Let's not forget that unequally yoked also means marrying someone who claims Christianity but compromises in his or her walk (one foot in, one foot out) don't just look for someone that goes to your church, look for someone who loves AND follows the Lord!🙏😌
I always tell myself, Yes I can be attracted to someone physically and every other way but if we are not equally yoked then I can't go further. Because all that physical and emotional attraction is cute, but when our relationship is being attacked, physical attraction cannot help us. We will need to fight our battles in prayer and at that point I need us to be on the same team fighting the enemy..
I’m a believer and got married with an unbeliever and recently went through something really hard with him. Even though I love him, I want my testimony to be an example to not marry a man or woman that doesn’t value or believe what you most love in this world which is Jesus. Don’t do it, marry someone who loves God and wants to pursue him for the rest of his/her life.. Plus it’s not a guarantee that he/she will be saved. The word of God says it for a REASON “what does darkness have in common with light”? Don’t be deceived like I was.
I was married and now divorced. I never dated or even married someone of the household of faith. Which is mostly why they didn't last. No matter how I tried to make it work. There just was always a doubt.
Please do not get married to an unbeliever, been married for 18 years together for 24 years, I’ve tried everything but she’s a person of the world and seeks the things of this world only….now she wants a divorce
Amen...I was also deceived. My marriage has been a living hell. It has lead me to sin against my God out of desperation. It's better to be alone loving Jesus than the bitter loneliness and lack of empathy. The mocking and hate from the outside is doable...that hate coming from the man next to me is unnecessary suffering.
Daughters of the King need to understand their value. God will never give you just any thing to settle with, and he will not make you compromise your integrity to make a relationship work with a nonbeliever. He created us for goodness sake!! He KNOWS your heart and will provide his children with the very best. Keep God first and never settle because of desperation. 💕
4LADYSWEET Being à vessel of the gospel to an unbelieving man is not "settling," if God brought the man to you. You have to realize that this age is ending and God wants to save as many as he can from satan's hand as possible, so if that means bringing you to marry an unbeliever and thus saving your ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD then that's not settling. Following God's will is never settling.
Unless you're preaching the gospel to everyone you know, which 99% of Christians are not, then how else can God save those he has called to himself if you won't cooperate with him? Another pattern set in the Bible is salvation by marriage. Just sayin 🤷🏽♀️
I dated a unbeliever before, and that was a mistake. This person just used me and wanted to change me. I was told different storys about this person and this guy told me something totally different.
I'm not going to listen to any stories that are told as if the girl did something to make her man a believer. That would be setting myself up for a lot of frustration and heartache. I cannot save anyone. Only God can. So, I'm going to let God do his job first and then pair me up. If he never does, that's still a good outcome for me.
Right!!! I think people believe they have the power to change someone but that power lies in God’s hands. Let God do the work and your Godly lead spouse will pursue you!
I don’t want a perfect man, I just want a man of God! A man who is progressing and drawing closer to God is all I want lol. And it’s important that I do the same thing!
RE: Being unequally yoked, not an option nor is evangelistic dating. It may start out 'nice' but even Believers can walk away from the faith. and the results are the same. Agree with Anthony - separate churches is another layer of division. Don't do it! The Word is true.... guard your heart!
Asking for prayers for my husband, Jesse. Married young, I wasnt a believer, I am now, but he still isnt. It's taking a toll on me with anxiety issues.
Awww I love you too doll!❤ Also, I plan on creating a channel for people searching for a Christ-centered community and you're more than welcome to join if you'd like!😁
I think being equally yoked is not always what people think. It isn’t just enough that we both are believers. When you look at what the practical application of being equally yoked is, it’s not just that the 2 yoked together are both oxen. It’s that they are of equal size, and strength, and speed. So when applying that to us, it isn’t just enough that we are both believers. We should be of the same purpose and strength. For example, I love to serve and I am very ministry minded. It would cause a lot of strife if I was with someone who was very introverted and didn’t want to be involved much, no matter how much they love Jesus. There will always be times when one is stronger than the other in certain areas, but overall, one of you should not always be pulling the other along. Personally, I won’t even go on a date with someone who I know isn’t where I’m at, not just in my relationship with Jesus, but someone who is where I am at emotionally and mentally. I know that narrows it way down for me, and If God speaks to me and tells me that I need to be open to someone specific, then I will do whatever God says, but if it is up to me, I can’t take the risk that the other person would pull me down or away from how far I have come. I have been through a divorce to a man who ended up being abusive. God brought me out of that...the hardest season of my life, and healed me and made me whole. Why would I settle now or make a decision that could put me back into a rough situation? I won’t. And if that means I am single forever, then I can live with that. But, I can’t live with someone who won’t understand what God has done in me.
Agree 100% Some of those comments in the video were not biblical at all regardless of how good it sounds to the ears. God's Word always has the final say, not our experiences
You and your spouse can be in church and still be unequally yoked. Some people (in particularly women) sometimes marry down to be 'equally yoked' to a spouse just because they go to church. There are so many caveats to this but it is definitely a conversation that needs to be had.
I think it is wise to say we can’t judge what occurs in one person’s journey to be the foundation of what is true for all but to be a seeker of God to hear what He instructs alone because we can bank on that to be true. His word is light and it guides us.
Life is hard enough, and people can be too. Why add yet another layer of difficulty to the mix by being with someone who isn't a Christ follower- a genuine Kingdom man/woman? There are just too many cautionary tales out there that shout this is not a good idea in addition to the Word of God. SN: I'm so #teammandisa on NOT ministry/missionary dating. Emotions always blur vision, which leads to compromises. No ma'am. Not worth it.
💯💯💯 I wish Godly lead women will understand that our father will give us the very best. We are his children and he knows our hearts. Ladies of the King please don’t follow a man unless he is IN LOVE with God!! How can an ungodly man lead a Godly woman?
I agree with you k Thomas so tempting to dive into wanting to convince or change the man to be in the faith. I also know theology should be the same with both parties too when it comes to being equally yoked. The emotions being blurred lol right the bible says our hearts are desperately deceitful. I will also add that I would want to know my man will support in prayer and guiding our kids in knowing how to go to our heavenly father.
I love your show Mandisa May God continue to bless you on your journey to touch the hearts of everyone you come across. I have been a believer for years I was raised in church all my life When I was 23 I dated a person who was a wolf in sheep’s clothing that lead me to believe they was a believer just like me I saved myself for marriage and I was so excited to meet someone who I thought was on fire for God after I married them I found out very early on in the marriage that I had been deceived they were not whom they led me to believe they were not a true follower of Christ to be honest I should have listened to the spirit of God and all of my loved ones that were believers that warned me but at that time in my life I was so stubborn and blinded by what I wanted to see in him. I made that choice which was the biggest mistake of my life so as a word of caution to the woman of God beware of signs that don’t line up and truly talk to the Father about decisions that will not only effect your life but the lives of all those that love you and support you. I thank God that I turned back to my first love and prayed Earnestly for direction in my life because I was in an Abusive situation and my Father told me to get out of that marriage. I never thought my life would have turned out this way but hopefully someone reading this will dig deeper and listen to their Heavenly Father friends and family before committing there life to someone who is not a true believer watch the fruit y’all don’t always go by what you hear some people can play church really well. Be blessed Anoisn
I see what others have been saying in past episodes. Anthony is definitely off. Body language says he doesn't want to be there. Not nice seeing that Mandisa was all in and very active in his show. He won't want people to go on his show and give that kind of energy. Mandisa, thanks for these episodes💕
Right after I was saved I got into a relationship with an unbeliever who made me sin constantly. Of course I had some part to play in it, but it just goes to show that the young man in the beginning was right about the fact that someone can pull you down much easier than you can pull them up. Even the Bible makes reference to this in 1 Corinthians 15:33: "Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” And in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?".
I have never personally witnessed a time when a believer dated a non-believer and it worked out completely fine. The Bible is pretty clear about being unequally yoked. The scripture is the PERFECT word of God. Why try to over complicate things? If the Bible says being unequally yoked is sin, then it is sin.
