I know two families in which a professing Christian is engaged to an unbeliever (in the first, to an irreligious Jew; in the second, to a Sikh). In both cases, believing relatives have admonished that becoming wed to an unbeliever is a sin which, on the one hand, will draw attention away from Christ, & on the other hand, will lead inevitably to a divided or else totally non-Christian household once children are brought into the picture. These admonitions have gone unheeded, & unfortunately, neither person in question is a member of a church which practices discipline.

So, my question is, how should believing relatives respond from here? Should professing Christians who marry unbelievers be regarded as unbelievers themselves (until they acknoweldge & repent of their sin)? Should believing relatives attend the weddings, or refuse to participate in the wedding festivities altogether? What kind of support should be offered or refused to such marriages, once consummated, by believing relatives? Is it acceptable for Christian parents to disown a child who disobediently weds an unbeliever? And if Christian parents pursue such a course, should the siblings of that child also treat him or her as no longer being a part of the family?

Kyle

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.