Christians why is it a big deal if you date or marry into different Christian denomination?

Question

Look at this link please and help me understand it.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvM4RptyVgqJHYc8atMotYrd7BR.?qid=20070424135508AADR8sL

I am an Orthodox Jew but I have dated Reform and Conservative Jews before and there was never a problem. A Jewish woman is a Jewish woman no matter how religious she is.

A Christian is still a Christian if he/she believes in Jesus. So, what is the big deal of Mormon dating a Baptist or a Catholic? You are all Christians in my book.

Answer 1

The difference between Christian denominations is not really the same like that between Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Judaism. As I understand it these are simply different levels of how religious and observant their followers are. In contrast the followers of each Christian denomination can be very religious, but there are differences in their religious practice and theology. I mean for example Catholics worship saints and pray to statues of them, regarding the saints as messengers between God and humans. Protestants do not do this, and they might consider the Catholic practice idolatry, while Catholics might say that Protestants omit an important element of religious practice. Another difference is that Protestants believe in the Bible as the main authority and for Catholics the Catholic church and mainly the Pope are the main authorities that alone are authorized to interpret the Bible. And Catholics believe that when they take the Last Supper and the bread and wine are blessed by the priest it actually becomes the flesh and blood of Jesus and some Protestants believe it is only done to remember Jesus's "Last Supper" (actually Seder) with his disciples and some believe something in between. Catholics believe that you have to earn heaven by good deeds, Protestants believe you are saved "by faith alone" (means faith in Jesus and that he died for the sins). For these differences they have often even fought and massacred each other, European history is full of it. And if a Catholic wants to become Protestant or vice versa he has to convert and has to be baptized again.
However nowadays there are marriages between different Christian denominations, but it becomes difficult if both are very serious with their particular faith. If Catholics and Protestants marry it has to be done in a Catholic church, otherwise the Catholics don't consider it valid.

Answer 2

Can a Baptist date a Pentecostal? Can a Lutheran date a Catholic? The most important issue is whether both individuals know Jesus Christ as Savior. The Bible speaks of being "unequally-yoked" (2 Corinthians 6:14), but this only refers to believers and unbelievers. It does not refer to two believers who happen to have some beliefs that are different. If both individuals know Jesus Christ as Savior, there is no reason, Biblically, that they could not date and/or marry. However, that is not to say there will not be potential problems and issues. When / if the relationship becomes serious and is potentially leading towards marriage, the couple must sit down and come to an agreement on what church to attend. If there are major disagreements in doctrinal beliefs, the couple must agree to disagree, and at the same time agree on how to raise your children, and agree on how to live out the Christian faith. It is best for a couple of agree doctrinally...but the most important issue is faith in Christ, love for one another, and a desire to have a God-honoring relationship.

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

Answer 3

Christianity seems to grow by schism. The particular combination in the question (baptist and mormon) is a bit problematic because the mormons wrote their own book of scripture which picks up where the bible leaves off. It would be more like a jew marrying a christian or a christian marrying a muslim.

Still, you could get the same answers regarding a baptist and a catholic or any other interdenominational christian marriage. The problem is, while the jews believe they are the chosen people and that all jews are chosen, even if they don't practice judaism in the same way, christians believe that the particular brand of christianity that they believe in is chosen by god and that every other brand of christian gets to burn in hell.

Answer 4

I don't know how different the sects of Judaism are but certain denominations of Christianity sometimes conflict. Personally for me it would be how I would desire my children raised. For me, as a Southern Baptist, I would have no problem having my children reared by a woman who was Presbyterian, Methodist or other. Their beliefs and practices are very close to my own. Now I have nothing personal against Mormons or Roman Catholics but some of their beliefs and forms of worship are very conflicting with my beliefs, such as man obtain "divine" status and praying to and through Saints and Mary. Christ is my intercessor to the Father - not Mary or a patron Saint. In short, it is to avoid future and possibly damaging conflicts.

Answer 5

Heads-up: If she has long past as far as to mention out loud that it perhaps a obstacle, it most of the time will likely be. Unless she's competent to shake one of the crucial misconceptions many Baptists have approximately Catholicism, for those who marry then matters will relatively get exciting while the primary baby comes alongside. You will desire to have the baby baptized -- and she's going to most likely item very strongly to that, when you consider that Baptists consider that baptism is precisely for many who have made a resolution to comply with Christ. And that is simply one of the most primary variations among the 2. If she is inclined to be trained approximately what the Church truthfully teaches and the Scriptural foundation of it -- from the supply, similar to sitting in on RCIA categories with out always taking it all of the strategy to conversion -- that can support, however except one or the opposite of you does convert (and I take it you'll a lot as a substitute stay Catholic) then that is continually going to be a contentious subject among you.

Answer 6

A house divided will not withstand a storm. So it's best that we marry a person who is in agreement with us.

But it's not impossible for christians of different denominations to marry and stay married. I know of one old local couple--one was baptist, the other methodist. They married and were stayed together until death parted them. But every Sunday one went to the baptist church while the other went to the methodist church.

So I guess it depends on how important your beliefs are to you.

Answer 7

There are Christians and there are Christians.

Many Christians don't consider all other Christians to be Christians. Many Christians don't consider Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, etc., to be Christian. It's not how religious one is, but what one believes.

Answer 8

Whoa whoa whoa. Someone is not born a Christian. This is the biggest thing between tradition and faith. Each individual has to be saved. "A Christian is still a Christian if he/she believes in Jesus" What!? Do even know what a Christian is, it's someone that follows Christ! You need to learn more about faiths first.

Answer 9

Well christians may all believe in Christ but we all have other beliefs that are different and how we do things -- like I'm catholic and I pray to saints as well as the mother of God mary but a lutheran does not... catholics have confessions -- lutherans do not they don't believe they have to go through a priest to recieve forgivness also lutheran pastors can marry catholic priests cannot. catholics have nuns other christians do not -- you see the difference...

Answer 10

Mormonism is a cult but some ppl even marry agnostics...its up to the person.... WORSHIP THE TRINITY