GOT QUESTION?ORG -QUESTION OF THE WEEK-Is it right for a Christian to date or marry a non-Christian?

 

Is it right for a Christian to date or marry a non-Christian?

---

Subscribe to our Question of the Week by entering your email address
in the field below and clicking on “Subscribe.” 

---

Question: “Is it right for a Christian to date or marry a non-Christian?”

Answer: For a Christian, dating a non-Christian is unwise, and marrying one is not an option. Second Corinthians 6:14 (KJV) tells us not to be “unequally yoked” with an unbeliever. The imagery is of two incompatible oxen sharing the same yoke. Instead of working together to pull the load, they would be working against each other. While this passage does not specifically mention marriage, it definitely has implications for marriage. The passage goes on to say that there is no harmony between Christ and Belial (Satan). There can be no spiritual harmony in a marriage between a Christian and a non-Christian. Paul goes on to remind believers that they are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, who inhabits their hearts at salvation (2 Corinthians 6:15-17). Because of that, they are to be separate from the world—in the world, but not of the world—and nowhere is that more important than in life’s most intimate relationship—marriage.

The Bible also says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’ (1 Corinthians 15:33). Having any kind of intimate relationship with an unbeliever can quickly turn into something that is a hindrance to your walk with Christ. We are called to evangelize the lost, not be intimate with them. There is nothing wrong with building quality friendships with unbelievers, but that is as far as it should go. If you were dating an unbeliever, what would honestly be your priority, romance or winning a soul for Christ? If you were married to an unbeliever, how would the two of you cultivate a spiritual intimacy in your marriage? How could a quality marriage be built and maintained if you disagree on the most crucial issue in the universe—the Lord Jesus Christ?

Recommended Resource: The Ten Commandments of Dating by Young & Adams.

This page is also available in: Indonesia, Chinese, Hebrew, Korean, Arabic, Español, Thai, Suomi, Română, Português, Polski, Français, Russian, Nederlands, Srpski, Hrvatski, Italiano, Greek, Deutsch, Bulgarian, Japanese, Slovenčina, Cesky, Melayu, Sinhala, Malayalam, Trad-Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Ukrainian, Afrikaans, Mongolian, Việt, Magyar, Türkçe, Bosanski, Norsk, Kiswahili

Related Topics:

What should a Christian do if he or she is married to an unbeliever?

What does it mean to be unequally yoked?

Is missionary dating a good idea? Can’t God use it?

Is it wrong for a couple to live together before marriage?

Should Christians of different denominations date or marry?

---

Return to:

Questions about Marriage

Questions about Marriage

---

What does the Bible say about marriage?

What does the Bible say about interracial marriage?

Is it right for a Christian to date or marry a non-Christian?

Does a wife have to submit to her husband?

What is/isn’t a Christian married couple allowed to do, sexually?

How often should a married couple have sex?

What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?

I am divorced. Can I remarry?

When is the right time for marriage?

What does the Bible say about engagement?

Why did God allow polygamy in the Bible?

What constitutes marriage according to the Bible?

If a person divorces and remarries, is it always going to be adulterous?

Where should we, as Christians, stand on gay marriage?

Is abuse an acceptable reason for divorce?

What does the Bible say about prenuptial agreements?

What does it mean to be one flesh in a marriage?

How can I restore my marriage?

Is it wrong for a married couple to have sex just for pleasure?

What does the Bible say about remarriage after the death of your spouse?

Does marriage hinder your relationship with God?

What should be the response of a Christian whose spouse has had an affair?

What does the Bible say about a trial separation in a marriage?

Should a married person have a close friend of the opposite sex?

Can a couple who has gotten divorced get remarried?

Will there be marriage in heaven?

What should a Christian do if he or she is married to an unbeliever?

Do I have to confess my adultery to my spouse?

What should be the Christian view of romance?

Making marriage last – what is the key?

What does the Bible say about the concept of a common law marriage?

What does it mean to leave and cleave?

Does the Bible support the Catholic practice of a marriage annulment?

Is it acceptable to God for a husband and wife to have sex while the wife is menstruating / having her period?

Is it wrong for a Christian husband and wife to attend separate churches?

How should a Christian spouse handle an adulterous affair that has resulted in a child?

What should be done if a husband and wife disagree on tithing / how much to give?

What are biblical grounds for divorce?

What does the Bible say about remarriage if a divorce occurred before salvation?

Can/should a Christian who is a virgin marry someone who is not a virgin?

Why is premarital counseling important?

What is the exception clause?

Is it a sin to have a sexual fetish?

Is the idea of a spiritual marriage biblical?

Is it wrong for a husband and wife to have separate bank accounts?

What does the Bible say about handling money in a marriage?

What does the Bible say about an unhappy marriage?

How does one handle conflict in a marriage (or any relationship for that matter)?

I am in the process of getting a divorce. Can I start dating, or do I have to wait until the divorce is final?

How should a Christian wedding be different from a non-Christian wedding?

What should be different about a Christian marriage?

How can married Christians avoid emotional affairs?

Does the Bible advocate arranged marriages?

What is a covenant marriage?

What does it mean to be unequally yoked?

What is the purpose of marriage?

What sort of things should be in Christian wedding/marriage vows?

Should married Christians wear wedding rings?

