Dating and Marriage with Unbelievers: Biblical and E.G. White Perspectives

Marriage to an unbeliever is a direct departure from the plainest injunctions of God's Word and places your soul in extreme peril1MCP 304.2+1.

The Divine Prohibition

God has strictly forbidden the union of His children with those who do not fear HimFE 500.2. This is not an arbitrary rule, but a protection against spiritual ruin, as a companion who is a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God will inevitably lead the heart away from JesusT32 118.3+1. Just as ancient Israel was commanded not to intermarry with idolatrous nations to prevent their hearts from turning to other gods, Christians today are warned against being unequally yoked together with unbelievers 2 Corinthians 6:14-18CCh 120.3+1.

The Practical and Spiritual Dangers

• Loss of Spiritual Strength: The path to eternal life is rugged; an unbelieving partner acts as a weight that retards your progress rather than a helpT32 118.3+1.

• A Divided Home: There can be no true harmony when one partner is sowing to the flesh and the other to the Spirit; such a perpetual difference of purpose makes happiness impossible4T 507.3+1.

• Satanic Infatuation: Satan often weaves a spell of infatuation over the soul, causing reason to let fall the reins of self-control, leading to a life of misery and bondageTSB 117.1+1.

• Broken Vows: History shows that those who sacrifice their loyalty to God to obtain a partner are often unfaithful to that partner later10MR 194.1+1.

Safe Steps for the Youth

Before yielding your affections, you must ask if the union will help you heavenward and enlarge your usefulnessLYL 23.2+1. If you have already entered an engagement with an unbeliever, it is far better to break that engagement before marriage than to live a life of wretchedness afterwardLYL 52.1. Let every step be characterized by modesty and a sincere purpose to honor God 1 Corinthians 6:19-20CCh 123.5.

... other respects worthy (which he is not), yet he has not accepted the truth for this time; he is an unbeliever, and you are forbidden of Heaven to unite yourself with him. You cannot, without peril to your soul, disregard this divine injunction.—Testimonies for th...— 1MCP 304.2 (1977)

... and homes with misery. My sister, unless you would have a home where the shadows are never lifted, do not unite yourself with one who is an enemy of God. As one who expects to meet these words in the Judgment, I entreat you to ponder the step you conte...— T32 118.3 (1885)

...judgment, I entreat you to ponder the step you contemplate taking. Ask yourself: “Will not an unbelieving husband lead my thoughts away from Jesus? He is a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God; will he not lead me to enjoy the things that h...— 5T 363.1 (1889)

...s as Satan would have it. He weaves his spell about the soul, and it becomes bewitched, infatuated. Reason lets fall the reins of self-control upon the neck of lust, unsanctified passion bears sway, until, too late, the victim awakens to a life of misery and bonda...— 5T 365.3 (1889)

...ose who can never elevate or ennoble. Never should God's people venture upon forbidden ground. Marriage between believers and unbelievers is forbidden by God. But too often the unconverted heart follows its own desires, and marriages unsanctioned by God are...— FE 500.2 (1923)

...hows that he values eternal life too highly to run the risk of losing it. He feels that it would be better to remain unmarried than to link his interest for life with one who chooses the world rather than Jesus and who would lead away from the cross of Christ. But the danger of giving the af...— 1TT 576.1 (1949)

May the Lord grant you wisdom and courage to place His love above all earthly affections and to walk in the path of obedience where His blessing can rest upon you Matthew 16:24LYL 83.1. 📖✨