This was a great conversation. It brought up a lot of thoughts and concerns folks having about dating as a Christian so I truly appreciate it! I noticed that people are still kind of confusing dating with marriage. Dating is supposed to be about getting to know someone while marriage is about making a life long commitment. I think it is okay to get to know somebody to see if their faith base and life philosophies match yours! There are too many different types of Christians out there so this is crucial to find out. When it comes to marriage, it only makes sense to be married to someone with similar values and levels of commitment. I think anybody would agree with that. So with that said, I think dating should be used for exploring/searching/learning about somebody and it's okay to explore with somebody who isn't your level of faith. Once you see that the 2 of you are not a good fit, thank the person and move on. There's no need to be totally shut off from discovering that this wasn't a good fit. That person might be a wonderful friend or even a CONNECTION to your future spouse! Like what was said in the video by one of the guys, God is bigger than all of this, so let God lead you and know he won't forsake you if you stay rooted in Him. He'll keep you safe and steady while dating. 😉
Also, you must be aware of wolves in sheep's clothes. There are those who will lead you to truly believe they are followers of Christ, then after the marriage, the switch.
I definitely agree that we should be equally yoked. Even if I just think in the perspective of having children one day. I believe in the man being the head of the wife and the family, and so if I choose a man that doesn’t follow God, he will lead me and our children directly into sin. If he isn’t controlled by the spirit, he will let things into our family that grieve me tremendously. Just having family that doesn’t believe now is hard, I can’t imagine the man I’m supposed to trust and share life with being in the opposite page as me. And also knowing myself and my weakness to want to be loved and married, I know it would not be wise to even go on a date if I know for sure he wasn’t a believer. Lest I fall for him regardless because I’m so eager for a relationship. He may be very nice and kind hearted, but without Jesus, if he hits a hard time he won’t have the same control by the spirit that I would. Such an important topic for sure. One I take very seriously lol.
Life is messy, but be honest with yourself. Just because someone joins you in the journey of becoming Christ-like does not mean they are all-in, they may even turn away. That said, once a marriage commitment is made keep the commitment and allow through your obedience to God, for Him to be bigger. He can do more than you could imagine whether you see it come to fruition or not.
I’ve been a believer since 2012. The last year I fell in love with a man who wasn’t a believer. He never understood why I couldn’t have sex until marriage and why I was waiting. It’s hard being in love with him but also loving Christ. He is open to going to church but his heart is hardened against the Lord. We’re still together but Im not sure if I should let this relationship go. So I just ask for prayers.
Pray, fast and ask the lord to reveal his will to you and wait on him to answer. Also get in the word and let it speak to you through his Spirit. I pray you find the answer you need for your life 🤎
Seems as though he is an Idol for you. If a man is not lead by Christ he cannot lead you to follow Christ in marriage. God will not allow anyone or anything to take his place in your heart. Keep God first and you will see how much better life can be. Get out of that relationship and allow that man to fall in love with his creator, God.
It is hard being married to a non Christian. When your husband doesnt like to hear anything about God. However, we have been married for 36 years. It is very hard.
I will be praying for you Nancy. At this point, all you can do is literally leave your husband in God's hands and God will help him. We can't control no other human being; only ourselves and focusing forward toward God's future for us. 🙏😇
Was with my husband for 21 years, married for 16 years. I became a Christian over 2 years ago, he didn’t like it and he left me and our children 5 months ago. 😢
Very good point on definition of purity. Purity is not only staying pure sexually, but also keeping your thoughts pure by watching movies that will maintain pure thoughts and same with music. :) thank you, Mandisa!
I grew up with ;" The prayer of one person can save the whole household"My mom was and still is a prayer warrior, but my parents are happily separated. I'm trying to break generational curses, I do not want someone UNEQUALLY YOKED. 🙏🏾🙏🏾Relationships are so difficult yall lol
You are trying to Break Generational (Cycles) & you will break & overcome them with the help of the most high. You aren't cursed sis. Words have power. A great song by Jonathan Mcreynolds is Cylces.
I definitely resonated with Elizabeth and Anthony perspectives the most. Regarding Elizabeth‘s point of you - it’s important that your partner has a heart after God as opposed to going to church or being a Christian. If their heart cares about God’s heart, then they’ll be led by him genuinely and authentically. I’ve come to realize that churches come and go and not everyone is who they say are and will let you down but a relationship with God that’s personal and evident is most important to me. I also appreciate Anthony’s point about going to different churches because the word or messages or people can be different but furthermore, I want my partner and I to share church together and decide together where we wanna go.
I'm actually thankful that you included everything that you did Mandisa. Everyone is at different positions in life and need to hear a message of truth that speaks to their story. For example, the testimony about the sister who married an unsaved man that became saved later is definitely a story that someone who is already married and seeking redemption for their spouse needs to hear. It gives hope. But also I'm thankful to hear how one can be open to just chat once with someone unsaved who is interested in getting to know Christ. I just think that of course it should be a one time conversation and if the person isn't interested in sincerely following Christ the idea of relationship shouldn't be entertained. Because I've entertained unsaved people before who were not sincere and it actually created stress and distracted me from my personal journey with Christ. So, I'm like you Mandisa, my man and I definitely need to be in love with Christ to get married. Also, I'm thankful that Anthony shared a gold nugget about what it looks like to be equally yoked. I've never heard it explained like that before.
Thank you Mandisa. As we are nearing the second coming of Christ, it is very important not to compromise the truth of the Bible. By being yoked with someone who does not share your beliefs , will create a disunity in the family.You won't be able to read the Bible and pray together because this is foreign to him/her. There is an example of king Ahab and Jezebel who(Jezebel) caused the king to worship idols which was an abomination to God. The woman did not end there but asked for John to be beheaded. When seeking for a partner, do it prayerfully in sincerity
I would like to know more about the people who dated/ married unbelievers and it turned out well. For me , dating unbelievers meant our values never matched and I would be the one hurt in the long run. Because I would be going about treating them in a righteous manner, while they would be dating other people behind my back, lying, etc.
Not necessarily. Being an unbeliever doesn't automatically make one a bad person in terms of lying, cheating etc.. People for the most part understand what it means to be a fine person. But it definitely affects core values, outlooks, visions, how problems are dealt with etc. That is the biggest issue.
Friendships and relationships are indeed very different. I remember going on trips with friends who were unbelievers because they were fun ones but passing up a trip to Las Vegas with those same friends because I knew that that trip could become possibly compromising since they may want to go places I would not be interested in. Spiritual Wisdom is a beautiful thing!!! I also had a very specific dating prayer and so because of this I actually got a prophetic word years ago about how to navigate that season when the offer to go out comes. It is awesome to have a Father that cares about every area of our lives. Trusting him is what is key even when we feel the where is he pulls arrive from time to time!!!!
*_Read this:_* Some of these speakers are scary! They give so politically correct answers cus it seems they don't wanna "offend" others also these answers sounds like it's coming from the post modernism perspective rather than sound biblical foundation.First principle, you don't take isolated incidents and make it a norm. Like "my sister got married to a non believer and it was the best thing happened" because you don't see the future, you don't see what you have tampered and how you have sabotaged your own future the implication of her decision in a long run. Second, Marriage is a covenant not between the couple alone, it's a covenant between God, the bridegroom and the bride. Understand the spiritual implications behind being in this so called unequally yoked marriage, in a marriage the partner that is the believer cannot give the spiritual covering to the non believing spouse. Meaning your spouse is not under the covenantal protection that comes in the covenant of marriage no matter how lovely and wonderful and good your spouse is. The devil and the spiritual forces that consantly attacking the institution of marriage has access to your marriage through your unbelieving spouse. NO AMOUNT OF YOU PLEADING THE BLOOD IS GONNA HELP YOU. You have given the enemy an open invitation into your lives and marriage. I know marriages that has been wrecked by satan through the spouses who have given access of their lives to evil spirits in an ungodly sexual practices which they thought was normal for "human standard". The spouse suddenly want anal sex. They suddenly think it's ok to have threesome! Or watch porn! All these are equally happening even among christians!!! Later on you raise kids that might see your lives and refuses to believe in God and does the same thing you do. And suddenly you gonna convince them about Godliness? and you expect them to believe you concerning righteousness? Lastly ponder on this if a wonderful non believer woman approaches me and shows interest and she thinks i am wonderful and wants to be married to me but not convinced of my faith in Christ than i am gonna have to seriously wonder if i am actually representing Christ, i'll begin to wonder if i have the light of God in me because the person is not moved by my "christian" life! Listening to you lot gives me a chilling reminder of this scripture Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1.
