Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 4/13/2010

Question
What is the Pentecostal policy/rules for marriage to an unbeliever? Especially if the other person is a Christian, both do not want children and both have a deep respect for each others religious views and religious life and obligations?

Answer
J,

Thanks for the questions and the opportunty to help.

First let me say that Christians who are Pentecstal belong to many differant denominations and churches with varing views. However, the general, Pentecostal view on a Christian marrying an un-believer is as follows...

The Bible explicitly prohibits a believer from entering into any serious relationship or marriage with a non-believer. One of the first references to this is found in Deuteronomy 7:3, 4. Here the children of Israel were admonished not to marry the children of Canaan because "they would turn your sons away from following me, to serve other gods." Also after the exile of Israel, Nehemiah pointed out to the remnant (the surviving children of Israel) that the great King Solomon was led astray by his relationship with women who served other gods (Nehemiah 13:26, 27).

It is not only the Old Testament that teaches against this but also the New Testament. Paul says emphatically that believers are only to marry "in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:39), in other words to marry only another believer. He goes on to show that it is utterly contrary to Christ’s teachings to be involved in a serious relationship with unbelievers. Though Paul does not explicitly mention the topics of dating and marriage in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, it clearly has meaning for such relationships. In this passage Paul points out that we should not be united with, or bound to persons who are contrary to Christ. Throughout Paul’s practical admonitions are echoes of Old Testament passages calling on Israelites to be separated from outsiders who did not recognize the God of Israel (Leviticus 26:12; Isaiah 52:11, Ezekiel 20:32-34).

Not only should Christians avoid dating and marrying non-Christians, 1 Corinthians 5:9-12 would seem to indicate they also should not become involved with people who say they are Christians but do not live godly lives. The underlying principle here is two fold. First, we belong to God and are called to glorify Him in every aspect of our lives (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Secondly, wrong relationships can produce wrong behaviors, wrong standards, and wrong values (1 Corinthians 15:33). Recognizing this truth the Assemblies of God opposes the practice of dating or marrying unbelievers.(ag.org)

J, this may not have been what you wanted to hear, but I do hope it answers your question.

Elder Greg Madden