red wrote:For me, religion matters because not all religion teaches good things about christian faith. There are alot of religions out there that i think not following good practice of christianity. Like i got a question here..is it OK to worship a saint?
great point, red
.... christians can not only be "unequally yoked" with non-christians, but they can also become unevenly yoked with other "christians".... for example, in this country, there are many "charismatic" and pentecostal christians... but, there are also some christian groups that believe and teach that people who speak in "tongues" have an evil or demonic spirit.... what kind of marriage would that be? if one spouse thinks the other's beliefs are "of the devil"? .... i think "religion" is very important, if "religion" means an intimate personal relationship with Jesus, and the convictions and beliefs (in our hearts and souls) we invest faith in... i think it is especially important in a relationship as intimate (or, potentially intimate) as marriage... and the more a couple can agree with one another the better (and easier) their relationship can be ... "CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER IN HARMONY IF THEY HAVEN'T AGREED ABOUT WHICH DIRECTION THEY SHOULD GO?" (amos 3:3,paraphrase)... on the other hand, it was God Who told Hosea to marry Gomer in spite of her prostitution and adultery (hosea 1:2-3, 3:1)... and it was God Who led Samson to marry the philistine woman (judges 14:1-4)... it is said every marriage has troubles(1cor. 7:28), but i'd prefer to try to avoid a disastrous marriage like Samson's (judges 15:1-2)...... hopefully i am learning enough now from bitter experience and from scriptures (like 2cor.6:14 and 1kings 11:1-9) to avoid mistakes (like Solomon's) and have a happier marriage in the future... " Solomon... had 700 wives and 300 breeders, and his (idol-worshipping) wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart toward their (false) gods, and his heart was not totally devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been..... so Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. "
"Weep not! Behold! the Lion of the tribe of Judah is victorious... and His kingdom will never end." (rev.5; luke 1:30-33;isaiah 9:6-7,11:1-10)