I'm with you except the no amount of pleading the blood will help you part. What grace in your comments are you leaving for those who are already in an unequally yoked marriage or alliance? The panelist actually said his sister fell in love with an unbeliever, who considered himself a believer. Of course by their fruits we shall know them. And their journey was even more difficult compared to if they were equally yoked. But it sounds like he may have been in transition. I'd love to have a listen on how it panned out and how God is working in their lives today. Another panelists speaks of an unequally yoked relationship that fell apart after 10 years. Yes, do not enter into an unequally yoked relationship. But what if you're in one. You're saying my good, all powerful, gracious, just, holy and righteous God is not bigger than the situation? My God is a God that can redeem all situations, I cannot put him in a mold. We should however strive, through strengthening flesh and spirit, towards not being in situations that we need him to redeem us from (through obedience). Because we do not want to be led away from God like Solomon. My God is a mysterious one and he will make things work out for the good for those that love him and obey his commandments. Like he said to the woman at the well, go and sin no more, henceforth she was redeemed. Mandisa caps the topic off by reminding us of His word. Yes do not be unequally yoked in contract and alliances. She also reminds us to be kind in the comment section and let your words be seasoned with grace.
Thank you @Schubert Aloysius. I was in a terrible hole an hour before i read this comment, i was about to be married to a guy in 3 weeks. For the past 3 weeks i have been feeling restless because he doesn't believe christianity and but i didn't know what am i was gonng do with this restlessness, and after reading your words. I decided this not the marriage intended by God for me.I called it off! I am feel extremely broken and full of pain. Thank you for being honest.
Katherine Al-Baz hey sis, I not big on commenting but I hope to encourage your heart. You made the right decision and God led you to this video as well as this comment for that reason. I know it might be difficult now, but trust anything (or anyone) that you forsake for Christ, you will not regret. Allow yourself to mourn and to heal, and eventually you will find that God will give you peace. Be blessed.
Two believers can be unequally yoked. Especially if one person know the scriptures, recite them by memory But a wolf in sheep's clothing, you can tell a tree by the fruitt that he or she bares! Smh
My parents went to different churches because moms church was way too long 😂 Cogic got Sunday school, Reg svc, potluck after svc, 3:30 svc and night svc. Dads church out in 11/2. Fundamentally they had same beliefs but not style of worship
You nailed it Mandisa. We simply follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and let Him fulfill his purpose is us while satisfying the desires of our heart. If that looks like marrying an unbeliever, it's because they won't be unbelieving for much longer lol 😂
Alex Morgan, I don't think the Holy Spirit can ever lead us against God's word. If we make the desicion to disobey Him, that's on us. We have to own it, be ready for the consequences and pray that He'll turn it around for His glory.
grace foralways The Holy Spirit IS the word though, He's the Spirit Of Truth, and if he decides to use you to save someone that is the ultimate fulfillment of His word, the power of the Gospel! So let's not get super religious and realize that yes God never contradicts His word, but if we are truly denying ourself and following His Spirit he can do sooo much through us. That doesn't mean look to date unbelievers, that means be a vessel for God's saving work! Especially since satan has damaged so many useful men both in the world and in church, God has to bring them to Himself through any means. 🤷🏽♀️
Nahh sounds like false hope. The simple thing is to obey God's commandments. Simply following the HS is dangerous and difficult if we are not abiding constantly in the word of God, in addition to having a spirit of discernment. There are more spirits than the HS. That is why its important to know your Bible and to test each spirit with the word. Jesus is the word and the HS testifies according to the word, a helper of remembrance. Jn 16:13,26; 15:26 God straight up told people in the bible not to marry certain individuals who worship other gods, because they would lead them away from him. Never once was it you will lead them to me with marriage. God is not an author of confusion. God satisfying the desires of our hearts is not the same as satisfying our fleshly desires. As we become more and more Christ like, so will our desires and that is what God will fulfill, the christ like desires that will bring Him glory either now or eternally, not just any random desire. Our call as Christians is to lose our lives for His sake, and in turn we will gain it. There is a verse that says he will work all things together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. And another is that we receive what we ask because we keep his commandments and do things that are pleasing in his sight (1 John 3:22). Going against what God fully said in scripture is not what's pleasing to him. If one married an unbeliever and they become a believer, it is not the marriage that converted them. Rather it is God's mercy and grace. I for one have never liked being in a position where I desperately needed God's mercy.
Alex Morgan Yes, Thank You. Christians want to believe and insist that if you’re equally yoked, then you’ll have a wonderfully, fantastic marriage. Say, you marry someone you’re supposed equally yoked and they stop going to church and studying the Word, but still believes in God. Then what are you going to do?
I would never marry an unbeliever with what I know now. I am married to an unbeliever before I became a believer. I am still praying for his salvation for 25 years and still praying for his soul. Don't do it unless you don't mind being missable
God's word also says Obedience is better than sacrifice. In the end it is better to stay within the parameters our loving father who has set for us even if means some lonely nights. Our God has lovingly set up safety barriers for us, not because he wants us be unhappy or alone, but for protection. For every suceess that being disobedience worked there are 15 that did not. To suggest that God will reward those who willingly disobey is dangerous. I caution those who may be on the fence or considering this thinking. Ive done it and know others who have and usually what happensis that the testimony of the believer is compromised.
Thank you for making this video and discussing what it means to be unequally yoked. My church talks about it a lot and one of your friends on the panel said that a dating or married couple of the same faith even going to different churches can be confusing. I believe it's really important that your significant other is on the same page spiritually. So that really cleared it up for me. Thanks.
Personally I couldn’t date a unbeliever. I couldn’t be under submission to a man who isn’t in submission to God and after his heart. Where are you planning to lead our family and will you present us spotless and without blemish to the Kingdom of God? I can only sow good seeds but only God let’s it grow🙌🏾
Thank you so much Mandisa, you're a gem😘. As regards unequal yoking, I think understanding the essence of the instruction makes it easier to accept & practice. God's idea for marriage is to mirror the union between Christ & the church; to love your spouse unconditionally as Christ has loved us. Only the knowledge of Jesus' love & lavish grace can teach us true love & help us to extend it to others. Secondly, if your partner is an unbeliever, it'll mean that they're actually condemned to eternal damnation. Sometimes, the decision to be with such a person does not really stem from love but selfishness, selfishness to get married at all costs OR infatuation.
It's so hard to meet Christ followers (romantic and platonic!). It's not as Black and White and as easy as "not being unequally yoked". Easier said than done.
Sometimes the road to a companion in this life , means a walk with Christ first. Few are willing to do so, or even feel the need. When it all goes south and you find yourself no longer in the fold, then you will wonder how you came to be there. Most women all they want is to get them a man. This might even be secondary to wanting a deeper walk with Christ. I'm a single woman , in my fifties and many an unsuitable condidate comes my way. However with two marriages behind me it's time to marry for the right reason. When God says so and shows me the person. Otherwise I'm quite happy in my singledom worshipping and pleasing God😁🙏🏽❤️
Thanks Mandisa, Of course we shouldn't shun the company of unbelievers. How else would we witness to them? Jesus' opinion on the matter of intentional courting/marriage is clearly written in the Bible though🙂 Loving Christ is the core of who we are. How then can we pursue God honoring relationships with others who do not profess such love for Christ as well? That'll be a lot of compromising on the things that matter most, and will only make for a complicated relationship.
