So, if my marriage is "unequally yoked"(I'm Catholic, my husband is an Atheist)we're automatically doomed

Question

to spend eternity in hell?
Am I understanding this correctly?

Riegan, I got the blender ready!

Daughter of Isis, lol!

RJR, this is true.

Answer 1

Well, according to "Bible Believers", you're effed to begin with; Catholics aren't 'real Christians'.

Don't sweat the small stuff like marriage until you reconcile the fact that you aren't a Christian, lol.

Answer 2

From a Protestant perspective, you don't merit heaven on your own anyway. One side of the Protestant fence will say that you must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and neither you nor your husband have done that, so no, in your current state, you're not in a safe condition. The other side of the Protestant fence will tell you that while you attend a "false church" it is the Holy Spirit working in your heart that changes you and makes you live for him -- you just have the wrong idea as to how salvation happens. Ultimately though it's in God's hands, we do not sit in the judgment seat.

Catholics would tell you that since you belong to the church, and the church is the bride of Christ, you contain the holiness required to avoid hell, if you are devout. Since your husband doesn't hold any belief, everyone prays for him but in his current state of course he is lost.

As for your children, if they attend church with you and are being brought up Catholic, same rules. Protestant, one side says innocent until the age of reason, the other side says guilty but under a covenant if baptized. But to get them baptized, you have to be baptized. And to be baptized, you have to both believe and desire to conduct your household in a Christian manner, and this responsibility usually goes to the head of the house, who probably won't do this because he is atheist. I think is a pastor it would involve sitting down with you and discussing your commitment to raise your child in spite of your unequally yoked marriage.

That's my take on your situation from three different viewpoints. No one is "automatically doomed." And it might give you some comfort to know that God is in control, not you, and his decrees will be carried out to his glory (my Calvinism showing here).

Answer 3

No.... don't worry about it. Your salvation is assured through your faith in Christ Jesus. Hubby on the other hand... well, that will be up to God to decide that.

Hubby was an atheist when we married, and 16 years later was baptized. No pushing, no shoving, just finally got the message and is a much happier person.

I have found that it is the more fundamental Christians who continue to harp on about being unequally yoked. Even had a Baptist friend who went on and on with her teenagers about it, then I reminded her that her and her hubby were unequally yoked when they married! Oops!

Answer 4

Whether one makes heaven or not is not based on who they marry. Rather it is based on whether or not there are been a time in their life when the acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus over them. Hopefully, as a Catholic, there has been such a time in your life. A time when you ask his forgiveness, and committed yourself to follow him. If so, welcome to heaven.

Paul talks about Christian/non-Christian marriages in 1 Corinthians 7. He says that is a Christian has an unbelieving spouse, and the spouse is welling to live with them (without giving them problems over their belief, Church attendance, etc), then they should stay together. Over time, the unbelieving spouse may reach their mate and convert them. In the meantime, the unbelieving spouse is "santificed" by the believing one. "Santificed" means to be "set apart" or "covered". In means that that you as a Christian, who hopefully prays for the family, give him a "covering" or "protection" from evil and sin that he would not have otherwise.

Nowhere in Paul's writings (or anywhere in the Bible) does it say that a persons goes to hell for being married to an unbeliever. IT does warn that if you are "unequally yoked" you will have problems because of it, and advises not to do it.

Answer 5

They used to yoke animals together to pull the plow, or carts. So if you had a full-strength bull yoked with a badly-ill one, the badly-ill one would suffer because of the pace, the full strength one would be frustrated, and the cart might get damaged due to the uneven pull.

So its just saying there may be friction in the marriage, as you might be keen on church, but he probably isn't, you might want christian friends round, he (potentially) might find them obnoxious, and not be able to share their sentiments and aspirations etc. (Theoretically) you might want daughters to go to convent school, but (if he were an ardent athiest) he theoretically might object to that.

Answer 6

No not necessarily. My husband was an atheist,(for most of his 45 years) and me a Christian(now a Catholic Christian) . He respected my beliefs and I respected his, we didnt discuss religion or God. It's been almost 8 years now, since he found God on his own. We have been together almost 23 years. I think God puts some of us Christians into situations like this for a reason. Even tho we didnt discuss religion or God, my husband saw the way I lived and devoted time to God everyday. And now he is a very devout Christian

Answer 7

No, you're not understanding that correctly. I'm Catholic, and my fiance is agnostic. There's one extra form to sign prior to the wedding, but the priest who will marry us hasn't had a problem with it. The main thing you need in an interfaith marriage is a commitment from both parties to respect each others' beliefs and try not to undermine each other's obligations in their respective religious traditions (or lack thereof). I know several evangelical protestants who won't even consider dating someone whose theology is in any way unidentical to theirs, but it hasn't been a problem for me.

Answer 8

Oh the 'unequally yoked' business is just more of the rules and regulations of religion...I don't think it is all that cut and dried...do you and your husband get along and love one another? That is what counts...

Answer 9

No. But the question I want to ask is this:

Are you saved? if not both of you are hell bound;

ONLY

hell BOUND. This does not mean thay there is no hope for you to get saved.

Answer 10

you'r enot going to spend an eternity in hell...your hubby might if he doesnt convert...i'll pray for him...but God lvoes all his children, it's jsut he gets hurt you know...

I like Tebone' s answer...He puts us in situations for a reason