 In an article published on Saturday July 25, 2009 in The Standard newspaper, “Mwangi Muiruri spoke to pop singer queen Jayne Nyambura and her born- again husband James Kariuki on the survival of their unusual marriage. Kariuki says “what matters in a love relationship [are] not social, economic or political inclinations, but whether there is real “bonding”.”
Jayne says: “The moment you introduce irrelevancies in a love affair, it gets cosmetic…I get my income from entertaining drunken patrons. My husband courted me on a disco floor despite being a converted Christian. This is an age of liberal dispositions.”
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 the NIV bible says “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and [Satan]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
The NIV study bible says “A group of men had come to Corinth who presented themselves as apostles. They were false teachers who were challenging, among other things, Paul’s personal integrity and his authority as an apostle (see 11:4; 12:11). The Corinthians had been undiscerningly tolerant of …deceivers in their midst. These false apostles were in reality not apostles at all. The Corinthian Christians… put Paul under pressure to write about himself as he did because they had accepted the claims of the [fake apostles] who had invaded their ranks...”
The NIV study bible further says “for the Corinthian believers to cooperate with false teachers, who are in reality servants of Satan notwithstanding their charming and persuasive ways (see 11:13-14 and notes), is to become unequally yoked, destroying the harmony and fellowship that unite true believers in Christ. Believers are the temple of the living God (v. 16b); therefore it is all the more important that they form no defiling and unholy alliances.”
In the IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Dr. Craig S. Keener affirms the Mosaic Law prohibited interreligious marriage between Jews and pagans (read Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Ezra 9:12; Nehemiah 13:25) so as to prevent spiritual contamination and apostasy (see, e.g., 1 Ki 11:1-11; Neh 13:23-27). Ezra called for reforms by dissolving mixed marriages, while Nehemiah took actions to prevent further intermarriages while citing that Solomon became unfaithful to God by marrying foreign women.
In the Africa Bible Commentary Dr. Issiaka Coulibaly says “Paul speaks of some things that are so opposite that they cannot go together. It is impossible to combine righteousness and wickedness, light and darkness (6:14), Christ and [Satan], believer and unbeliever (6:15), the temple of God and idols (6:16a). A choice must be made between these things. As part of purifying ourselves, we need to be careful not to enter into marriages with unbelievers, and should exercise great care before going into any business partnership with an unbeliever.”
According to the Zondervan NIV Matthew Henry Commentary “we are cautioned not to mix with unbelievers i.e., to be yoked together with them, v. 14. It is wrong for good people to join in affinity with the wicked and profane. There is more danger that the bad will damage the good than hope that the good will benefit the bad. We should not yoke ourselves in friendship with wicked men and unbelievers. We should never choose them for our close friends… There is a great deal of danger in associating with unbelievers, danger of being defiled [with those who defile themselves with sin] and being rejected.”
I believe marrying a non- believer is wrong because a non- believer is under the power and condemnation of sin (Ro 3:9). Those who continue to sin belong to the devil (1 Jn 3:8, 12) and are his children (1 Jn 3:10). The devil has “the whole world” of unbelievers under his control (1 Jn 5:19). The devil is the spirit who is at work in those who are disobedient (Eph 2:2).
The true sign of belonging to God is the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit within (Ro 8:9). If Kariuki is truly born again, then there is no correspondence between his profession and practice. He is a carnal Christian; positionally he is born-again but his character does not match his position in Christ (see e.g., 1 Cor 11:29-30).
His marriage can only be dissolved by marital unfaithfulness (Mt 5:32), her leaving (1 Cor 7:15) or death of his wife (1 Cor 7:12, 39). Thereafter, he must marry a believer (1 Cor 7:39). Fear of God is revealed in reverential trust in Him (for a born- again spouse) and commitment to God’s revealed will (Word). About The Author John Kigada is a freelance writer and columnist. He is a youth minister and graduate of the East Africa School of Theology. » Post Comment
» 4 Comments
1"Thin line"
at Friday, 16 October 2009 08:30
One could almost say you find the wife irrelevant....still, these things must be said. Good stuff
2Comment
at Wednesday, 28 October 2009 17:37
I think there is more to the story than the writer is willing to admit.Apart from bashing this relationship, he ought to look at whether the relationship has actually worked. the rate of divorce in Christian couples is at par with the ones that are not. Are you suggesting that they divorce, (because God hates divorce) The foundation that this marriage was built upon is shaky but they have managed to make it last.The author of this article fails to give recommendations as to what to do to rectify this situation and he just airs a very one sided opinion.
3"Ms"
at Saturday, 06 February 2010 13:57
John Kigada. Why are all your articles always so negative and judgmental? Siting scripture to justify your contempt on other human beings. No wonder no one wants to be a christian anymore. Clearly the God you serve will send lots of people to hell so whats the point? There is no love in what you say. You need to focus on articles that make people want to change their lives as opposed to making them feel like the scum of the earth.
4Comment
at Thursday, 08 April 2010 16:51
Kigada marry someone you love and care for and who loves you back. This is a person who will love you for who you are..not because you are saved, righteous..or heaven bound.. People get saved and backslide..or become like you said positional and not practicing Christians..if you dont love or respect them your life becomes very difficult in such situations..by all means marry someone you have something in common with.in this case faith..but remember that it is grace you have been shown...too.
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