Whewww!! @mandisaofficial this episode could have easily been extended into two... There are so many levels to being unequally yoked. I totally agree that it is vitally important to be equally yoked in order for a husband and wife to fulfill their purpose for the Lord. Your words at the end are on point! Definitely searching the scriptures, so that I can give an accurate account of what I've heard and believe. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤓😇
I could relate to this episode. 💝 I am in total agreement with what Mandisa said in her personal comments that she shared at the end. I can tell you, being equally yoked is my personal choice.💝 If you are in a situation where it seems to start that way and your partner changes, go to God and stay focused on His word and trust Him and what He reveals to you! Thank-you sweet Mandisa and all your friends for being open and real! I believe that you are helping many!🤠💖🙏💖 I look forward to each new episode!
Definitely don't missionary date, but being equally yoked comes in many different aspects - not just Christian vs non-Christian. Because I know Christian couples who have miserable marriages vs a "mixed" marriage that is better than the Christians.🤷🏾♀️ And what if one loses the faith during the marriage?🥴 This isn't as nice and clean as we want it to be. Let God truly lead in everything.🙏🏾 Being equal can also include finances, health, ambition, etc. Just because you're a Christian does not mean y'all are equally yoked.😬
Thank you for posting this and not editing out the other people's opinions! It's true, just because an unequally yoked marriage worked for one person doesn't mean it will work for you; and also, it's clear right there in the Bible lol, like come on, be obedient. I need prayers daily because I'm in an unequally yoked marriage, and it's hard not sharing my first love with my spouse. Don't do it, guys. Please! Stay encouraged, everyone! God can and will send you someone who loves Him as much as you do, just seek ye first His kingdom.
Maybe because I'm older; I've been married twice. My first marriage we became believers but he divorced me went in a different direction not with God. My second marriage he was a believer. I thought he was a strong believer he was a Sunday school teacher read the word. I found out year later after marriage he was a substance addict. So saying that. I would not mary someone who doesn't have a relationship with God and is saved in their walk. This is definitely important to God we don't have to go through more struggles than we have to.
This was cool! Thank you for having this conversation! I love the comfortable, diverse panel. Jesus hung out with the outcast ! We need to embrace people because we are called for unity. I am waiting for the person God has made for me. I believe that God is able to do exceeded, abundantly above all that I can ever ask or desire for. He knows I like surprises so this should be good.
Okay so I have a personal story to share about this topic for anyone who may need to hear it. When I was younger I had told myself that I would only pursue a relationship with someone who I knew was very grounded in the faith. Because since I was a child my faith was very important to me and still is. However at the end of my college career I got involved in a relationship with someone who was a very close friend. I made the mistake of assuming that he was of the same faith but did not actually talk about it too much with him. I just knew that at the beginning of the relationship he was interested in going to church so I thought that he was a believer. Fast forward a couple of years and we got married. After a year we both started to realize that there were a lot of deeper level complications. Eventually I came to find out that he had, I guess, changed his mind about Christianity and he said he didn't believe anymore. It broke my heart to hear but after learning this all of the issues that we had started to make sense. It had always been difficult to bring up and have discussions about my faith with him and I didn't understand why. After the first year a situation occurred that almost led to us getting a divorce (wanted by him). He had changed his mind though and we tried to work things out for the next three years. However knowing that we we're not on the same path spiritually it made it very difficult for me. Because of many points brought up by your guests in this video, it was often painful for me because while I cared for him and he cared for me we were just disconnected at the spiritual level which made it difficult to connect with each other in other ways. I started to feel like I was being pulled in two different directions, trying to please my heavenly father, and trying to please my husband, and sometimes things just did not align. Sometimes I would go to a church service by myself and I would be very sad that he was not there sitting next to me. I wanted so desperately to be able to talk to him about my faith and share the same faith based mindset. I wanted someone that I could pray with, worship with, and be involved in ministry with. I think we had different ways of seeing the world, had different goals and wanted different things in life. I didn't want to divorce over these things though because I know what the Bible says about divorce and I felt that two wrongs didn't make a right. I know it sounds bad, but it was my personal conviction that if we were to get divorced it would have to be because he wanted it and filed for it. But while this was very difficult for me, it has also been very difficult for him in ways that he does not understand. He has not been in a very good place mentally or emotionally, and obviously spiritually which is the part he doesn't understand. I hated that there wasn't anything else that I could do for him because knew that I could not be the one to lead him to Christ. But I just kept praying about it and having faith in God hoping that something would change in him and God would call him to Him. I just wanted to see him and happy and healthy and until he and spiritually. But after talking on and off about splitting up for the next two years He finally decided to go through with it this year. While the first time he brought up divorce was extremely horrible for me emotionally, The last time was not so bad. God had shown me and taught me a lot of things between that first time and this last time. This time I was not angry and I just gave it all to the Lord and told him that I trust him with whatever he had planned for me and my husband. We both still care about each other and I believe we will continue to be friends after it is all over with. But this whole story has made me realize just how important being equally yoked is. Like I mentioned in the video I do believe it is important to be friends with people who do not believe or are unsure. And I think that while my current husband and I made good friends in college we did not make a good couple romantically because of our spiritual differences. If anyone follows Jamie Grace I would definitely recommend hearing some of her advice because I wish I had had her around to tell me all of the things that I needed to hear before I said yes. As she has explained they were very intentional about everything they did from the very beginning. I will definitely be more careful in the future when or if I ever get to the point where I can think about being with someone else. I will definitely have a lot of questions for him from the start because like Jamie and her now husband Aaron, I want to be very upfront about my faith to make sure that I'm on the same page as the guy I'm dating!
God bless you for sharing dear sister in Christ ! I literally cried 😥 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28 I hope and pray that you'll be blessed with the man that Almighy Father made just for you when it's His time!
Amén, Thank you for the courage and bravery God has given you to speak your testimony to others. Living and walking with Christ is NOT easy. We must remain focused on his will, his plan for our lives, and on his timing...not our timing. 🙏😇
Wow! Incredible! I love everyone's point of views. For me, the more I'm Evolving and Growing in my walk with God and hearing from the Holy Spirit, the better choices I make for my Dating Life. As far has being Equally yoke, Saying I'm Christian and actually walking the Christian Life are two different things; so I say there are many Levels to being equally yoke.
Hi, there are levels and seasons in our Christianity, yet not with being equally yoked. There are no levels, in being equally yoked. I finally understood that 2 years ago, now I'm 46. How much time I have waisted and so much hurt I endured. Stand firm on the word of God and he will give you the desired of your heart. Stand boldly. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. 😇
I was actually in a relationship with a non-believer. He was very disciplined, respectful, and loved me very much. We connected in mind and body but not soul. I struggled in my faith because I loved God so much more than man and my relationship with God is most important. I continually questioned if God would be pleased with me? How would others view my walk with Christ? Would I want my daughter to make the same choice to marry an unbeliever. The answer was hard. I fasted and prayed and gave sacrifically for his salvation. But the both of us are extremely committed to our faith. And stayed our separate courses. However, he challenged me to know more about God and my relationship with God grew exponentially through this test.
I can appreciate who & why Christians believe this so ardently. This was the main reason why I stayed in the faith longer than I could bear. I knew that if I was honest with my doubts and changing beliefs, it would end my marriage, my family and my close relationships would radically change. But I couldn't suppress my doubts (ironically debunking the ever-so popular Romans 1:18-20 indictment often hurled at an unbeliever). It's not an easy road, to navigate an intimate relationship when major shifts in ideology or worldview happen. Obviously this wasn't a scenario talked about in this video, but this is certainly a way this issue plays out in a lot of relationships, especially nowadays given so many leaving their faith. So much to say on this, but I just leave this comment to say that one size doesn't fit all, nor is clubbing people over the head with a definitive "this is what God says" usually a path that is helpful when people find themselves in more nuanced situations.
Our family has been through some incredibly hard things and I know that our family nor my spouse and I would not have made it if we not both individually anchored to Jesus. You never know what life is going to hit you with and you can’t control your spouse or their responses..it’s allllllll Jesus
That's so true and really interesting! I'm planning on creating videos for people who are searching for a Christ-centered community(especially during quarantine) and I'd love to have the opinion of married individuals as well, so you're more than welcome to join if you'd like.
I like what was said about Austin Amor sister- she didn’t date the man UNTIL he became a follower of Jesus. I totally agree it’s OK to be friends but dating and marriage HAS to be equally yoked.
