1 Corinthians 7:12-16, Unequally Yoked

For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages—Christian married to non-Christian—we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her. If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him. The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out; as it is, they also are included in the spiritual purposes of God.

On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you’ve got to let him or her go. You don’t have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can. You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God. (The Message)

It’s not uncommon for believers to find themselves married to unbelievers. The cause doesn’t interest Paul. The resolution interests him a great deal.

First, “if you are a man (or, a woman) with a wife (or, husband) who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her (or, him).

This isn’t complicated… 

The idea advanced, by Paul, is ”the unbelieving husband (wife) shares to an extent in the holiness of his (her) wife (husband). The original language, hä-gē-ä'-zō, means “to declare sacred, or consecrate”. A lot of ink has been spilled asking whether, or not, Paul is suggesting a spouse can become “born again” simply by being married to a believer. The answer, of course, is a resounding “YES!” An unbelieving spouse “CAN” become born again through marriage to a believer. In fact, I’d suggest, that spouse appreciates a far greater likelihood of redemption as a result of the marriage. But, not a guarantee…

The same concept of hä-gē-ä'-zō is our reason for dedicating our children before the Lord and the congregation. We declare them “set apart” for God and trust this ritual will be honored by God and increase the likelihood our children will become believers when they grow older.

Or…why would we do it at all?

The Epistles of James (5:16) says “the effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much”. So, implicit in Paul’s command is the idea that a believing spouse would pray fervently for the salvation of their unbelieving spouse.  Just as we do for our unbelieving children.

And, God does answer prayer…

On the other hand, Paul says, the way we handle these things is critical. If the unbelieving spouse walks out, you’ve got to let him or her go. This concession isn’t simply to make our lives easier as believers. It’s intended to help us understand the way [we] handle this might bring [our spouse] not only back to [us] but to God.

Live boldly out there today…