Sue Bucher

In 1 Corinthians 7, the Bible says that if a spouse is not saved, then the believing one must remain in the marriage in order to sanctify the spouse. In other words, one must remain married to a nonbeliever, except where the Word of God allow for separation. In 1 Peter 3, we are told that women must win over a disobedient husband without a word, but instead by the example she sets, literally, when he sees her "chase conduct, accompanied by fear (reverence)." Her beauty must come from the "hidden person of the heart" rather than that of jewelry and hairstyles. (1 Peter 3:1-4 NKJV). 

I believe this means that the wife's responsibility, when a husband denounces Christ, is to not nag or try to preach to him about Christ, but instead, to love him as a wife would indeed love her husband, respect him, and to do all she can to honor Christ by honoring her husband.

She should also pray for him continuously and consistently, as God can open his heart to truth. There is nothing God cannot do and He loves this husband even more than any other person ever could, including his own wife. "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16b)" so women can believe that there indeed is power in prayer. 

A wife's faith and her godly example will speak volumes to this man, and it is entirely possible that God will use her example as a witness to him, as the Word teaches. As she allows the Holy Spirit to transform her own life and responses toward him, and as she develops a soft and gentle spirit toward her husband (1 Peter 3:4) she can look forward to seeing God work in mighty ways in her marriage, even though she is married to a nonbeliever.

June 13 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report