I had so many thought about this as I listened. First I want my husband to love me like Christ loves the church. But if he doesn’t know Christ he can’t identify with that. There are so many benefits that comes with being on one accord in any relationship but especially dating and marriage. Adam and Eve where created for each other and we all know how a “little” comprising changed the trajectory of not only there life but mankind. There are certain things that the Lord has been flashing neon lights in the word about and marriage is one of them. There are several examples in the Old Testament were the Lord told the Israelites not to marry people from certain nations because it would cause them to follow after their false Gods. I went back and read the scripture you are speaking of and it never mentions marriage at all. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 But it does speak on believers being unequally yoked with unbelievers. Just like Eve anything that is going to distract us and draw us away from fellowship with Christ and may cause us to compromise is not in Gods plan for us. So I understand isolated incidents because if a donkey can speak and an axe head can float. Our father can draw someone in to fellowship with him by whatever means he sees fit. I also thought of the story were Peter had the dream and he called unclean what God called clean. Peter was in prayer when this happened and the Holy Spirit lead him through the entire experience Acts 10:15 and that is what we have to do when it comes to marriage be in prayer, know the truth of the word, lean on the Holy Spirit and allow him to order our steps. Marriage is one of the most amazing things we get to experience on earth and one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Not only you and your spouse but so many others can be influenced and affected by your choice, so let’s get our Fathers approval on who he allows to marry his Son/Daughter. So that we may have a Christ centered marriage. Our Heavenly the Father knows best!!
Important to note that some of us are unequally yoked because we were already married before we became believers. I felt this could of been mentioned in the conversation as it was only focused on those are the choosing stage! Scripture says we must stay married if we are already married,
Yep but if the unbelieving spouse wants to leave the marriage we are not bound to stay married to them. Our prayers while married are still for them to be saved and born again.
i appreciate the transparency. thank you for not editing. your girl is right .... i am exploring and learning God, his Work and his Word. and it was over coffee, 1st date. hi from south padre island texas!
There's nothing impossible by God. With constant prayer, faith, hope and love we will be able to transform their hearts.....Just pray to God to open the eyes of their heart. God wont ever leave our prayers unanswered , just dont give up no matter how impossible the situation may seem ❤🙌
Hey Mandisa! I loved listening to this topic! I'm not able to have children so, having a family with someone isn't really a worry for me. I think that if both parties state their beliefs and they still choose to continue on with the relationship, it could be successful and may eventually lead the unbeliever to salvation. As long as both parties are open and have a mutual respect towards each other, it could work out. As the saying goes, we plan & God laughs. It's important to be open to opportunities God presents to us & pray about them. When we do this, we give God the floor to do a work in us & change a wayward heart with how we act & live our lives as Christians! We have to live up to the name and God overtime will do a work in you & it will spread on to others :)
I'm confused as to why you have to go on a date in order to have a conversation to see where that person is with their relationship with Christ. Maybe I'm old school and out of date BUT.. shouldn't we have already been talking and getting to know each other before the first date? I'm not saying wait 3 mos before going out, but FOR ME, we gotta talk first. Imo, first dates aren’t great for that initial "getting to know you" so I don't agree with accepting a date without talking first. Just me though.. 👀🤷🏾♀️ I feel like you can preserve your time and makeup and money by doing some recon on the front end. #Ihatewastingtime
@@adj5767 My response was in reference to the young woman who said she would go on a date to find out about someone's walk with the Lord. I was saying that FOR ME, a first date would only happen after we have talked and gotten to know each other a little bit. I didn't say anything about being yoked.
Tereshia Yarbrough I have mixed thoughts on that one. Part of me feels like, what’s wrong with having coffee with someone. The other part says, let’s just get the hard stuff out the way
For the separate church issue, I agree that families should go together. Sometimes that's not possible. I think of families that are struggling relationally and where going to separate churches gives each partner a little bit of breathing room. This was my parents experience. Thankfully there were no contradictory messages and sometimes the whole family even went to the other's church together. This breathing room actually eliminated a point of contention rather than escalating it. They are still married 20 years later and now do go to the same church.
How is it small minded to believe what the Bible says @2:38? Do not be unequally yoked. It doesn’t matter what outliers there are where it worked. Obey God’s word. Getting in a relationship knowing someone is an unbeliever shows two things: a heart disobedient to God and a heart that doesn’t trust God to provide a Godly spouse. It’s impossible for us to please God without faith. Nevertheless, if you want to go by anecdotal stories, I’ve heard so many stories from Christian women crying and suffering, bc they married an unbeliever. The lady @12:19! Loved her commentary and what Mandisa said about purity! When Mandisa spoke about being judgmental, it made me think of a common problem we have as Christians. Many of us feel judgmental, bc we adhere to and believe in God’s word. But what matters is that we speak the truth in love. The word of God hurts. It’s a double edged sword and it pricks the flesh. That’s a given. We just need to season our delivery with love.
Thank you so much for all these wonderful episodes. :) I enjoy watching them every week. Please don't worry about leading people astray. The Holy Spirit will definitely lead them if they seek Him. Also, there are special circumstances where believers are directed by God to marry an unbeliever. Hosea and Gomer is one example. In the end, it's all up to God.
Yeah, that happens. And I am wary of the trap of coasting on your spouse's faith at times. Like, if your spouse is very enthusiastic about going to church you can get caught up in that, and if they are always the first one to suggest that you both pray about an issue, it's easy to say yes, but then it can sneak up on you that you haven't actually initiated prayer yourself for a while. So I would be in favour of taking steps to avoid that so that you don't get slack in your own faith, and I think separate churches, or separate services, might be part of that solution. Not necessarily, of course, but I think it definitely needs to still be an option. But if you both talk about the services afterwards, getting to see which teachings you believe and coming to agreement, it's all good.
This is exactly why I say 😂😅😅😅❤ give the unbelievers a chance I maybe the first to say that maybe I'm still young but give them a chance and see how it'll go from there the can even change in the process and end up being stronger and better than before in Christ 😢😢 who knows I'm not suggesting it but I'm open to it I guess it's just dating not marriage right!!!!
Let's not forget that unequally yoked also means marrying someone who claims Christianity but compromises in his or her walk (one foot in, one foot out) don't just look for someone that goes to your church, look for someone who loves AND follows the Lord!🙏😌
PREACH!! Say it louder for the people at the back🙌🏾
Look for fruit
I agree totally!
Amén, actions speaks louder than words. 😇
Absolutely!
I always tell myself, Yes I can be attracted to someone physically and every other way but if we are not equally yoked then I can't go further. Because all that physical and emotional attraction is cute, but when our relationship is being attacked, physical attraction cannot help us. We will need to fight our battles in prayer and at that point I need us to be on the same team fighting the enemy..
Exactly
Lol yes!
But God can use the hardship to bring the other partner to him
Don’t dismiss
@@abidinginthevine1141 Yes..His way and His will over mine
I’m a believer and got married with an unbeliever and recently went through something really hard with him. Even though I love him, I want my testimony to be an example to not marry a man or woman that doesn’t value or believe what you most love in this world which is Jesus. Don’t do it, marry someone who loves God and wants to pursue him for the rest of his/her life.. Plus it’s not a guarantee that he/she will be saved. The word of God says it for a REASON “what does darkness have in common with light”? Don’t be deceived like I was.
I was married and now divorced. I never dated or even married someone of the household of faith. Which is mostly why they didn't last. No matter how I tried to make it work. There just was always a doubt.
Amen. Don't get involved with a non-believer - ever. No matter how attractive they are inside or out.
Also sending you love sister. Difficult situations make us draw closer to God and He will do miracles. Love you Sister 💖🤗
Please do not get married to an unbeliever, been married for 18 years together for 24 years, I’ve tried everything but she’s a person of the world and seeks the things of this world only….now she wants a divorce
Amen...I was also deceived. My marriage has been a living hell. It has lead me to sin against my God out of desperation. It's better to be alone loving Jesus than the bitter loneliness and lack of empathy. The mocking and hate from the outside is doable...that hate coming from the man next to me is unnecessary suffering.
