Seite 163 - Counsels for the Church (1991)

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Marry Not an Unbeliever
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the other is indifferent and careless; while one is seeking the way to
everlasting life, the other is in the broad road to death.
Hundreds have sacrificed Christ and heaven in consequence of
marrying unconverted persons. Can it be that the love and fellowship of
Christ are of so little value to them that they prefer the companionship
of poor mortals? Is heaven so little esteemed that they are willing to
risk its enjoyments for one who has no love for the precious Saviour?
The Christian’s Answer to the Unbeliever
What ought every Christian to do when brought into the trying
position which tests the soundness of religious principle? With a firm-
ness worthy of imitation he should say frankly: “I am a conscientious
Christian. I believe the seventh day of the week to be the Sabbath of
the Bible. Our faith and principles are such that they lead in opposite
directions. We cannot be happy together, for if I follow on to gain a
more perfect knowledge of the will of God, I shall become more and
more unlike the world and assimilated to the likeness of Christ. If
you continue to see no loveliness in Christ, no attractions in the truth,
you will love the world, which I cannot love, while I shall love the
things of God, which you cannot love. Spiritual things are spiritually
discerned. Without spiritual discernment you will be unable to see
the claims of God upon me, or to realize my obligations to the Master
whom I serve; therefore you will feel that I neglect you for religious
duties. You will not be happy; you will be jealous on account of the
affections which I give to God, and I shall be alone in my religious
belief. When your views shall change, when your heart shall respond
to the claims of God, and you shall learn to love my Saviour, then our
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relationship may be renewed.”
The believer thus makes a sacrifice for Christ which his conscience
approves, and which shows that he values eternal life too highly to
run the risk of losing it. He feels that it would be better to remain
unmarried than to link his interest for life with one who chooses the
world rather than Jesus, and who would lead away from the cross of
Christ.