Should A Pastor Marry Unbelievers

Should a pastor marry unbelievers. The marriage of unbelievers is outside the context and purview of the local church by definition. The marriage of believers is to be lived out within the context of the local church. If a church or its pastor decides it will only marry christians whose behaviour is morally. Then the question becomes alright if it s right for marriage to happen among unbelievers should a pastor be involved in it.

Explain that you are in the ministry of building and promoting solid family relationships etc. Russell moore president of the southern baptist convention s ethics religious liberty commission and not by any means the most hard line of that ilk has come down hard on pastors who take the weddings of people who are living together without being married or who aren t christians. It s kind of a tough call. My answer to that question is a resounding no let me explain.

Marriage is given as a common grace covenant. First a pastor is not a lone ranger exercising his ecclesiastical duties apart from the authority of the local church. This pastor says no a minister should not officiate a wedding for unbelievers this pastor says the opposite. Unbelievers get married all the time and some even have long and happy marriages.

It is sin because all things are sin whatever is not from faith is sin but it s a god ordained pattern of life that he approves of. If marriage is a creation ordinance and it is good for unbelievers to marry one another then should a pastor perform a wedding between two unbelievers. It is right for an unbeliever to marry an unbeliever. Mark woods at christian today explores this difficult subject.

I think when pastors are asked to marry unbelievers they should point out that they are not in the business of conducting marriage ceremonies but that you would be glad to marry them if they are willing to come for a series of counseling sessions. God approves of that act. Marriage is a covenant and it is defined differently than the world tends to define it today. Should pastors marry people who aren t believers.