Do you think God has chosen your mate?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

twistedlinen

Guest
#41
#41
The first time God spoke to Hosea he said: "Find a whore and marry her.
Make this whore the mother of your children.
And here's why: This whole country
has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, God."
Hosea did it. He picked Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She got pregnant and gave him a son.

-Hosea 1:2-3 (the Message bible)
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#42
Jan 8, 2009
7,576
23
0
#42
Given the lack of explicit scriptures saying "never, under any circumstances marry an unbeliever, you are sinning if you do", I think it's best not to, but there's no hard rule about it. Paul even told those married to unbelievers to try and win them over to Christ, and stay with them if possible. Then the question is, what is a believer? Do catholics count? Would a baptist who believes in baptism by full immersion think its ok to marry a person who believes in infant baptism by sprinkling or pouring? The list gets narrower and narrower..and that definition of "believer" becomes narrower and narrower to suit the doctrines of man. So Baptistrw, i think the way you use the bible, is you would bash people over the head with it, making rules about things which aren't actually there. I don't think God will send a christian to hell for marrying a non believer, I wouldn't call it a sin, I'd call it a lack of good judgement.
 
E

erika83

Senior Member
#43
Dec 17, 2008
142
1
18
#43
I don't think that God will send to hell someone either for marrying a non-christian, but it's clearly disobeying God and I would certainly not want to go into a marriage without God's blessing on it.
About Hosea marrying the prostitute, well we have to keep in mind that was in the OT and they were living under the law but the prophets were also receiving direct orders from God. They were also told not to kill but still in war situations they were told to kill the enemy. What are we told by Jesus? Love our enemy, what a huge difference.
So my point is we can't relate to a single case in the OT to justify marrying an unbeliever (someone who is not born again). God will not come and tell us something against His word, since we are told already not to be unequally yoked.
 
T

twistedlinen

Guest
#44
#44
About Hosea marrying the prostitute, well we have to keep in mind that was in the OT and they were living under the law but the prophets were also receiving direct orders from God.
Click to expand...
^ are you saying the OT is not His Word?

They were also told not to kill but still in war situations they were told to kill the enemy. What are we told by Jesus? Love our enemy, what a huge difference.
Click to expand...
What are you exactly trying to tell here? So the Christian soldiers now who at some point may kill people are not obeying God?

So my point is we can't relate to a single case in the OT to justify marrying an unbeliever (someone who is not born again). God will not come and tell us something against His word, since we are told already not to be unequally yoked.
Click to expand...
We can't relate to a single case in the OT? So what's the OT for? 2Cor 6:14 does not specifically point to marriage, unless your translation clearly states that it is.
 
E

erika83

Senior Member
#45
Dec 17, 2008
142
1
18
#45
twistedlinen said:
^ are you saying the OT is not His Word?

of course OT is His word, but u certainly recognize that we live under grace, the new covenant and not the old one, so not everything in the OT applies to us.


What are you exactly trying to tell here? So the Christian soldiers now who at some point may kill people are not obeying God?

it was an example, but certainly no christian soldier would deliberately kill innocent children, remember it happened in the OT, when Israel was told to kill everyone in town.

We can't relate to a single case in the OT? So what's the OT for? 2Cor 6:14 does not specifically point to marriage, unless your translation clearly states that it is.
Click to expand...
the OT is for seeing the difference between the law and the grace, remember David prayed to God so that his enemies will die, are we to do the same today? to ask God to kill our enemies? instead of praying so we can love them? does not Jesus say if someone slaps u, turn the other cheek?
2 Cor 6:14 does not specifically point to marriage, true, but can u image a stronger bond than marriage between 2 human beings? marrying a non christian is certainly being unequally yoked.
 
E

erika83

Senior Member
#46
Dec 17, 2008
142
1
18
#46
sorry, 2 of my answers appear as ur quote twistedlinen. to clarify it, the answers to the first 2 questions from the quote, belong to me :) I tried to edit it but didn't manage, sorry.
 
B

Baptistrw

Guest
#47
#47
In the OT they practiced polygamy, are we supposed to do that now twistedlinen? Do you think in every circumstance polygamy is wrong?
 
B

Baptistrw

Guest
#48
#48
twistedlinen said:
The first time God spoke to Hosea he said: "Find a whore and marry her.
Make this whore the mother of your children.
And here's why: This whole country
has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, God."
Hosea did it. He picked Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She got pregnant and gave him a son.

