Spiritual Warfare #27

Good morning! Today we'll look at how marriage can be compromised by Charles Stanley.
Numerous times people have come to me saying how they have fallen in love with a wonderful person. It is always exciting to hear the joy in their voices. But before long, I see a drop in their happy expression. I usually know what they are about to say: "The only problem I'm facing is she [or he] is not a believer." This is a huge problem that cannot be explained away. The apostle Paul admonished,

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. (2 Cor. 6:14-16)

At this point, many people interject that they are witnessing to the person and not planning to marry him or her. They just want to date, but what they are doing is tripping a landmine that they cannot hope to defuse.

Compromise always leads us away from God-a little at first, but the destination is the same-far from God's will. What are you willing to compromise to feel accepted or loved for a short season? This line of thinking may sound very narrow-minded. If it does, then perhaps you have already started down the path of compromise.

These days, a kiss on the cheek is rarely where a couple says good night. If the person you are dating is a nonbeliever, he or she has the ability to pull you down. Over the years, I have seen many marriages-unequally yoked-end in sorrow and defeat. It may be one of the most difficult things you will ever do, but if you know the person you are seeing is not saved, then you need to step0 away from the relationship until there is an eternal shift in his or her devotion-one that you know without a doubt is sincere.

That's a good dose of wisdom for today. As I type, I'm reminded of a youth worker's job, and how important this kind of training is to them. Jr. High and High School kids are just starting to think in this direction. Feeling attractions to people at school can put them in harm's way if they haven't made pre-decisions. (Mentioned yesterday) I think often kids aren't taught about the dangers of close associations with unbelievers. Friendships with the same gender for the purpose of showing Christ's love and sharing the gospel is fine. But when an attraction to an unbeliever who is a member of the opposite gender starts to occur, it's a big red flag.

I know the pain of many women in our church who are married to unbelievers. Most of them were unbelievers when they got married, but became Christians afterwards. These wonderful ladies endure church services, Christmas celebrations, and other services alone, as their spouse refuses to enter the church, even for the sake of their wives. This puts up a wall, sending the message to the wife that she's not important enough for him to put aside his fears and discomfort to be with her.

There is another situation which should be looked at as well. It is when there is an attraction between two believers, but one is more spiritually mature than the other. This is an unequal yoking as well. Can it change? Sure. Do you want to bet on it? I'm not talking about Bible knowledge. I'm talking about the choices a person makes and their submission to the Lord and relationship with Him. When two are equally yoked, they can move ahead in their walk with lightening speed, instead of stopping at every disagreement and working it out at length.

I hope this has been helpful. Tomorrow we'll look at money.