Equally Yoked

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d11king

Guest
#1
#1
This is s general question but what constitutes a believer and an unbeliever? When I read many scriptures, especially Old Testament, there is a lot of "don't marry a Canaanite", and obviously now I'm taking that as a Christian is not to marry someone who isn't a Christian.

Yet I read somewhere that an unbeliever is someone who doesn't acknowledge Jesus, or believe in Him rather... so does that mean that if I believe in Jesus but have not fully committed my life to Him, does that make me an unbeliever?
 
miknik5

miknik5

Senior Member
#2
Jun 2, 2016
7,833
588
113
#2
d11king said:
This is s general question but what constitutes a believer and an unbeliever? When I read many scriptures, especially Old Testament, there is a lot of "don't marry a Canaanite", and obviously now I'm taking that as a Christian is not to marry someone who isn't a Christian.

Yet I read somewhere that an unbeliever is someone who doesn't acknowledge Jesus, or believe in Him rather... so does that mean that if I believe in Jesus but have not fully committed my life to Him, does that make me an unbeliever?
Click to expand...
Are you in the process of making a decision to marry?
 
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Depleted

Guest
#3
#3
This is like asking "How pregnant are you?" In either case, you are or you're not. There is no maybe about it.

If you aren't sure, become sure. And if you don't want to become sure, you're not, (at least, you're not a Christian. Baby will clarify pregnancy eventually.)
 
Joidevivre

Joidevivre

Senior Member
#4
Jul 15, 2014
3,838
271
83
#4
d11king said:
This is s general question but what constitutes a believer and an unbeliever? When I read many scriptures, especially Old Testament, there is a lot of "don't marry a Canaanite", and obviously now I'm taking that as a Christian is not to marry someone who isn't a Christian.

Yet I read somewhere that an unbeliever is someone who doesn't acknowledge Jesus, or believe in Him rather... so does that mean that if I believe in Jesus but have not fully committed my life to Him, does that make me an unbeliever?
Click to expand...
Many people I know (including myself) believed in Jesus long before we finally fully committed our lives to Him. This commitment comes after learning more about him and experiencing his presence in personal ways. It is the difference between a baby Christian and a mature one. But, both are believers. It is just a matter of spiritual growth.

An unbeliever denies Jesus - his deity and the work of salvation he brought about for us through his shed blood.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#5
Mar 13, 2014
41,313
16,301
113
69
Tennessee
#5
No, that would just make you an unproductive servant of the Lord.

The main reason in the OT for prohibiting His people from marrying those not of the same race was God wanted to preserve the bloodline for Israel and to prevent His people from following strange practices and doctrine that were not of His own making.

God will not prevent a Christian from marrying a non-Christian but under many circumstances it may be unwise to do so. Still, a non-believing spouse may become a Christian by observing how a Christian conducts their life from the way that they share the love of God's word.
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#6
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#6
d11king said:
This is s general question but what constitutes a believer and an unbeliever? When I read many scriptures, especially Old Testament, there is a lot of "don't marry a Canaanite", and obviously now I'm taking that as a Christian is not to marry someone who isn't a Christian.

Yet I read somewhere that an unbeliever is someone who doesn't acknowledge Jesus, or believe in Him rather... so does that mean that if I believe in Jesus but have not fully committed my life to Him, does that make me an unbeliever?
Click to expand...
I think there are varying degrees of belief, and none of us is perfect. A person who professes they don't believe in God is an unbeliever. There are people who would call themselves believers but don't try hard to do the Lord's will. I guess they are believers, though. There are people, agnostics, who say they don't know if the Lord exists or not. I think I would classify them as unbelievers.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#7
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
113
#7
tourist said:
No, that would just make you an unproductive servant of the Lord.

The main reason in the OT for prohibiting His people from marrying those not of the same race was God wanted to preserve the bloodline for Israel and to prevent His people from following strange practices and doctrine that were not of His own making.

God will not prevent a Christian from marrying a non-Christian but under many circumstances it may be unwise to do so. Still, a non-believing spouse may become a Christian by observing how a Christian conducts their life from the way that they share the love of God's word.
Click to expand...
==============================================
aka,

'free-will'...
 
Conversationand

Conversationand

Senior Member
#8
Jun 24, 2017
368
20
0
#8
Depleted said:
This is like asking "How pregnant are you?" In either case, you are or you're not. There is no maybe about it.

If you aren't sure, become sure. And if you don't want to become sure, you're not, (at least, you're not a Christian. Baby will clarify pregnancy eventually.)
Click to expand...
But I don't think that's the same as being equally yolked. For instance in my search for a wife I am looking for a woman who's already committed to celibacy as an act of obedience to God. For me, this is a requirement because it shows that she knows how to let God lead. It's a clear display of several fruits of the spirit and since I can't see her heart all I have are fruits. Or lack thereof. "How pregnant are you" is a valid question sometimes. You don't induce labor early in the first trimester.
 
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