When Only One Spouse Believes: Hope for Christian Women in Mixed Marriages -- By: William F. Cook III
Journal: Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry
Volume: JDFM 02:2 (Spring 2012)
Article: When Only One Spouse Believes: Hope for Christian Women in Mixed Marriages
Author: William F. Cook III
JFM 2:2 (Spring/Summer 2012) p. 14
When Only One Spouse Believes:
Hope for Christian Women in Mixed Marriages
William F. Cook, III is Associate Professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, he serves as senior pastor at Ninth and O Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky. Before coming to Southern he taught at the Baptist College of Florida for nine years. Dr. Cook has written a number of scholarly articles and has extensive ministry experience.
A Christian mother carting her children off to church on Sunday morning while her husband sits at the table drinking coffee and waiting for the ballgames to begin is an all too familiar scene in America today. The children eventually question their mother as to why they have to go to church if dad doesn’t go. Some days she wonders what use there is in stressing their need for Christ and to hear his word while she gets no support from her husband. She sits at church surrounded by families with husbands and wives holding hands as they sing to the Lord. Their children seem eager to be there. She realizes that the most important part of her life is something that her husband tolerates but has no interest in talking to her about. She contemplates how long she can live this way, and if God wants her to go on living this way. Maybe for her own spiritual wellbeing and that of her children she would be better off as a single mom.
Thoughts like these roll around in the minds of many Christian women on Sunday morning. Sunday mornings in the Lord’s house can be the loneliest times in their lives. They feel alone, confused, and uncertain as to what God’s will is for them in their present circumstances. How can they possibly glorify God in their current situation? Does God have any word for them?. The answer is yes; God does have a word for women in these circumstances, as well as a strategy for evangelizing their husbands.
Ministry to families is often difficult at best. This is especially true when only one spouse is a believer. Most sermons and teaching on the family do not address this very sensitive and difficult issue. As a result of this failure to instruct people in this situation, Christians are often unclear as to what their responsibilities are to their unbelieving partner. While few passages in the Bible speak directly to this issue, two crucial passages provide sufficient insight and guidance. This article will examine these passages and the implications that can be drawn from them. In addition, consideration will be given to the influence a Christian parent can have over their children in a mixed marriage.
JFM 2:2 (Spring/Summer 2012) p. 15