How can couples make interfaith marriages work?

In a recent article, an author reveals that interfaith marriages can provide monumental problems for couples. Couples will have to work harder which can take a toll on the individuals. The work that it takes to make interfaith marriages work makes the success of the relationships impossible.

In the article, a 2010 interfaith marriage survey found that 42% of the couples where associated with different religions. The author ascertains that many couples do not realize how having different religions will impact their individual relationships, the relationships with in-laws, and the relationships of their offspring.

Interfaith marriage is traditionally called mixed marriage. It is a religious or civil marriage between partners professing different religions. In an interfaith marriage both partners remain adherents to their distinct religion. They maintain their distinct religion while in many cases creating offspring.

One natural example of interfaith marriage is consistent with crossbreeding animals. The success of mixing different species of animals are few and far between. The single most successful example of a species crossbreed is the mule. The mule is a cross of a male donkey or ass with a female horse. Mules have been breed for over 3,000 years. Almost all mules lack the ability to reproduce because they are sterile.

According to the bible mules are stupid and intractable (Psalms 32:9), and meant to carry burdens (2 Kings 5:17; 1 Chronicles 12:40).

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee (Psalms 32:9).

And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD (2 Kings 5:17).

Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel (1 Chronicles 12:40).

Like an interfaith marriage, both contributors to the offspring have different duties which over the long run will create problems. For example, a male donkey or ass is called a jack and is a domesticated member of the horse family. Domestication (from the Latin domesticus: “of the home”) is the cultivating or taming of a population of organisms in order to accentuate traits that are desirable to the cultivator or tamer. Horses participate in a wide variety of sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits, as well as other activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy. Horses were used in warfare. Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. The crossbreeding of the two animals that produce a mule provides a glimpse of the outcome for interfaith marriage which is a perversion of the original design of marriage.

What is the original design of marriage?

According to the Holy Bible, God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden “… to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Dressing and keeping the Garden of Eden was Adams original purpose. The word ‘dress’ in the Hebrew is ‘abad, which means to work as a servant. The word ‘keep’ in the Hebrew is shamar, which means to protect. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to work as a servant in the garden and to protect the garden. Protecting the garden required that Adam become the steward of the garden. God granted Adam stewardship over the Garden of Eden. Stewardship requires a relationship between the master and the one that the master entrusts with the resources.

Then God provided Adam with the path that he was to follow (Genesis 2:16 – 17). God instructed Adam on what he could and could not do. At that point and time, Adam maintained his relationship with God by obeying his commands.

God decided to provide Adam with a helper. Genesis 2:18 records …”The Lord God said , It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet”. That word ‘meet’ in the Hebrew is ‘ezer. Ezer means to help. Eve’s primary responsibility was to help Adam who was to work as a servant and to protect the Garden of Eden. The original purpose for the union between Adam and Eve was to work together as a team to serve and protect the Garden of Eden. Hence, the original purpose for the marriage between a man and a woman is to serve and protect the resources that God gives to the husband and wife through teamwork.

It is impossible for interfaith marriages to work because they are originally designed to serve God.

Related Articles

Interfaith marriages pose long-term problems

Marrying a Non-Muslim Orphan: Can It Work?

Millennial Interfaith Couple Shares Pro Tip: ‘Have The Kid Conversation Early’

Why different religions can take a heavy toll on relationships

In Christ,

 

Dr. Derrick and Mrs. Sheila Campbell PO Box 1668 Blackwood, NJ 08012 (856) 566-3267 www.advancedmarriagetraining.com

 

Published books – Leading Your Marriage into the Promised Land -Leading Your Marriage into the Promised Land (Workbook for husbands & Wives) – Advanced Marriage Training for Singles

All Three     Advanced 2

 

“I was blessed by the love and sensitivity that you and your wife showed during the presentation”.

 

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Samaritan Baptist Church

Trenton, NJ “I would highly recommend you to any church or organization desiring to provide their people with timely marital wisdom and practical application skills”.

 

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El Shaddia Christian Assembly

Philadelphia, PA

 

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