IS IT WRONG TO MARRY A NON-CHRISTIAN?

1.     Statistics

a.     Divorce Rate

                                                    i.     Both Jewish – 4.6

                                                   ii.     Both Catholic – 6.4

                                                 iii.     Both Protestant – 6.8

                                                 iv.     Mixed religions – 15.2

                                                  v.     No religion – 16.7

                                                 vi.     Protestant / Catholic – 20.6

                                               vii.     Both Christians from Christian college – 1.4

b.     3,000 students in a study

                                                    i.     55% willing to marry out of their religion

                                                   ii.     Direct relationship to parents devotion

                                                 iii.     65% of boys – follow mother’s religion

                                                 iv.     75% of girls – follow mother’s religion

2.     Biblical Principles

a.     Matthew 6:33

b.     2 Corinthians 6:14-17

c.     1 Corinthians 7:12-15

d.     Deuteronomy 7:1-3

e.     Ezra 9 and 10

f.      Deuteronomy 21:10-14

3.     Marriage is not a church regulated institution

a.     What about 2 non-Christians?

b.     This is not a sin nor a state of sin

4.     Some Questions to Answer

a.     Family – in-laws, parents, other relatives

b.     Church – effect on your attendance, work

c.     Amusements – associate with spouse’s kind of friends

d.     Children – moral and religious instruction

e.     Souls – yours, children, partner

5.     Conclusion

a.     Not an issue of SIN

b.     “Whenever people meet the qualifications of moral purity outlined by the Lord they may be recognized in the marriage union.” P. D. Wilmeth, The Christian Home, page 33