It is not lawful to make marriages with all [sorts of] heretics, nor to give our sons and daughters to them; but rather to take of them, if they promise to become Christians.
I have seen more than one marriage fail where one spouse is a believer going into the union and the other is not. The overriding perception of the Christian is that he or she eventual will be able to lead the partner to Christ. Even if the marriage does not break up, there is no spiritual harmony in the home and what little godly influence is there will wane over time. The synod apparently took up Paul as he, through the Holy Spirit, warned against the unequal union (2 Cor 6:14-15) and codified the intent through this canon.
I have seen more than one marriage fail where one spouse is a believer going into the union and the other is not. The overriding perception of the Christian is that he or she eventual will be able to lead the partner to Christ. Even if the marriage does not break up, there is no spiritual harmony in the home and what little godly influence is there will wane over time. The synod apparently took up Paul as he, through the Holy Spirit, warned against the unequal union (2 Cor 6:14-15) and codified the intent through this canon.
1 comment:
I've also seen marriages fail for this reason. And not only by intermarrying with an unbeliever, but also marrying someone who claims to be a believer but who has never demonstrated any fruit backing such claim.
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