We always hear the nonsense about Islam prohibiting Muslims from having non-Muslim friends, or not allowing their women to marry non-Muslims, looks like Christianity isn't much different...

With NT and OT quotes to boot!

-----


Should a Christian date or marry an unbeliever?

No, a Christian should not date or marry an unbeliever:

   "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Cor. 6:14-15).

Unfortunately, some Christians hope that they can convert the person he/she is dating or marrying.  They often think that their spirituality is strong enough and that they can witness to, or motivate the other person to convert through their patience and love.  Why do they think this?  Three reasons:  They love the person and are emotionally blinded, they are naive, and they do not know God's word.

This may sound harsh, but something as serious as marrying an unbeliever needs to be dealt with properly and to-the-point.  We are not to compromise the will of God and endanger our spiritual well being.  All we need to do is look in the Old Testament to see why God says not to marry unbelievers.  This is what God said to the Israelites.

   "When the Lord your God shall bring you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and shall clear away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, 2 and when the Lord your God shall deliver them before you, and you shall defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. 3 Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. 4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods," (Deut. 7:1-4).

The reason not to marry an unbeliever is that he/she can influence you away from the Lord.  Don't be so naive to think that "you" will never fall.  It happens all the time.
Children

If you marry an unbeliever and have children, how will it effect their spirituality to have the parents divided over spiritual things?  Is it a help or a hindrance to their spiritual health?  Obviously, it is a hindrance.

Unfortunately, too many people do not take into account the extremely serious situation of children and their eternal destiny.  Yet, because of "love" and because they listen to the hearts over the word of God, many people marry unbelievers anyway...and often suffer dire consequences.
What if you are already married to an unbeliever?

If you are already married to an unbeliever then you need to love him/her as best you can, set a good example of being a Christian as you can, and pray for your spouse's salvation.  You cannot leave your spouse (unless there is physical abuse, adultery, or if you are abandoned).  You need to stick it out.  Seek the Lord.

Source: CARM

ROTFLMAO

used to be a problem with Catholics...

do try to bring yourself into the 21st century Aboo ben booby...  then you can lead the rest of the Muslim Horde.

Oh and ben Booby...

How many Muslim women can even go out with non-muslim men..

I had several muslim women who liked me and wanted to ho out with me but were too afraid to.  One girl did get up the courage but the day was too stressful for her because she was afraid she would be seen by someone.

Oh dear...  another balloon ruined.  ;D ;D ;D

abu_rashid wrote on Mar 16^th, 2009 at 11:51pm:

.....Should a Christian date or marry an unbeliever? No, a Christian should not date or marry an unbeliever:    "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Cor. 6:14-15).

abu,

One of the principle differences between ISLAM and Christianity is that Christians are taught to pray for unbelievers, and [our] apostates,
....not to murder them.


The Hadith....

"...If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him."
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/052.sbt.html#004.052.260


From ISLAMIC law texts....

"Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Prophet said: "The bare essence of Islam and the basics of the religion are three [acts], upon which Islam has been established. Whoever leaves one of them BECOMES AN UNBELIEVER and HIS BLOOD MAY LEGALLY BE SPILLED. [The acts are:] Testifying that there is no God except Allah, the obligatory prayers, and the fast of Ramadan."...."
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/law/fiqhussunnah/fus3_50.html#3.110





abu,

Here is another quote....

Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.


"....Come out of her, my people," ????


Christians are taught that in this life, it is our God's intent, and his hope for us, that we should learn at his feet, so to speak.

We humans have no power here [in this life], except the power to choose.

What God requires of us, is to learn wisdom.

To learn, to know, that what pleases God, is when we ourselves choose to separate ourselves from wickedness.

So yes, we are advised,
....'Don't marry the wicked.',
and we are advised,
....'Don't embrace, or join yourselves to the wicked.'.


But God does not remove choice.


Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:


We choose.

And [if we seek to please God] we separate ourselves from the wicked.
.....[but we don't murder them, in our imagined 'righteousness'.]

When we separate ourselves from the wickedness,
.....we demonstrate that we know that we are the children of God,


1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?







abu,

Do you muslims, seek to please [y]our God?



Q.
Who, is 'separated' from God??

A.
The wicked.


Isaiah 59:1
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3  For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
4  None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5  They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
6  Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
7  Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
8  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.





++++++++




No man can hide what he is, from our God.


Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.




The Koran....

"Then, on the Day of Judgment,.....Then would they offer submission (with the pretence), "We did no evil (knowingly)." (The angels will reply), "Nay, but verily Allah knoweth all that ye did;"
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/016.qmt.html#016.027
.v 27, 28

You are entirely correct Abu.
According to the bible a christian should not marry a nonchristian.
Absolutely correct.

Course, many christians do marry nonchristians.
But according to the bible, they should not.

You forget sprint...  the one sanctifies the other.  There is no commandment on who to marry.  It is not something Jesus taught.

Something which Jesus taught.....


John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.


We are instructed to separate ourselves from sin.

What is sin?


Jeremiah 31:31
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.





"And what is good, Phaedrus, and what is not good - need we ask anyone to tell us these things?"
Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance
Robert M Pirsig

grendel - that is if two people are already married and one becomes a christian.
It says do not divorce the other just because they are not a christian.
That one has become a christian santifies the nonchristian spouse.

marriage cairries some weight


Abus correct according to my thinking.