Daughters of the King need to understand their value. God will never give you just any thing to settle with, and he will not make you compromise your integrity to make a relationship work with a nonbeliever. He created us for goodness sake!! He KNOWS your heart and will provide his children with the very best. Keep God first and never settle because of desperation. 💕
4LADYSWEET Being à vessel of the gospel to an unbelieving man is not "settling," if God brought the man to you. You have to realize that this age is ending and God wants to save as many as he can from satan's hand as possible, so if that means bringing you to marry an unbeliever and thus saving your ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD then that's not settling. Following God's will is never settling.
Unless you're preaching the gospel to everyone you know, which 99% of Christians are not, then how else can God save those he has called to himself if you won't cooperate with him? Another pattern set in the Bible is salvation by marriage. Just sayin 🤷🏽♀️
I dated a unbeliever before, and that was a mistake. This person just used me and wanted to change me. I was told different storys about this person and this guy told me something totally different.
I'm not going to listen to any stories that are told as if the girl did something to make her man a believer. That would be setting myself up for a lot of frustration and heartache. I cannot save anyone. Only God can. So, I'm going to let God do his job first and then pair me up. If he never does, that's still a good outcome for me.
Amen, save yourself the heartache and marry a born again believer!
Well said
Amen. Wait girl. It's worth it. There isn't a man on the planet that comes close to a man following Jesus.
Right!!! I think people believe they have the power to change someone but that power lies in God’s hands. Let God do the work and your Godly lead spouse will pursue you!
PREACHHHHHH
I don’t want a perfect man, I just want a man of God! A man who is progressing and drawing closer to God is all I want lol. And it’s important that I do the same thing!
I touch and agree with that prayer in Jesus name.
Authentic relationship with God. But my ex-husband and I were not compatible. Grow a friendship first.
RE: Being unequally yoked, not an option nor is evangelistic dating. It may start out 'nice' but even Believers can walk away from the faith. and the results are the same. Agree with Anthony - separate churches is another layer of division. Don't do it! The Word is true.... guard your heart!
Asking for prayers for my husband, Jesse. Married young, I wasnt a believer, I am now, but he still isnt. It's taking a toll on me with anxiety issues.
Keep praying for him, Jennifer. Show him Christly love. Be compassionate and don’t nag him. Lastly have faith! Blessings!
Same here🙏
I can't wait to meet all these folks in heaven and yall too in the comments. I love yall already 🤎😭
Awww I love you too doll!❤ Also, I plan on creating a channel for people searching for a Christ-centered community and you're more than welcome to join if you'd like!😁
Awww love you tooo 😍😇🙌
Same here❤❤
Blessed love... I can't wait to see walking in through the pearly gates of HEAVEN... Love to you all x
So sweet!!!
I think being equally yoked is not always what people think. It isn’t just enough that we both are believers. When you look at what the practical application of being equally yoked is, it’s not just that the 2 yoked together are both oxen. It’s that they are of equal size, and strength, and speed. So when applying that to us, it isn’t just enough that we are both believers. We should be of the same purpose and strength. For example, I love to serve and I am very ministry minded. It would cause a lot of strife if I was with someone who was very introverted and didn’t want to be involved much, no matter how much they love Jesus. There will always be times when one is stronger than the other in certain areas, but overall, one of you should not always be pulling the other along. Personally, I won’t even go on a date with someone who I know isn’t where I’m at, not just in my relationship with Jesus, but someone who is where I am at emotionally and mentally. I know that narrows it way down for me, and If God speaks to me and tells me that I need to be open to someone specific, then I will do whatever God says, but if it is up to me, I can’t take the risk that the other person would pull me down or away from how far I have come. I have been through a divorce to a man who ended up being abusive. God brought me out of that...the hardest season of my life, and healed me and made me whole. Why would I settle now or make a decision that could put me back into a rough situation? I won’t. And if that means I am single forever, then I can live with that. But, I can’t live with someone who won’t understand what God has done in me.
Amen!
Right on, Right on!!!! Absolutely!!!!
Agree 100% Some of those comments in the video were not biblical at all regardless of how good it sounds to the ears. God's Word always has the final say, not our experiences
You and your spouse can be in church and still be unequally yoked. Some people (in particularly women) sometimes marry down to be 'equally yoked' to a spouse just because they go to church. There are so many caveats to this but it is definitely a conversation that needs to be had.
What would be in your opinion "marrying down" ?
I think it is wise to say we can’t judge what occurs in one person’s journey to be the foundation of what is true for all but to be a seeker of God to hear what He instructs alone because we can bank on that to be true. His word is light and it guides us.
The word of God DOES NOT CONTRADICT itself yol...Mandisa's ending comments were spot on ...
Life is hard enough, and people can be too. Why add yet another layer of difficulty to the mix by being with someone who isn't a Christ follower- a genuine Kingdom man/woman? There are just too many cautionary tales out there that shout this is not a good idea in addition to the Word of God.
SN: I'm so #teammandisa on NOT ministry/missionary dating. Emotions always blur vision, which leads to compromises. No ma'am. Not worth it.
💯💯💯 I wish Godly lead women will understand that our father will give us the very best. We are his children and he knows our hearts. Ladies of the King please don’t follow a man unless he is IN LOVE with God!! How can an ungodly man lead a Godly woman?
"Emotions always blur vision..." THE TRUTH...
I agree with you k Thomas so tempting to dive into wanting to convince or change the man to be in the faith. I also know theology should be the same with both parties too when it comes to being equally yoked. The emotions being blurred lol right the bible says our hearts are desperately deceitful. I will also add that I would want to know my man will support in prayer and guiding our kids in knowing how to go to our heavenly father.
Mo devils, mo problems, why add to the problems with someone who could have legions of them
@@zeal4god402 This sums it all up...
I love your show Mandisa May God continue to bless you on your journey to touch the hearts of everyone you come across. I have been a believer for years I was raised in church all my life When I was 23 I dated a person who was a wolf in sheep’s clothing that lead me to believe they was a believer just like me I saved myself for marriage and I was so excited to meet someone who I thought was on fire for God after I married them I found out very early on in the marriage that I had been deceived they were not whom they led me to believe they were not a true follower of Christ to be honest I should have listened to the spirit of God and all of my loved ones that were believers that warned me but at that time in my life I was so stubborn and blinded by what I wanted to see in him. I made that choice which was the biggest mistake of my life so as a word of caution to the woman of God beware of signs that don’t line up and truly talk to the Father about decisions that will not only effect your life but the lives of all those that love you and support you. I thank God that I turned back to my first love and prayed Earnestly for direction in my life because I was in an Abusive situation and my Father told me to get out of that marriage. I never thought my life would have turned out this way but hopefully someone reading this will dig deeper and listen to their Heavenly Father friends and family before committing there life to someone who is not a true believer watch the fruit y’all don’t always go by what you hear some people can play church really well. Be blessed Anoisn
Wow you're so brave! God bless you doll!❤
I see what others have been saying in past episodes. Anthony is definitely off. Body language says he doesn't want to be there. Not nice seeing that Mandisa was all in and very active in his show. He won't want people to go on his show and give that kind of energy.
Mandisa, thanks for these episodes💕
Right after I was saved I got into a relationship with an unbeliever who made me sin constantly. Of course I had some part to play in it, but it just goes to show that the young man in the beginning was right about the fact that someone can pull you down much easier than you can pull them up. Even the Bible makes reference to this in 1 Corinthians 15:33: "Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” And in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?".
For anyone who is keeping up with these can we just say that Chance has been such a blessing in these talks he’s my fave!!
Yes! He is tuned into the heart of God and it shows. Everything he says is spot on! But he is so humble and kind.
I have never personally witnessed a time when a believer dated a non-believer and it worked out completely fine. The Bible is pretty clear about being unequally yoked. The scripture is the PERFECT word of God. Why try to over complicate things? If the Bible says being unequally yoked is sin, then it is sin.
Since God's Word is living and active and His ways are not our ways, when He says every knee shall bow, I believe Him.
