JewishGentileCouples.com

Understanding an unbeliever's perspective

Gentiles who are believers in Jesus Christ may find willing and attractive Jewish partners in spite of the sociological warnings. A former Jewish taboo against intermarriage collapsed early in this millennium.  The former Jewish social prohibition dissolved.  Nevertheless, social research has shown that interfaith marriages are at a greater risk or disillusion than same faith marriages [V.R. Call & T.B. Heaton.  "Religious Influence on Marital Stability." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 1997: 36 (3) Pp. 382-392.] Nevertheless, Jewish people are now more likely to intermarry with Gentiles in North America and Europe.

Research on marital stability and satisfaction often means little to individuals who are personally attracted to one another. However, Christian believers have a responsibility to the Scriptures and to their non-believer partners.

Today, American individualism and secularization are pressing back against Biblical material about intermarriage.  Christian teaching regarding being "unequally yoked" is deemed by contemporary culture as "out-of-step" or "judgmental."  Though the New Testament context for the passage in II Corinthians 6:14 deals with business partnerships, it is a clear warning for the potential spiritual disharmony when a believer in Jesus joins their life with someone who does not share the same faith.  

The Old Testament provides prophetic warnings about the danger of taking spouses from non-Jewish nations.  There is no implication that Gentile life is of supposedly lesser value than that of Jewish people. The message was consistently on the potential spiritual harm that an Israelite believer in God might endure by marrying people who reject the God of Israel (Exodus 34:11-15 and I Kings 11:1-2).  

Some of the following articles address the spiritual responsibility of Christians in marriage.  If you have a specific question or idea that you would like to see us discuss here, please write and let us know.