Marriage with Unbelievers.
By B. F. Snook
THIS is a subject of sufficient importance to be investigated. When we see many of our brethren and sisters uniting with unbelievers, and being led away from God and his truth in consequence thereof, we are led to ask, Is such the course for us to pursue or fellowship? We believe not. 1. God has never approved of his people's marrying among his enemies. "Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son; nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son." Deut. vii, 3. He that made the heart of man knows it, and was well assured that the believer was more easily led away from him in so doing, than the unbeliever would renounce his idolatry and become a child of his. "For they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other gods." Verse 4. Paul also says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" 2 Cor. vi, 14, 15. This testimony proves that God's will has not changed with reference to the subject of matrimony, for he speaks the same pointed and plain testimony concerning it in both Testaments. God has ever looked at the sacred institution of matrimony with a jealous eye. He has given his people commands in reference to it, and expects that they will honor him by complying with his counsels. When they depart from him in this, they depart from his counsel, and disregard his admonitions, and voluntarily choose darkness rather than light. But it is objected by some sister, If I marry this man I can have an influence over him and be a means of his conversion; hence it would be right to do so. 1. If so, then it is right to go contrary to the will of God, and do evil in order that good may abound. Rom. iii, 8, 12. 2. If you cannot influence him to be a Christian before you are married to him, you have no evidence that you can afterward. But say you, He or she promises to be right and faithful after we are married. Yes, and many times a drunkard has promised to be a sober man, that he might deceive and get into his bonds a fair and lovely woman. But when his end was accomplished he disregarded his solemn vows, and returned to his intoxicating draught. I have known of those not in the faith making fair promises to those in present truth to get their consent to matrimony, and as soon as they were married the vow was broken, and thus the one of faith must either give up the truth or live a life of misery and unhappiness. To such as are married we would say, Do not become unmarried, do not separate from your companions. 1 Cor. vii, 10. To the unmarried we would say, In the name of God, O presume not to go beyond the counsel of him who sees your heart. You must love him more than all others, or you never can be saved. If your love for some unbeliever is such that it will lead you to marry him or her contrary to the word of the Lord, remember that you are not worthy of him, and hence not worthy of eternal life. May God bless us with that Spirit which will lead us in his own wise counsels.