This was a great conversation. It brought up a lot of thoughts and concerns folks having about dating as a Christian so I truly appreciate it! I noticed that people are still kind of confusing dating with marriage. Dating is supposed to be about getting to know someone while marriage is about making a life long commitment. I think it is okay to get to know somebody to see if their faith base and life philosophies match yours! There are too many different types of Christians out there so this is crucial to find out. When it comes to marriage, it only makes sense to be married to someone with similar values and levels of commitment. I think anybody would agree with that. So with that said, I think dating should be used for exploring/searching/learning about somebody and it's okay to explore with somebody who isn't your level of faith. Once you see that the 2 of you are not a good fit, thank the person and move on. There's no need to be totally shut off from discovering that this wasn't a good fit. That person might be a wonderful friend or even a CONNECTION to your future spouse! Like what was said in the video by one of the guys, God is bigger than all of this, so let God lead you and know he won't forsake you if you stay rooted in Him. He'll keep you safe and steady while dating. 😉
I would not date someone who's not a christian. Life is hard enough without being pulled away from the Lord.
for sure!
Life AND relationships
And she should be a virgin also....
Also, you must be aware of wolves in sheep's clothes. There are those who will lead you to truly believe they are followers of Christ, then after the marriage, the switch.
Yes! And then what do you do? Especially when it effects how the kids are being raised?!?
yes...I learned that you can annul the marriage under those circumstances.
@@erinmitchell2066 you pray, because God hates divorce. In the new Testament it talks about divorce. Petition with prayer.
@@erinmitchell2066 also be a Christ like example daily to him and of course your kids.
@@erinmitchell2066 Do you have children together, or bonus kids?
I definitely agree that we should be equally yoked. Even if I just think in the perspective of having children one day. I believe in the man being the head of the wife and the family, and so if I choose a man that doesn’t follow God, he will lead me and our children directly into sin. If he isn’t controlled by the spirit, he will let things into our family that grieve me tremendously. Just having family that doesn’t believe now is hard, I can’t imagine the man I’m supposed to trust and share life with being in the opposite page as me. And also knowing myself and my weakness to want to be loved and married, I know it would not be wise to even go on a date if I know for sure he wasn’t a believer. Lest I fall for him regardless because I’m so eager for a relationship. He may be very nice and kind hearted, but without Jesus, if he hits a hard time he won’t have the same control by the spirit that I would. Such an important topic for sure. One I take very seriously lol.
Life is messy, but be honest with yourself. Just because someone joins you in the journey of becoming Christ-like does not mean they are all-in, they may even turn away. That said, once a marriage commitment is made keep the commitment and allow through your obedience to God, for Him to be bigger. He can do more than you could imagine whether you see it come to fruition or not.
I really appreciate the transparency of every speaker on this platform, you have truly blessed me. More Grace 🙌🏾
I’ve been a believer since 2012. The last year I fell in love with a man who wasn’t a believer. He never understood why I couldn’t have sex until marriage and why I was waiting. It’s hard being in love with him but also loving Christ. He is open to going to church but his heart is hardened against the Lord. We’re still together but Im not sure if I should let this relationship go. So I just ask for prayers.
Lord I pray you will guide Kassie into the light of your truth and your deep love. Help her, comfort her and please guide her, In Jesus name amen.
Pray, fast and ask the lord to reveal his will to you and wait on him to answer. Also get in the word and let it speak to you through his Spirit. I pray you find the answer you need for your life 🤎
@@steflondon88 amen!
@@BrookeLynn-sr6vy amen!
Seems as though he is an Idol for you. If a man is not lead by Christ he cannot lead you to follow Christ in marriage. God will not allow anyone or anything to take his place in your heart. Keep God first and you will see how much better life can be. Get out of that relationship and allow that man to fall in love with his creator, God.
It is hard being married to a non Christian. When your husband doesnt like to hear anything about God. However, we have been married for 36 years. It is very hard.
I will be praying for you Nancy. At this point, all you can do is literally leave your husband in God's hands and God will help him. We can't control no other human being; only ourselves and focusing forward toward God's future for us. 🙏😇
Thanks for sharing. God bless you. May he find Christ even though its been this long. All things are possible with Christ.
nancy herrera Same here
Was with my husband for 21 years, married for 16 years. I became a Christian over 2 years ago, he didn’t like it and he left me and our children 5 months ago. 😢
@@blue246 Praying for you, sis! Stay strong! May God be your husband and provider, and may His will be done in your life with this situation!
Very good point on definition of purity. Purity is not only staying pure sexually, but also keeping your thoughts pure by watching movies that will maintain pure thoughts and same with music. :) thank you, Mandisa!
Don't take the risk of marrying someone not on fire for God. God can turn things around for good if you don't, but it is still a GIGANTIC risk!
I grew up with ;" The prayer of one person can save the whole household"My mom was and still is a prayer warrior, but my parents are happily separated. I'm trying to break generational curses, I do not want someone UNEQUALLY YOKED.
🙏🏾🙏🏾Relationships are so difficult yall lol
You are trying to Break Generational (Cycles) & you will break & overcome them with the help of the most high. You aren't cursed sis. Words have power. A great song by Jonathan Mcreynolds is Cylces.
@@amirajudah amen
I definitely resonated with Elizabeth and Anthony perspectives the most. Regarding Elizabeth‘s point of you - it’s important that your partner has a heart after God as opposed to going to church or being a Christian. If their heart cares about God’s heart, then they’ll be led by him genuinely and authentically. I’ve come to realize that churches come and go and not everyone is who they say are and will let you down but a relationship with God that’s personal and evident is most important to me. I also appreciate Anthony’s point about going to different churches because the word or messages or people can be different but furthermore, I want my partner and I to share church together and decide together where we wanna go.
I think Anthony was very precise and real about what being equally yoked means.
Kwamboka For sure... He definitely keeps it real and some people just aren’t ready for his honesty 😂
I'm actually thankful that you included everything that you did Mandisa. Everyone is at different positions in life and need to hear a message of truth that speaks to their story. For example, the testimony about the sister who married an unsaved man that became saved later is definitely a story that someone who is already married and seeking redemption for their spouse needs to hear. It gives hope. But also I'm thankful to hear how one can be open to just chat once with someone unsaved who is interested in getting to know Christ. I just think that of course it should be a one time conversation and if the person isn't interested in sincerely following Christ the idea of relationship shouldn't be entertained. Because I've entertained unsaved people before who were not sincere and it actually created stress and distracted me from my personal journey with Christ. So, I'm like you Mandisa, my man and I definitely need to be in love with Christ to get married.
Also, I'm thankful that Anthony shared a gold nugget about what it looks like to be equally yoked. I've never heard it explained like that before.
Thank you Mandisa. As we are nearing the second coming of Christ, it is very important not to compromise the truth of the Bible. By being yoked with someone who does not share your beliefs , will create a disunity in the family.You won't be able to read the Bible and pray together because this is foreign to him/her. There is an example of king Ahab and Jezebel who(Jezebel) caused the king to worship idols which was an abomination to God. The woman did not end there but asked for John to be beheaded. When seeking for a partner, do it prayerfully in sincerity
I would like to know more about the people who dated/ married unbelievers and it turned out well.
For me , dating unbelievers meant our values never matched and I would be the one hurt in the long run. Because I would be going about treating them in a righteous manner, while they would be dating other people behind my back, lying, etc.
Not necessarily.
Being an unbeliever doesn't automatically make one a bad person in terms of lying, cheating etc.. People for the most part understand what it means to be a fine person.
But it definitely affects core values, outlooks, visions, how problems are dealt with etc.
That is the biggest issue.
Friendships and relationships are indeed very different. I remember going on trips with friends who were unbelievers because they were fun ones but passing up a trip to Las Vegas with those same friends because I knew that that trip could become possibly compromising since they may want to go places I would not be interested in. Spiritual Wisdom is a beautiful thing!!! I also had a very specific dating prayer and so because of this I actually got a prophetic word years ago about how to navigate that season when the offer to go out comes. It is awesome to have a Father that cares about every area of our lives. Trusting him is what is key even when we feel the where is he pulls arrive from time to time!!!!