-Hosea 1:2-3 (the Message bible)
Click to expand...
And when you're trying to make a point with scripture, use a formal equivalence of the Bible, not a paraphrase.
 
olivetree32

olivetree32

Senior Member
#49
Jan 4, 2009
226
36
28
#49
God wants the best for HIs children. He wants to give you good gifts.Jam 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
. If you marry a person who is in darkness, what does light have to do with the darkness?
God knows what is best for you, sure the OT is God's word, all of it is, and He wants the best for you. But we are in fact living in Grace, and sister if you heard some of the stories i have heard about being unequally yoked, its not good.
I went to a retreat once and are teacher gave a great example so i'll now share it with you.
She took a chair and stood up on it, and than asked a person to stand bellow her. She than said, now let me try and pull you up. She could not pull that person up, it was very hard, of cours unless the person was going to try and climb up the chair. Than she asked the person standing bellow her, to pull her down. She came right down from the chair. Do you see the point? Its easier for a person to pull you down when you are up. Like satan, he uses many things to try and stumble a beliver. why go there when God has a perfect plan for your life. Sure God can save that person as you and i, but why go threw the torment of somone not repecting what you belive. What if they think your praying is weird, what if they don't like your worship music. i had a sister in the Lord marry a non beliver, and he said he was a christian. She knew not to marry that guy. it did not get better, it got worse, much worse. She was a beutiful singer of worship, and stopped once she was married. just pray and Ask God to show you who He wants you to marry, and if you are in Christ, He will bring that right mate to you if in fact that is His will.
 
olivetree32

olivetree32

Senior Member
#50
Jan 4, 2009
226
36
28
#50
MahogonySnail said:
Given the lack of explicit scriptures saying "never, under any circumstances marry an unbeliever, you are sinning if you do", I think it's best not to, but there's no hard rule about it. Paul even told those married to unbelievers to try and win them over to Christ, and stay with them if possible. Then the question is, what is a believer?

i think we all know what a believer is Mahog. Jesus said you must be born agian. And the fruit, are the baring any? that is if you have question on wheather or not they are a true believer.
:)
Click to expand...
 
T

twistedlinen

Guest
#51
#51
Baptistrw said:
In the OT they practiced polygamy, are we supposed to do that now twistedlinen? Do you think in every circumstance polygamy is wrong?
Click to expand...
You're sidetracking sir. We were not talking about polygamy, we were talking about Hosea's case. I am aware that there are many things that the people in the OT practice and we shouldn't do it any longer, on the other hand there are still many things where they displayed a great faith, perseverance and obedience which is a good example for us to follow.
 
T

twistedlinen

Guest
#52
#52
erika83 said:
the OT is for seeing the difference between the law and the grace, remember David prayed to God so that his enemies will die, are we to do the same today? to ask God to kill our enemies? instead of praying so we can love them? does not Jesus say if someone slaps u, turn the other cheek?
Click to expand...
I guess for you the OT is just for a "comparison" thing with that of the NT, too bad the OT offers a lot of good example of how people live then. Just so you know I am aware that there are things that we need not to do anymore. :)

2 Cor 6:14 does not specifically point to marriage, true, but can u image a stronger bond than marriage between 2 human beings? marrying a non christian is certainly being unequally yoked.
Click to expand...
erika you're answers are plainly opinions, and for that I couldn't agree, I would truly appreciate if you support your stand with facts, like maybe going to the root word/greek word for unequally and yoke, that would be much better. I respect it anyway.
 
T

twistedlinen

Guest
#53
#53
Baptistrw said:
And when you're trying to make a point with scripture, use a formal equivalence of the Bible, not a paraphrase.
Click to expand...
sir here's the KJV:

Hosea 1:2 (King James Version)


2The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. 3So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son

sorry I don't have the greek/hebrew version.
 
