Amos 3.3, a thoughtful verse: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

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farouk

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That’s why God commanded Israel not to marry pagans who resided outside of Israel. It would lead them into idolatry. Marrying a lost person could drag you away from the things of God.
With the church as the bride of Christ in the New Testament, it just shows how important it is to be united in truth and holiness.
 
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farouk

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Any more thoughts/ applications for this thread?

It's certainly a pivotal consideration when it comes to fellowship and local church activities.
 

MetalMike

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We’re commanded to not marry a lost person(if we are saved), as that will cause strife.

Interestingly, in 1 Peter, Peter gives advice to wives that are married to non-believers or those who aren't completely obedient.

1 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV) - "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct."

As far as the topic of walking together is concerned, we don't have to agree on everything as Christians. Just from the various posts I've seen on this website alone, we all have differences politically and socially. Those alone shouldn't divide us as Christians since we are united in Christ. We have enough divisiveness in this world as it is. We should be mature enough to put political and social differences aside and share the commonality of our faith in Christ. After all, we're going to have to put up with each other in heaven! ;)
 
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farouk

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Interestingly, in 1 Peter, Peter gives advice to wives that are married to non-believers or those who aren't completely obedient.

1 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV) - "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct."

As far as the topic of walking together is concerned, we don't have to agree on everything as Christians. Just from the various posts I've seen on this website alone, we all have differences politically and socially. Those alone shouldn't divide us as Christians since we are united in Christ. We have enough divisiveness in this world as it is. We should be mature enough to put political and social differences aside and share the commonality of our faith in Christ. After all, we're going to have to put up with each other in heaven! ;)
Good point; we need to be able to live with those who may think differently; otherwise the Christian way would be to promote divorce - which manifestly is not the Biblical way.
 

SovereignGrace

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Interestingly, in 1 Peter, Peter gives advice to wives that are married to non-believers or those who aren't completely obedient.

1 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV) - "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct."

As far as the topic of walking together is concerned, we don't have to agree on everything as Christians. Just from the various posts I've seen on this website alone, we all have differences politically and socially. Those alone shouldn't divide us as Christians since we are united in Christ. We have enough divisiveness in this world as it is. We should be mature enough to put political and social differences aside and share the commonality of our faith in Christ. After all, we're going to have to put up with each other in heaven! ;)
But I believe these women were already married before they were saved. I could be wrong on this, but that’s what I think. Just like myself...I was saved 2 years after marriage and just recently my wife was saved!
 

MetalMike

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But I believe these women were already married before they were saved. I could be wrong on this, but that’s what I think. Just like myself...I was saved 2 years after marriage and just recently my wife was saved!


It's not made clear if they were married prior to being saved, so we can only speculate. 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 has some good advice for a husband married to a non-believing wife and vice versa. This is in the ESV translation, by the way:

"To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?"

Incidentally, when I got married to my wife, I was an atheist, while my wife was a believer. I have since converted to Christianity, but the conversion came about from my belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and not because of my wife - at least not directly, anyways. My wife did get me to go to church for an Easter play, but the Holy Spirit did His work on me after that.
 
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farouk

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It's not made clear if they were married prior to being saved, so we can only speculate. 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 has some good advice for a husband married to a non-believing wife and vice versa. This is in the ESV translation, by the way:

"To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?"

Incidentally, when I got married to my wife, I was an atheist, while my wife was a believer. I have since converted to Christianity, but the conversion came about from my belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and not because of my wife - at least not directly, anyways. My wife did get me to go to church for an Easter play, but the Holy Spirit did His work on me after that.
Good passage there for reference; I am just amazed how ppl seem to try to justify easy divorce and remarriage, when that passage you refer to says something a lot different.
 

Helen

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Interestingly, in 1 Peter, Peter gives advice to wives that are married to non-believers or those who aren't completely obedient.

1 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV) - "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct."

As far as the topic of walking together is concerned, we don't have to agree on everything as Christians. Just from the various posts I've seen on this website alone, we all have differences politically and socially. Those alone shouldn't divide us as Christians since we are united in Christ. We have enough divisiveness in this world as it is. We should be mature enough to put political and social differences aside and share the commonality of our faith in Christ. After all, we're going to have to put up with each other in heaven! ;)

Yes indeed.
You said...< As far as the topic of walking together is concerned, we don't have to agree on everything as Christians. >

My husband and I don't see everything the same. ( God made many varieties of trees and flowers) ...one thing we are solid on is where we are headed, and by whom we get there. :)

If we are both traveling the same path toward the same destination...chatting along the way, comfortable and compatible we find some things differ , but not much. :)
 

amadeus

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It's not such a problem if two are both walking in the Spirit. Its not even such a problem if one of them falls and stops walking in the Spirit and the other keeps walking in the Spirit, because he can help pick his brother up and they can continue once again walking in agreement (even though they see a thing somewhat differently). They are walking in the agreement/unity of the Spirit. And when they both are, they don't come to blows over a difference on scripture but tuck their brothers thoughts on it in their bosom and wait, esteeming their brother and considering that he may know something they don't yet and may be seeing something they don't yet.
Excellent sister! Give God the glory!
 

amadeus

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I think this is going at it backwards. Our leaders have led us astray and have confused us as to what brings unity.
Yes, and therefore we need to be careful about following our leaders too closely without question.

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." I Cor 11:1

How does one assure that he is following only the "good" things of God in his leader?
 

amadeus

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I think in comparing every organisational structure to Babel is a little unfair. My own views on why and how Babel was formed is here. seen The God that mankind is rebelling against doesn't exist.
I don't think every church structure is fashioned after the same template or according to the same agenda. However, I absolutely agree that local congregations should have a certain amount of autonomy, while being overseen (not bossed) by a council.
Every man and certainly every group of men who have any amount of erroneous thinking and acting [against God's Way] has, as I see it, a measure of Babylon or Babel [confusion] in them. This is what each of us is to come out of... This could of course mean out of a physical church group of men, but not necessarily. I really doubt there is in existence today any church group of men without at a small measure of confusion... but certainly some are worse or better than others.

Of course, I have not belonged to, nor even visited all such groups, even in my own locale. I am still working on that [that is I am trying to visit them] but my findings so far have not yielded many surprises for me. But my search is NOT being done to judge for everyone else. It is something God wants me to do... but that another story.