. 

[sopranette]

Also I do wonder what the point would be going out with someone wgo isnt a Christian if you cannot ever consider marrying them.             

Billy Joel may have answered that best. 

I never liked that song.  "Catholic girls start much too late. (I) Might as well be the one." The time I first heard it, I WAS a Catholic girl, and found this really insulting.

love,

sopranette

[chosenone]

Also I do wonder what the point would be going out with someone wgo isnt a Christian if you cannot ever consider marrying them.             

Billy Joel may have answered that best. 

I dont get why this answered what I wrote anyway. maybe I am missing something???