Does unequally yoked mean that both people have to be SDA?

[Doug]

Or can they just both be Christian? Because I see it even if they are both SDA they will still have different traditions they won't be exactly the same.

[phkrause]

I would say no! But I believe the Sabbath will be a big issue at some point!

[Naomi]

FWIW I have seen it both ways. Traditions may be somewhat different if two people are both Adventist but usually not so different that peaceful compromise is possible.

If both people are Christian but of different beliefs, it can and usually means one of the two is going to have to compromise. What if the compromise should happen to be a salvation issue??

[Woody]

In my mind - the 'unequally yoked' means to be yoked in as many common ways as possible.

There are many areas of compromise. But as pk mentioned - the Sabbath would be a huge issue in my mind.

The others would not be so -

[nuff sed]

IMO those who believe that Seventh-day Adventists are a special people chosen by God to present a special message concerning Salvation and the Second Coming of Christ will not even think of entertaining the thought of marriage to one who does not have the same beliefs and goals. If we can't trust God to supply us with a marriage partner then all our 'pious preaching' is a sham. Nuff Sed

[Gail]

Yoked... what a word. Could be a good thing, could be a bad.

The Israelites were banned from yoking together 2 different species to save the animals from the pain and hardship their varying footsteps would cause.

Apply that to marriage. Is that what you want- the yoke grating and making a pain in your necks?

[Gordon1]

It's a good point 'Nuff. But God may hold back because we're not ready and would mess things up. So at times we rush ahead and do it our way instead.

There's a wide spectrum within Adventism. Some are health reformers, some not. Some planning for decades of soft retirement, others investing themselves in missionary work. Maybe that's why EGW advised 2 years to decide.

Old-fashioned or life-saving?

[Naomi]

Gail, speaking of being "yoked" together, have you ever seen a team of horses who were yoked together and one is much stronger wanting to go in a different direction?

[Gordon1]

Imagine, if you can, God's perspective.

He can see all the world's people, some who will choose His way.

But He also knows who will best yoke with another.

Isaac from here will meet Rebekah from there, if they heed my voice...

It's likely His will is confounded most times, that's human nature.

And He'll have to keep re-writing the playbook on the future generations because Grandpa didn't pick the Grandma that Heaven had chosen..

[teresaq]

I think to be unequally yoked means more than denominations. I think it means to be yoked with one who truly loves the Lord, or not.

Like tends to attract like, yet we are told the sons of God started intermarrying with the daughters of men. Just because a person is an SDA does not mean they are a Christian. So for me, while I seriously doubt the Lord would ever lead me to marry someone outside the .org, I would pray long and hard if the one I considered marrying was indeed a Christian. And if I were indeed a Christian, or should not burden the other with myself.

[Bravus]

Was thinking about this last night, and a couple of cases in which people who have nothing *else* in common besides their SDAism have married... and it's been far less than ideal for either of the partners...

[nuff sed]

Bringing up the old argument that both being Seventh-day Adventists does not guarantee a happy marriage does not make any more sense than saying that only one being an Adventist does. It is a total cop-out and IMO an offense to the one who created us and gave us a mission to fulfill. There are many things to look for in choosing a mate BUT IMO rule #1 should be I WILL NOT MARRY OUTSIDE THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. #2 I WILL SEEK SOMEONE WHO LOVES THE LORD WITH ALL HIS/HER HEART AND MANIFESTS THIS LOVE BY THE ACTIONS OF HIS/HER LIFE. After that comes all the rest of the virtues that we would look for in choosing a mate. It all boils down to whether we trust the Lord in this matter or do we not. After 57 years of marriage I think that the above worked for me. Nuff Sed

[teresaq]

Apart, possibly, from the OP, I don't believe anyone is saying that it is ok to marry outside the .org.

I know I was quite clear. A closer reading sometimes is in order. :)

[cricket]

Consider the relationship, then, between 2 Corinthians 6:14 and Revelation 19:7-9.

[CoAspen]

I think the 'unequally' has a much broader meaning then most commonly attributed to it. I am not so sure 'inbreeding' has been or is the answer either. I suspect it is a subject that may not have been fully explored to arrive at the conclusion most often given.