UNHAPPY MARRIAGES

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · March 25, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 13

UNHAPPY MARRIAGES.

The restriction which the apostle laid upon believers, that they should marry “only in the Lord,” means not only that they should not marry open infidels and pagans, but even the Jews themselves who did not believe in the Lord Jesus. “In the Lord” signified, in the faith of Jesus Christ. This was at that time the present, testing truth; and those who did not believe it, were, to those who did, infidels, that is, simply unbelievers. They were out of Christ, whatever profession of religion they might make, whether they were pagans, or those who professed faith in the Scriptures, as did the Jews. An unbelieving Jew would be even more likely to have an influence to turn away a believer, than one who professed no religion at all akin to the true.

So it is at the present time. To those who believe that the last merciful message of the gospel is present truth, others must be accounted unbelievers; and such as hold tenaciously to the Christian religion, and yet reject the special, saving truth for our time, are more to be feared for their influence than they would be, had they not a religious faith with which they are so perfectly satisfied.

Said Paul, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” 2 Cor. 6:14, 15. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

The truth which we believe, is a separating truth, as was the faith of Jesus in its beginning. The Sabbath is a distinguishing, separating truth. It is intended and well calculated to cleave the believer out from the world. The observance of different days as sacred time, may seem, at first thought, to be a very small thing; but in social life it is sometimes a very great inconvenience. But two Sabbaths in one family is a thing to be deprecated. It is next to an impossibility; and very much like no Sabbath at all. Children reared under such opposing influences will probably regard no day.

Those unfortunate persons who find themselves in such circumstances, and therefore obliged to endure it, are truly to be pitied. They must do the best they can to maintain a good conscience and please God, and he will help them. But those who are free, and consider this thing in its true bearing, will not venture voluntarily upon an experiment so hazardous. The exercise of good sense on either side would prevent such an undertaking. With the believer, God and his truth should be of first importance. No matrimonial alliance should be entered into, without carefully and prayerfully considering whether God can approve it. Ah! how true it is that “the hour that witnesses the marriage of many young men and women, closes the history of their religious experience and usefulness.”

God will sustain and finally reward that person who, when brought into a place which tests religious principle, can frankly say, “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 more assimilated to the likeness of Jesus 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.”