Are there any biblical grounds that state whether a Protestant and Catholic can marry or not? Is there a specific reference that one of the two must convert to the other's belief?
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Asked November 09 2013
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Ronnie Young
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Jim New
The purpose of a marriage is to provide companionship. "And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."" (Genesis 2:18). Later Solomon noted, "Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 9:9). Toward that end, when marriage was established, God said, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:25). The Bible doesn't agree with what men find acceptable today -- the idea that multiple religions are acceptable to God. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Corinthians 1:10). The division in religion is a result of men refusing to be obedient to God's teaching that He left for us in His Word. There should not be Catholic or Protestant. Denominations are not biblical and cause disunity.There should only be Christian because that is all that Christ established. "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). When the Bible speaks of a husband and wife becoming one flesh, it is broader than a sexual union. When a couple marries, they become a new unit. They are a family where the husband is at the front leading the way the family should go (Genesis 3:16). When two people cannot agree, but marry anyway, their disagreement prevents them from becoming one as God desires. Marriage doesn't make the disagreements go away, it makes the situation worse because each person feels trapped in the relationship. This doesn't mean that even in the best marriage there will not be arguments. However, when the two are committed to become one, they will work to resolve their disagreement. When people of two different denominations marry, they can sometimes manage to live peaceably together. She goes to her church and he to his. However, the difference in religious views are never resolved. It remains a point of contention between the couple. It hinders them from fully becoming one. Then children come along. What was once a quiet stalemate becomes an explosive situation. Which church will the child attend? In what religion will they be trained? Sadly, children of these marriages more often than not reject all religion when they grow up. They see the mother and father do nothing but fight over religion and then conclude that religion -- all religion -- is the problem. When making any decisions in life and esp marriage we should always inquire of God first and wait for an answer from Him and not from our feelings or friends!
Vincent Mercado
Supporter
I am Catholic and my wife is an Evangelical. We didn't convert, we kept our faith, learning from each other. We were married by both my parish priest and her pastor. Being married for three years, we find it difficult because we experience the global struggle between Catholics and Evangelicals in our family. We are then called to love each other more and see past the differences to effectively evangelize people together. Our children are Catholic and will be raised Catholic.
Gary Patton
Marriage is lifetime covenant relationship beyween one man and one woman in the sight of God Almighty. This is what the Bible says in many places as noted by others above. The New Covenant of the Judeo-Christian Bible knows nothing of denominations...or even religion. Jesus, God the Son, came to earth to completely replace all religion, rituals, and rules with a relationship with God the Father through the power of God the Holy Spirit. Jesus came as Emmanuel, "God the One & Only" in flesh and blood. He lived a sinless life, was crucified dead, and buried, then, was raised from His grave. By doing so, Jesus gracefully paid the full penalty, Himself, to satisfy God's deserved wrath demanded because of His holy hatred of our sin nature and many sins and His justise. For those who believe in, follow and obey Jesus' commands (Romans 10:8-10), He empowers us to have an abundant life in the dirty here and now (John 10:10)...regardless of the evil we have done and will do in the future about which he already knows.That's grace and very "Good News" or the "Gospel". That abundant life continues as well in a glorious hereafter in paridise with our loving, graceful God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity (John 3:16-17).That's part of God's grace and His very "Good News". Blessings all!
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