Marrying and mixing with people outside

[Guest]

I know its not the done thing to marry anyone outside. It is dodgy in some cases if the professing partner hasnt been upfront with what to expect. But I see young people marrying unsuitable partners inside because if they dont they get left behind very quickly and it dosnt happen.

I wonder if it isnt better to marry someone that can accept you as you are and the Truth is going to be part of their lives too. I do mean being honest about how you want to bring up children - what you want and dont want in the home. I said to my husband the TV was going but I left it until he was convicted in the meetings - if they can accept it willingly and like and respect the friends and workers. There are many marriages that work that way - they dont all profess but they support their partners.

My husband is from outside he professed last year. A girl in another state married someone outside and has been put out of fellowship because its happening too much. How is that going to give him an opportunity to be interested and now she is expecting - it says in 1 Cor 7:14 who knows if we can help to save them? The wife or husband are sanctified by the professing partner. I dont know how you can save someone else if you are put outside to sink. We were in that situation for 9 years.

I wonder about not mixing with the world too. We dont mix socially. I love the company of the friends - if we can go out with the friends its a treat, but we have coffee and talk to our neighbours all around us. My friend at the back has cancer - she was asking about the meetings yest. How do we have the chance to tell other people about what we enjoy - the reassurance and peace the love if we are reserved and dont take an interest in others. I came to meetings through the neighbours.

Anyway I just wondered on other peoples thoughts on these things. I know there is a huge variation on situations but I'm glad I married my husband and I could have still been alone and had no children. I would have missed a lot.

[Warrigul]

A lot of them have resorted to marrying cousins "to keep it inside."

[robbo]

I don't think there is an easy answer.

For me, I married outside and I woudn't do it again.

My wife attended gospel for many years but stopped when my children reached teens - and my children have since stopped too.

Now there is not much left that is common - for me the truth, for my wife?

[Jesus Saves]

I go to meeting and I think that it is very sad that people even mention when someone marries "outside". We are not Jews living in Old Testament times that aren't allowed to marry non-jews. Our Salvation is not from going to meetings-it comes from our belief and faith in Jesus and his sacrifice for our sins. A person who marries a practicing Christian is lucky indeed for the Christian will work hard at their relationship (they should anyways) and will be a kind and loving partner. Who would not want and enjoy that?

Also, as far as socializing with those around us, it is imperative that we do so. We are not here to hide our salvation under a bushel but to be a light and a help to all. Remember Jesus' commandment to "Love thy neighbour as thyself". I am ashamed that I raised my children to be "meeting Christians" instead of real Christians who live for others and not themselves. I do go to meeting but I spend my time helping others and showing the spirit of Christ to those who most people avoid because they are afraid. We don't need to fear the people of this world if we have Jesus with us. The Good Samaritan wasn't afraid to help someone that others scorned and passed by. I am not trying to be judgemental or self-righteous in saying these things but I am very disappointed that the only thing the workers and friends seem to care about is how nice they look and going to as many meetings and gospel meetings as they can. I do not find this to be edifying anymore and think that as Christians we should put aside this folly and get to work doing what we are put on this earth to do. Time is short and I do not want to be known to God as the woman who was in the front row and looked good while my neighbour suffered.

Sorry for the rant. Jesus died that we might have new life. Make it worthwhile.

[eternally]

When I left the work, it wasn't to get married. In fact, I didn't become involved in a relationship until nearly 5 years afterwards. Both our families were professing and had meetings in the home. I truly felt that God had blessed our marriage. Well, 27 years later, we
were divorced. That was 17 years ago now. I will never marry because as long as my ex-wife is alive, in God's eyes she is still my wife. I respect this. (Of course, by now, I am to set in my ways to have the interferance of a woman in my affairs!! lol) My point is, just because we marry in the truth there is no guarantee the marriage will last. Why, there are myriad reasons. Probably the main one is that we have human natures, despite professing, and this plays a large roll in this arena. In retrospect, I look back over the years, most were happy and good. I learned that as much as I loved my wife (I still do), this doesn't mean that we were compatible. At this point, due to the longsuffering of our Lord, I, again, have Salvation. He has graciously spared my life. Now, I pray for my ex-wife, that she will be drawn by the touch of God's spirit and become part of the fold again. She loves the friends and workers and she knows what is right.

[Jack Mehoff]

I have been reading about The Truth. I am an outsider that mixes with people of your religion. Does this make me one of you by default? Do I have to do something, like sacrifice a goat?
We all like to have fun and I hear goat meat is pretty good.

[cheriekropp]

Jul 5, 2011 3:48:47 GMT -5 @Jack Mehoff said:

I have been reading about The Truth. I am an outsider that mixes with people of your religion. Does this make me one of you by default? Do I have to do something, like sacrifice a goat?
We all like to have fun and I hear goat meat is pretty good.

Jack: what have read? What are your thoughts about what you read.

No, you're not "one of you by default." To become "one of you", you must make a public commitment before the workers, usually in one of their gospel meetings where they invite outsiders to do so.

[shawnjune30]

I married outside and My husband and I are of two diffent faiths but we do not want to impose either faith to our children to be honest I think my Husband would go to meetings with me if I asked him but I feel that he maybe afraid because of what his mother would think as she is a very devout Catholic