Melanie Spindler Imperfect Christ-Follower, lover of God, seeker of Truth

In short, yes, but only if she is not convicted by it. What I mean is this. If the woman is at odds with the practices or teaching of the catholic church (which many evangelical, Bible-believing Christians are), then she is sinning against God if she abides by their rules and ordinances rather than the Holy Spirit's conviction in her life. 

Romans 14 addresses religious practices: v5- Be fully convinced that what you do in worship is acceptable v7,8 for if we live or die, we live or die to honor the Lord. V12 Each of us will give a personal account to God. V14 If you believe it is wrong, then for you it is wrong; v16 but you will not be criticized for something you believe is good. V17-18 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink [or other things that are debatable and not directly addressed in Scripture, like denominations], but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.

First and foremost I would recommend prayer about it, that God's Holy Spirit would make clear the answer (Ephesians 5:10 try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord). 

Second, go to the Scripture and test those things presented in the Catholic church. All Christians should do this always no matter the flavor of Christianity, as the Bereans did and were commended for (Acts 17:11); we should not be spoon-fed the gospel and just take it at face value, else we will not mature spiritually and cannot work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12) and may even be led astray (1 & 2 Timothy is chock-full of teachings on false teachers in the church).

Third, I agree the husband is the head of the family and I am reminded of 1 Peter 3:5 speaking of how the women of old put their trust in God and submitted to their husbands and they were counted as faithful for it. But I’m also reminded of how Abigail ran out to meet David in defiance of her husband Nabal for his own good (1 Sam 25). She was even disrespectful in calling him a fool before another man! Yet this action saved her and her household and when Nabal died, David remembered her sensibility, her intercession and her beauty and made her his wife.

All that to say: a woman is FIRST accountable to God. Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."


Her husband for his part, if his wife is convicted that she should not partake in the practices of catholicism, should not force her to...that is not lovingly and sacrificially leading his family, but instead is being done out of selfish ambition (1 Cor 13, love does not demand it's own way). Romans 14 applies to him as well, that he should not make her stumble: v13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall; vv14-15 But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you [do], you are not acting in love if you [do] it. Don’t let [what you do] ruin someone for whom Christ died.

Lastly, we must remember that in marriage men are called to love their wives, wives to respect and submit to their husbands. But Ephesians 5:21 starts out stating we should MUTUALLY SUBMIT TO EACH OTHER because of reverence for Christ. I would say if her conscience is clear about being a part of a Catholic church then she's fine. But if she is not fully convinced it's acceptable, as Romans 14 says, she sins, and her husband should not demand his way if she is convicted. 

Be blessed!

December 21 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report