T

twistedlinen

Guest
#54
#54
olivetree32 said:
God wants the best for HIs children. He wants to give you good gifts.Jam 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
. If you marry a person who is in darkness, what does light have to do with the darkness?
God knows what is best for you, sure the OT is God's word, all of it is, and He wants the best for you. But we are in fact living in Grace, and sister if you heard some of the stories i have heard about being unequally yoked, its not good.
I went to a retreat once and are teacher gave a great example so i'll now share it with you.
She took a chair and stood up on it, and than asked a person to stand bellow her. She than said, now let me try and pull you up. She could not pull that person up, it was very hard, of cours unless the person was going to try and climb up the chair. Than she asked the person standing bellow her, to pull her down. She came right down from the chair. Do you see the point? Its easier for a person to pull you down when you are up. Like satan, he uses many things to try and stumble a beliver. why go there when God has a perfect plan for your life. Sure God can save that person as you and i, but why go threw the torment of somone not repecting what you belive. What if they think your praying is weird, what if they don't like your worship music. i had a sister in the Lord marry a non beliver, and he said he was a christian. She knew not to marry that guy. it did not get better, it got worse, much worse. She was a beutiful singer of worship, and stopped once she was married. just pray and Ask God to show you who He wants you to marry, and if you are in Christ, He will bring that right mate to you if in fact that is His will.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the heartfelt concern. Believe me I heard a lot of stories of failure marriage because of the unbelief of the other person. But I also believe God allowed things to happen because He has a purpose. The analogy seems great but in a thorough consideration if the one on top is really strong he could pull him up or maybe not, still the promise of God to the believer is real, yet he may suffer.

God wants the best for HIs children. He wants to give you good gifts.Jam 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Click to expand...
I think you forgot Phil 1:29 "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him" and Isiah 48:10-11 "“I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act”
 
E

erika83

Senior Member
#55
Dec 17, 2008
142
1
18
#55
twistedlinen said:
erika you're answers are plainly opinions, and for that I couldn't agree, I would truly appreciate if you support your stand with facts, like maybe going to the root word/greek word for unequally and yoke, that would be much better. I respect it anyway.
Click to expand...
it's not my opinion, it's obvious, if u say it can't be applied to marriage, what u think is it about?
 
T

twistedlinen

Guest
#56
#56
erika83 said:
it's not my opinion, it's obvious, if u say it can't be applied to marriage, what u think is it about?
Click to expand...
You see by just saying obvious does not mean it is the original idea of the writer. We might be saying obvious because that's what people taught us about and therefore as we read it, it is now referring to marriage. The thing is, in that context, i.e 2Cor 6:14, marriage is never mentioned, so it is not wise to say it really referred to marriage. Since I was not the one who presented the interpretation of it, I was asking if you could support your stand.

(It helps a lot to dig a lil bit deeper.)
 
E

erika83

Senior Member
#57
Dec 17, 2008
142
1
18
#57
twistedlinen said:
You see by just saying obvious does not mean it is the original idea of the writer. We might be saying obvious because that's what people taught us about and therefore as we read it, it is now referring to marriage. The thing is, in that context, i.e 2Cor 6:14, marriage is never mentioned, so it is not wise to say it really referred to marriage. Since I was not the one who presented the interpretation of it, I was asking if you could support your stand.

(It helps a lot to dig a lil bit deeper.)
Click to expand...
I never said that chapter is talking about marriage but that verse is certainly applicable to marriage. If a christian and a non christian are getting married, they follow different roads, so that means not equally yoked. Pulling in different directions.
 
V

victoriouswoman

Guest
#58
#58
Well, i personally think He has. And for those of you who are wating on God's perfect timming, I encourage you to keep waiting.[/quote]

Well, i agree that God has a perfect match for all of us , and great is the reward for those who waits patiently. the key onlt there is patience and faith!!
 
B

Baptistrw

Guest
#59
#59
erika83 said:
I never said that chapter is talking about marriage but that verse is certainly applicable to marriage. If a christian and a non christian are getting married, they follow different roads, so that means not equally yoked. Pulling in different directions.
Click to expand...
Amen, it's a shame people try to butcher the Word to fit their desires. I don't think the Bible could be more clear on the matter.
 
olivetree32

olivetree32

Senior Member
#60
Jan 4, 2009
226
36
28
#60
victoriouswoman said:
Well, i personally think He has. And for those of you who are wating on God's perfect timming, I encourage you to keep waiting.
Click to expand...
Well, i agree that God has a perfect match for all of us , and great is the reward for those who waits patiently. the key onlt there is patience and faith!![/quote]

waitings is a blessing. I my self have been waiting for that mate God has for me. If he was not out there, than why would i bother praying for him. God will be glorified for sure. And i think for each one of us as a single, i encourage you to pray for your mate, and also prepration as well, but praying for the other person and there life and needs as well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.