BGEA: My boyfriend and I are thinking of getting married, but he doesn't believe in God. What should I do?

My boyfriend and I love each other very much, but he says he doesn't believe in God. He doesn't make fun of me or anything for being a Christian, and he says that when we are married he won't tell our children there is a God. Should I worry about this? — V.G.

Yes, this should definitely concern you. If you are a sincere Christian, you're only setting yourself up for trouble if you marry someone who not only doesn't share your faith but rejects it.

For one thing, you will face problems on a practical level if you marry this man. When you marry, you will be making your vows not just to your husband, but to God. To you, marriage is a sacred responsibility given you by God. And when you marry, you'll be seeking to honor God in your marriage. But none of this will be true for your husband, no matter how deep your love is right now.

Or consider the question of how you will raise your children. Will he support you when you want to take them to church? Will he encourage them to give their lives to Christ? How will he answer them when they ask why he refuses to go to church, even if you do? Face these problems honestly, because they won't go away.

I know it will be hard for you to face, but if you are a Christian, God's will is for you to marry a Christian. The Bible is clear: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common" (2 Corinthians 6:14). Instead, trust God to lead you to the man of His choice, who will encourage and support you in your walk with Christ.

5 Comments

run says 5.16.2013, 10:45 a.m.

Girl, my ex-husband says he believes once saved always saved and has committed adultery on me and his children an left us for his thing. He says he believes in God-if my x can do all he has done --imagine what yours will do to you as an unbeliever

Toni says 1.31.2013, 11:16 a.m.

I divorced my husband of 23 years. In the interim (3 yrs) I was born again. I remarried my husband knowing we were unequally yoked. It's been 10 years and I am seeking Christian counseling for help. I am also going to suggest we see a counselor.

isaac says 1.2.2013, 04:39 a.m.

thanks for the advice i will work on it

Paula says 11.1.2011, 02:00 a.m.

I was a Christian before I married my unbelieving husband. I knew it was wrong, but I was weak and asked God to put a barrier between us if we were not to get married. He didn't, so we have been married now for 11 years. Even though I love my husband and he supports me and goes to church, it's been a very hard marriage. I didn't realize how many choices would be affected by this. Listen to the Lord, and wait on Him. He will bring you a Godly man. My faith is now driving my husband away, and he may be walking out of marriage because of it.

K says 10.31.2010, 10:45 a.m.

Hello dear friend. Billy's answer is perfectly correct and I do not claim to know better. However I would like to share my experinece with you. I had not always claimed to be a christian,in fact I previously believed in all Saints and divinities. Its just recently that I came to know Jesus and understand that its only through his Grace that we reach God. I had a boyfriend who was a hard believer, we are no longer together as he chose a Christian girl. I sincerely believe that if he explained his faith tome and through his love and devotion lead me to meet God. We would still be together. He gave up on me...it was the most easiest way.It was written this way. Bu if he only believed in true love and dare live up to that love. We would still be together.We would have lived a great experience with Jesus together.