Christians...do you have to date the same religion?

Question

So you are christian, but madly in love with a person who is totally not religious. Should you try to make it work and hope that one day you can convince her to become religious or should you fight your feelings and pass the oppertunity to be with the possible love of your life just so you can try and find someone who is religious?

Doesn't christianity come down to doing everything out of love?
Denying someone your love isn't right?

So to christians....what is your opinion?

PS: If you are not christian don't waste your time replying disrespectfully just 'cause you're bored...go somewhere else.

Answer 1

It is always helpful in a relationship if your approaches to life are compatible.

Answer 2

Well dating doesn't always lead to marriage anyway does it and Christianity isn't a legalistic religion either. However it does have some helpful stuff to say.

Living our faith in a secular world can be difficult anyway, which is why the Bible tells us not to be 'unequally yoked' (sounds awful doesn't it but a good illustration). I believe that the priority of our relationships is God then spouse, or partner. If you believe that too but your girlfriend didn't it might make life really difficult.

But when I met my husband, he'd been a Christian a year and I was athiest/agnostic. We dated but didn't marry until after I became a Christian. Not that he told me that was the case, it just left it up to God. Now I know that doesn't happen in every case and I have many Christian friends who are married to non-believers, but it's not always easy and they often find a pull in two directions.

You need to seek God's plan for your life first, then everything else will fit in around it. Sounds to me thought that you've got someone in mind! Keep praying about it and see what happens.

Answer 3

I am not a christian and I am not being direspectful when I say
"I cannot believe what I am reading here"
My wife is catholic,I have no problem with that fact or what she believes.
Our son has been baptised into the catholic church.I have no problem with that either.When he is old enough he will make his own decision as to whether he wishes to stay within the church or not.
I am an atheist,my wife has no problem with that.
We may not agree but we respect each others beliefs or non-beliefs however you wish to put it.
As for the idea of dating/marrying a non-believer and then converting them somewhere down the line.THAT STINKS.
If you meet someone and fall in love with someone,it's because of who and what they are.Why do you feel the need to change them?
It reminds me of the old joke.
Why are the songs sang in church called hymns?
Why is the central corrider called an aisle?
Why is the main table called an alter?
Because those are the three words that go through a womans mind when she marries!
AISLE,ALTER,HYMN!!
No disrespect intended

Answer 4

It helps to date someone you have a lot in common with, even without the beliefs angle. I became a Christian several years after my marriage and my husband didn't; so yes, it makes things a little harder because we don't have the same viewpoint, and in some cases, the same values. If I were starting out as a Christian on the dating scene, I would definitely try to find a fellow Christian to share my life with, not because unbelievers are "evil" or anything like that, but because a lifetime partnership really needs solid foundations of things shared in common.

Answer 5

No you have no bounds as to who you can date. However, you should not marry with someone who is not equally yoked. If you marry a non Christian then what will become of the religious education of your children? How will you look to solve issues that arrive in an everyday situation if you both cannot turn to God for guidance. Without God you are likely to say things you do not mean and hurt the other one's feelings quicker because you do not have God to help you think first and temper your feelings with love. You can be angry with someone and God will help you express that anger while at the same time tempering it with love to make it not so harsh or judgmental.

Answer 6

In truth there is nothing but the Devil behind this evil and wicked ploy. You must, I cannot reinforce this enough - must - stay true to your convictions and resist the temptations of the flesh. It is true yes, that Adam was stronger than the weaker Eve, however this heathen has been sent by the Diaboli - the Devil - to tempt you to eat from your very own Apple tree. This woman is a snake and cannot, like most women, be trusted by a man. To deny her love is to honour the Almighty with your love which is surely a much higher cause, is it not? She shall never change, only try and drown you in her seething contempt for what you hold dear and precious. She shall infect your offspring with her own evil.

Answer 7

I wonder if it's possible for a Christian to date someone who's not religious, and for that person to persuade the Christian of their views/position rather than the religious person converting them?

Or maybe it's possible for them both to agree to disagree on that point and enjoy their love together anyway?

I have to say I'd find it very difficult to have a relationship with someone who was religious. I imagine it's the same the other way round.

Answer 8

I'm a Christian and I do have an opinion about your struggle. I married a non-Christian - in fact, I married someone who was not at all religious. I loved him with all of my heart and I thought that with patience and some tolerance, he would eventually come to beleive what I beleive. Mind you, I was not a "fanatic" - just a quiet believer (I cannot remember a time when I did not beleive in God, in Jesus, in salvation). But he not only resisted all "God talk" he actually mocked it and eventualy, he came to see God as some sort of rival - someone who took my attention away from him, my husband (and I was not at all an active Christian - just liked to go to church once a month at least). Funny huh? But is was not funny at the time. We fought a lot and eventually, he left me for someone more like himself.

So, to young Christians who ask me if I think they could "convert" the present "love of their life" - I say, "perhaps... if they belong to God's elect and it is just a matter of time when they will come to saving faith."
If they ask me if I think they should go ahead and marry this non-beleiver and try to convert them later, I always say, "No, don't do it." The pain of letting go of a girlfreind or boyfreind now is infintisimal to the pain and agony of being unequally yoked to an unbeliever.

Answer 9

The Bible does state that you should not be unequally yoked. The general concensus to the meaning of that verse is that it is speaking of marriage and if you were to marry someone who could not pull their weight spiritually in a marriage, you will wind up doing all the work and tiring out before the day is done.

I've seen it happen so many times. They marry out of "Love" to someone who isn't a believer (I speak not only of Christians, but all faiths) and wind up in an impossible situation.

And yes, it does come down to doing everything out of love. But how loving is it, to yourself, your family and your future children, to marry someone whose lack of faith will cause discord and problems for generations to come? Besides, the "love" you speak of is the emotional kind, and anyone who has been married for many years know, that doesn't last and you better have something more solid than emotions to build on, if you want a marriage that lasts a lifetime.

The "come down to doing everything out of love" is a different sort of love. It's a verb, not a feeling. We don't love people only when it feels good, we love them no matter what.

Answer 10

couldn't care less what her religious preference is as the only difference between one religion and another is the difference in Rituals and Ceremonies along with perhaps the NAME by which they refer to GOD. other than this all religions are about the same. if a person is not a Christian and would happen to fall in love with her as long as She practiced her religion and she would let me practice mine this would not be a problem as long as we had an understanding if and when children were involved. if she had no religion at all same situation as of a totally different " non - Christian " religious belief system.

Answer 11

I am a Christian and I do not believe God would prevent two people who are in love getting together just because one of them is not a Christian. God loves all. There is no need to try and convert your loved one into believing your God. God will find your loved one when/if the time is right.