What does the Bible say about oral sex?

What does the Bible say about BDSM?

Why is sexual temptation a bigger problem for men than for women?

Does the Bible say that abandonment is a valid reason for divorce and remarriage?

Why is marital infidelity so destructive?

If a man has multiple wives and becomes a Christian, what is he supposed to do?

---

Return to:

GotQuestions.org Home
Top 20 Most Frequently asked Questions
Top 20 Most Visited Articles

---

Frequently Asked Bible Questions

---

This is by no means an exhaustive list of our questions and answers. We have selected some of our most frequently asked questions and listed them for easy access. Select one of the links below (sample questions listed) to view the questions and answers for that topic. Please also see our Crucial Questions, Christian Theology, Bible Summary, and Questions about the Books of the Bible sections.

Questions about God (1)(2)
How do you explain the Trinity?
     Why does God allow bad things to happen?
     What are the different names of God and what do they mean?
     Does God hear the prayers of unbelievers?

Questions about Jesus Christ (1)(2)
  Is Jesus God?
     How can you prove Christ’s resurrection?
     Where was Jesus for the 3 days between His death and resurrection?
     Why is the virgin birth so important?

Questions about the Holy Spirit
  What is the blasphemy of the Spirit?
     Are miraculous gifts for today?
     What is the gift of tongues?
     How can I know what my spiritual gift is?

Questions about Salvation
   Is there any way to lose your salvation?
     What about people who never hear the Gospel?
     Is salvation by faith alone, or faith plus works?
     What is the age of accountability?

Questions about the Bible (1)(2)
Why are there so many Bible translations?
     How was the Bible put together?
     Why should we study the Old Testament?
     Does the Bible contain error, contradictions, or discrepancies?

Questions about the Church (1)(2)
Why is baptism important?
     Should we worship on Saturday or Sunday?
     What does the Bible say about Christian tithing?
     Why is church attendance important?

Questions about the End Times
What is the mark of the beast?
     When is the rapture going to happen?
     What is the Judgment Seat of Christ?
     Is the millennium literal or figurative?

Questions about Angels and Demons
  Who are the “sons of God”?
     Do we have guardian angels?
     Can Satan read our minds?
     Can Christians be demon possessed?

Questions about Humanity
  Who was Cain’s wife?
     What is the origin of the different races?
     What is God’s view on cloning?
     What should a Christian believe about the death penalty?

Questions about Theology
What is theology?
     What are the different types of theology?
     What is dispensationalism?
     What is Calvinism?

Questions about Apologetics and Worldview
What is a Christian worldview?
     What is Christian apologetics?
     Is Jesus a myth?
     Is there an argument for the existence of God?

Questions about the Christian Life (1)(2)
  How can we recognize the voice of God?
     What does the Bible say about Christian tithing?
     How can I know God’s will?
     How can I overcome sin in my Christian life?

Questions about Prayer
Why pray?
     What is the Lord’s prayer and should we pray it?
     How can I get my prayers answered by God?
     What is intercessory prayer?

Questions about Sin
How can I know if something is a sin?
     Are all sins equal to God?
     Is it ok to drink alcohol?
     Is homosexuality a sin?

Questions about Eternity
  Will I be able to recognize my family members in Heaven?
     Are there different levels of Heaven?
     Is hell truly eternal?
     Can people look down on us from heaven?

Questions about Marriage
Is it wrong to marry outside of your own race?
     What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?
     What does it mean to be “one flesh” in a marriage?
     Why did God allow polygamy in the Bible?

Questions about Relationships
  What does the Bible say about sex before marriage?
     What should / shouldn’t a couple do before marriage?
     What does the Bible say about dating / courting?
     How young is too young to be in a romantic relationship?

Questions about Family / Parenting
     What does the Bible say about adoption?
     What are to be our priorities in our family life?
     What does the Bible say about disciplining children?
     What does the Bible say about infertility?

Questions about Creation
   What does the Bible say about Creation and Evolution?
     What is the age of the earth? How old is the earth?
     How do dinosaurs fit into the Biblical story of Creation?
     Why are there two different accounts of Creation?

Questions about Christianity
  How do I convert to Christianity?
     What makes Christianity unique?
     What was early Christianity like?
     How is the Christian religion different from all the other world religions?

Questions about Cults & Religions (1)(2)
  Who are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and what do they believe?
     Is Catholicism a false religion?  Are Catholics saved?
     Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?
     What is Buddhism and what do Buddhists believe?

Questions about False Doctrine
What is the Jesus Seminar?
     Is being slain in the Spirit biblical?
     What is transubstantiation?
     What are the beliefs of Jesus only / oneness Pentecostals?

Questions about Life Decisions
Should Christians go to doctors?
     Should a Christian be a Republican or Democrat?
     What does the Bible say about lawsuits / suing?
     What does the Bible say about women working outside the home?

Topical Bible Questions (1)(2)
  What does the Bible say about anger?
     What does the Bible say about depression?
     What is the Christian view of psychics?
     What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare?

Miscellaneous Bible Questions (1)(2)
Why do Jews and Arabs hate each other?
     What does the Bible say about abortion?
     Should a Christian be a Republican or a Democrat?
     Do pets go to heaven when they die?

---

Return to:

GotQuestions.org Home