Having converted to Christianity from a Non-Christian
background, does the Bible allow getting married to another Christian Believer according
to the rituals of the former Non-Christian religion?
As you would be well aware, the rituals in
non-Christian marriages involve invoking, venerating and exalting the deities
and things they venerate as gods in that religion.
Marriage vows are taken in the names of, and believing these deities to be a
witness to the marriage, and as protectors
or guarantors of the marriage. This indirectly means that you not only acknowledge and accept that there are deities other
than the Lord Jesus, but that you are willing to venerate and pay obeisance to those deities,
invoke and accept their power in your life and allow an acknowledgment of their existence and hold in your
life for the future, for other likely similar occasions
and events as well. Once you submit to this compromise for
one thing, then based on this precedence, you will have to do it for many
others also in the days to come.
Not only will this be detrimental to your own spiritual life and faith
in the Lord Jesus, but will also serve as a stumbling stone for many other
Christian Believers, and cause them to stumble in their faith and steadfastness
for the Lord Jesus, thereby fetching the Lord’s repercussions in your life (Mark 9:42). Whereas
once you take a firm stand, and refuse to compromise, your steadfastness in
your faith and commitment to the Lord Jesus will become evident to others, and
they will be reluctant to try and persuade you for similar compromises related
to other things as well, but you too will grow and mature further spiritually.
But in being firm in your faith, please do make it a point to be courteous
and gentle as well. There is no need to be deprecating, demeaning or abusive
towards the beliefs, rituals and objects of veneration of your family or others
– this will
only complicate matters without helping you in any way, and will
obstruct their willingness to listen about the Lord Jesus. Don’t make any adverse
comments about their beliefs and deities, as you take your stand for Lord Jesus
and refuse to compromise on your faith.
Although the best course of action is to have the wedding in a Christian
manner, but if this is not possible, and there seems to be no other solution
then one possible way out is to undergo a “Civil Marriage” i.e. a “Court
Marriage” since this only involves the Law of the Land, and has no religious
connotations or rituals; therefore, neither your own, nor your families beliefs
will in any way be challenged or compromised. Thereafter you can have an areligious
‘wedding reception’
and later a “Blessing service” in your Church, or maybe even at the time of the
post wedding reception, if that is acceptable to your family; and this will
also provide a good opportunity to present the gospel to all your family and
friends in the message given by an evangelist or Pastor at the reception. This
way your actual marriage would be legal, acceptable and yet not compel you to
compromise on your faith, and also not offend your families, while providing an
opportunity to present a gospel message to those gathered for the post wedding reception.
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