Friday, December 26, 2008
I'm Catholic & He's Baptist... We Can't Agree!!
Question… i have been dating this guy and we have been talking about getting married and how we are going to raise our kids if and when we decide to have them...well i am catholic and believe strongly in my faith my boyfriend is baptist and hes not fond of the catholic faith at all but that is me its who i am and as a catholic we are supose to have our kids catholic and get married by a priest ITS A SACRAMENT FOR US but hes angry and throwing a fit about it .... we really do love each other and have everthing in common EXCEPT religion...so what can i do to make this better for both of us.... my aunt was catholic and uncle was baptist up until the day they died... what are my options where everyone is happy please let me know ASAP i have been praying about it.... i need answers/ advice in the worst kinda way MANY THANKS.
Response… Relationships/Marriages couples that don’t share the same religious views are called an inter-faith relationship/marriage. Although this is common practice, the bible frowns upon inter-faith relationships and marriages (Exodus 34:12-16, Deuteronomy 7:1-4, Ezra 10:2-3, Nehemiah 13:25-27, Malachi 2:11, 1 Corinthians 7:39, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15).
To highlight two of the above scriptures:
Malachi 2:11
"Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god."
Being in a relationship that carries two different religious beliefs is very difficult and usually causes major turmoil, like you’re dealing with now… You don’t agree on the matrimony… You don’t agree on how to raise your children.
Those are major issues to be arguing about and you’re not even married. To have a better chance of having a sound marriage, being with someone that has the same beliefs is very important.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15:
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"
According to the gospel, God's people must be marked by a different kind of lifestyle and that lifestyle cannot be mixed with a pagan lifestyle. Being men and women of God, any other worship or ethics should not be mixed with the worship of God.
It is a matter of recognizing that when we are God’s people, His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:18), it means we are in a relationship of love that binds us to His word.
The bible explains the different facets of love, which we should use as a guide for our lives.
Phil 2:12-23
I hope you pray and thing about your decision. As you’ve already heard whispers of doubt in your head, I pray the Lord speaks His word to you for clarity.
Saved By Faith