Sanctification is not just about Christian and Non-Christian sprint.

Yadda... not sure your point.
But let me add this...  

God loves us all...  it is the Sin which he doesn't.  
2 parables come to mind...  The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan
We are also urged to love one another.. not pick and choose.

Grendel wrote on Mar 17^th, 2009 at 6:26pm:

Sanctification is not just about Christian and Non-Christian sprint. Yadda... not sure your point. But let me add this...   God loves us all...  it is the Sin which he doesn't.   2 parables come to mind...  The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan We are also urged to love one another.. not pick and choose.

Grendel,

I agree with you.

And yet, our God clearly [from what he says in the Bible, he] loves judgement, TRUTH, righteousness, and mercy [forgiveness].

And God seeks our humble repentance [for our mistakes].

Dictionary,
repent = = feel or express sincere regret or remorse.



Those are our 'lessons'.

The 'discernments' we come to this life to learn, which [i believe] God would like to see in us [his 'children'].

Q.
Have we learnt them?

A.
Look at this world.

Human history informs us, about our ['unrestrained'] nature.

Human history, is a history of our violence....

"Right is only in question between equals, and while the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must."
Thucydides (460-400 B.C.) Greek Historian






How should we be 'guided'?

Matthew 22:36
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38  This is the first and great commandment.
39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


John 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.






Quote:

....God loves us all.

Does he?

When we give account of ourselves to God, will God also love, and have mercy, upon the wicked, and the proud?



Jeremiah 9:23
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.


Psalms 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.


Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.


Psalms 5:5
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6  Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing [deceit]: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.


Psalms 7:11
God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.


Psalms 11:4
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5  The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Quote:

When we give account of ourselves to God, will God also love, and have mercy, upon the wicked, and the proud?

Yes...

Those who repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour will be saved.

It ain't a difficult or complicated concept.

grendel - I see it in a bit different light to that.

But, it would not be the first time I was wrong, even today !!!!!!!!!!

Grendel wrote on Mar 18^th, 2009 at 7:20pm:

Quote: When we give account of ourselves to God, will God also love, and have mercy, upon the wicked, and the proud? Yes... Those who repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour will be saved. It ain't a difficult or complicated concept.

St Paul would be so proud.

helian - I agree.
there is a lot more to it than that.
it is a lot more .............. just.

theres little justice if that is all there is to it.
those that know the "trick" are "let off"

What about the 3 month old african babies that starve to death ?
They did not not repent or "accept jesus"


Christianitys a bit broader than a local church.

Lol
You have such limited concepts sprint.
I'm glad my God has no such limits.

Grendel wrote on Mar 18^th, 2009 at 7:20pm:

Quote: When we give account of ourselves to God, will God also love, and have mercy, upon the wicked, and the proud? Yes... Those who repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour will be saved. It ain't a difficult or complicated concept.

Grendel,

So, we will come to give account of ourselves to God.
....and the 'good' ppl will repent, and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour,
....and they will then be accepted, and saved?

Is that scenario scripturally based?




Grendel,

What means this?,

".....many are called, but few are chosen."


Matthew 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14  For many are called, but few are chosen.



Grendel,

In that last parable, what means this?,

"....the king.....saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?"



And what is the 'wedding garment' which we require in the kings presence?

I would suggest, that our sincere repentance is the 'clothing' we come to God with, seeking his mercy.

Only the foolish would come into Gods presence, without already being 'clothed' in their repentance.

Maybe that wedding guest, expected a wedding garment for him, would be provided?



Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.


Matthew 25:1
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.


Luke 13:23
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.


Isaiah 1:24
Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
25  And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
26  And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
27  Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
28  And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

....Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again.
So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!
Jack flash sat on a candlestick
Cause fire is the devil's only friend.

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan's spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight
The day the music died

He was singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn't play.

And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.

Don McLean - American Pie

Ah the great prophet Don McLean...  I love his songs...

I only have to keep repeating...  1 parable.

THE PRODIGAL SON.

AS FOR THE REST..

Quote:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ah you seem to keep forgetting the purpose of Jesus' life was to die for our sins. (and rise again).

http://www.god.com/books/god2/sect2.php further reading for you.


Quote:

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way unto the Father is through Me. —Jesus of Nazareth

Grendel wrote on Mar 19^th, 2009 at 11:53am:

Ah the great prophet Don McLean...  I love his songs... I only have to keep repeating...  1 parable. THE PRODIGAL SON. AS FOR THE REST.. Quote: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Ah you seem to keep forgetting the purpose of Jesus' life was to die for our sins. (and rise again). http://www.god.com/books/god2/sect2.php further reading for you.

Son went out from his fathers house, and 'journeyed into a far country'.

Son 'wasted his substance with riotous living.'

Son fell on hard times in 'that country'.

Son longed to return to his fathers house, and composes his repentance...

......'I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son:'



Grendel,

Sounds to me like a case of repentance, and before he returned home to his fathers house.       ;)




Luke 15:11
And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25  Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26  And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.




Grendel,

I will try and have a look at the info at link you posted.

This is a bit of a strange tangent...  can i suggest it goes to the spirituality forum

Ah...  repentence... do you think I never mentioned it?