*_Read this:_* Some of these speakers are scary! They give so politically correct answers cus it seems they don't wanna "offend" others also these answers sounds like it's coming from the post modernism perspective rather than sound biblical foundation.First principle, you don't take isolated incidents and make it a norm. Like "my sister got married to a non believer and it was the best thing happened" because you don't see the future, you don't see what you have tampered and how you have sabotaged your own future the implication of her decision in a long run. Second, Marriage is a covenant not between the couple alone, it's a covenant between God, the bridegroom and the bride.
Understand the spiritual implications behind being in this so called unequally yoked marriage, in a marriage the partner that is the believer cannot give the spiritual covering to the non believing spouse. Meaning your spouse is not under the covenantal protection that comes in the covenant of marriage no matter how lovely and wonderful and good your spouse is. The devil and the spiritual forces that consantly attacking the institution of marriage has access to your marriage through your unbelieving spouse. NO AMOUNT OF YOU PLEADING THE BLOOD IS GONNA HELP YOU. You have given the enemy an open invitation into your lives and marriage. I know marriages that has been wrecked by satan through the spouses who have given access of their lives to evil spirits in an ungodly sexual practices which they thought was normal for "human standard". The spouse suddenly want anal sex. They suddenly think it's ok to have threesome! Or watch porn! All these are equally happening even among christians!!!
Later on you raise kids that might see your lives and refuses to believe in God and does the same thing you do. And suddenly you gonna convince them about Godliness? and you expect them to believe you concerning righteousness?
Lastly ponder on this if a wonderful non believer woman approaches me and shows interest and she thinks i am wonderful and wants to be married to me but not convinced of my faith in Christ than i am gonna have to seriously wonder if i am actually representing Christ, i'll begin to wonder if i have the light of God in me because the person is not moved by my "christian" life!
Listening to you lot gives me a chilling reminder of this scripture Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1.
Well said.🙏😇
Wow. I agree ☝🏽
I'm with you except the no amount of pleading the blood will help you part. What grace in your comments are you leaving for those who are already in an unequally yoked marriage or alliance?
The panelist actually said his sister fell in love with an unbeliever, who considered himself a believer. Of course by their fruits we shall know them. And their journey was even more difficult compared to if they were equally yoked. But it sounds like he may have been in transition. I'd love to have a listen on how it panned out and how God is working in their lives today.
Another panelists speaks of an unequally yoked relationship that fell apart after 10 years.
Yes, do not enter into an unequally yoked relationship. But what if you're in one. You're saying my good, all powerful, gracious, just, holy and righteous God is not bigger than the situation? My God is a God that can redeem all situations, I cannot put him in a mold. We should however strive, through strengthening flesh and spirit, towards not being in situations that we need him to redeem us from (through obedience). Because we do not want to be led away from God like Solomon. My God is a mysterious one and he will make things work out for the good for those that love him and obey his commandments. Like he said to the woman at the well, go and sin no more, henceforth she was redeemed.
Mandisa caps the topic off by reminding us of His word. Yes do not be unequally yoked in contract and alliances. She also reminds us to be kind in the comment section and let your words be seasoned with grace.
Thank you @Schubert Aloysius. I was in a terrible hole an hour before i read this comment, i was about to be married to a guy in 3 weeks. For the past 3 weeks i have been feeling restless because he doesn't believe christianity and but i didn't know what am i was gonng do with this restlessness, and after reading your words. I decided this not the marriage intended by God for me.I called it off! I am feel extremely broken and full of pain. Thank you for being honest.
Katherine Al-Baz hey sis, I not big on commenting but I hope to encourage your heart. You made the right decision and God led you to this video as well as this comment for that reason. I know it might be difficult now, but trust anything (or anyone) that you forsake for Christ, you will not regret. Allow yourself to mourn and to heal, and eventually you will find that God will give you peace. Be blessed.
Amen for the truth Anthony O'neal. Blessings.
Two believers can be unequally yoked. Especially if one person know the scriptures, recite them by memory But a wolf in sheep's clothing, you can tell a tree by the fruitt that he or she bares! Smh
My parents went to different churches because moms church was way too long 😂 Cogic got Sunday school, Reg svc, potluck after svc, 3:30 svc and night svc. Dads church out in 11/2. Fundamentally they had same beliefs but not style of worship
You nailed it Mandisa. We simply follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and let Him fulfill his purpose is us while satisfying the desires of our heart. If that looks like marrying an unbeliever, it's because they won't be unbelieving for much longer lol 😂
Alex Morgan, I don't think the Holy Spirit can ever lead us against God's word. If we make the desicion to disobey Him, that's on us. We have to own it, be ready for the consequences and pray that He'll turn it around for His glory.
grace foralways The Holy Spirit IS the word though, He's the Spirit Of Truth, and if he decides to use you to save someone that is the ultimate fulfillment of His word, the power of the Gospel! So let's not get super religious and realize that yes God never contradicts His word, but if we are truly denying ourself and following His Spirit he can do sooo much through us. That doesn't mean look to date unbelievers, that means be a vessel for God's saving work! Especially since satan has damaged so many useful men both in the world and in church, God has to bring them to Himself through any means. 🤷🏽♀️
Nahh sounds like false hope. The simple thing is to obey God's commandments. Simply following the HS is dangerous and difficult if we are not abiding constantly in the word of God, in addition to having a spirit of discernment. There are more spirits than the HS. That is why its important to know your Bible and to test each spirit with the word. Jesus is the word and the HS testifies according to the word, a helper of remembrance. Jn 16:13,26; 15:26
God straight up told people in the bible not to marry certain individuals who worship other gods, because they would lead them away from him. Never once was it you will lead them to me with marriage. God is not an author of confusion.
God satisfying the desires of our hearts is not the same as satisfying our fleshly desires. As we become more and more Christ like, so will our desires and that is what God will fulfill, the christ like desires that will bring Him glory either now or eternally, not just any random desire. Our call as Christians is to lose our lives for His sake, and in turn we will gain it.
There is a verse that says he will work all things together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. And another is that we receive what we ask because we keep his commandments and do things that are pleasing in his sight (1 John 3:22).
Going against what God fully said in scripture is not what's pleasing to him. If one married an unbeliever and they become a believer, it is not the marriage that converted them. Rather it is God's mercy and grace. I for one have never liked being in a position where I desperately needed God's mercy.
Agreed!!! Miracles are the exception but never count God out. 😉
Alex Morgan
Yes, Thank You. Christians want to believe and insist that if you’re equally yoked, then you’ll have a wonderfully, fantastic marriage. Say, you marry someone you’re supposed equally yoked and they stop going to church and studying the Word, but still believes in God. Then what are you going to do?
I agree with everything Elizabeth Chan stated. Very spot on 👏👏👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌 Love love love what she said.
I would never marry an unbeliever with what I know now. I am married to an unbeliever before I became a believer. I am still praying for his salvation for 25 years and still praying for his soul. Don't do it unless you don't mind being missable
25 years?😭
Thank you Mandisa. Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
I LOVE this series Mandisa!! So helpful and interesting. Please keep ‘em coming!!😊
God's word also says Obedience is better than sacrifice.
In the end it is better to stay within the parameters our loving father who has set for us even if means some lonely nights. Our God has lovingly set up safety barriers for us, not because he wants us be unhappy or alone, but for protection. For every suceess that being disobedience worked there are 15 that did not. To suggest that God will reward those who willingly disobey is dangerous. I caution those who may be on the fence or considering this thinking.
Ive done it and know others who have and usually what happensis that the testimony of the believer is compromised.
Thank you for making this video and discussing what it means to be unequally yoked. My church talks about it a lot and one of your friends on the panel said that a dating or married couple of the same faith even going to different churches can be confusing. I believe it's really important that your significant other is on the same page spiritually. So that really cleared it up for me. Thanks.
Personally I couldn’t date a unbeliever. I couldn’t be under submission to a man who isn’t in submission to God and after his heart. Where are you planning to lead our family and will you present us spotless and without blemish to the Kingdom of God? I can only sow good seeds but only God let’s it grow🙌🏾
Thank you so much Mandisa, you're a gem😘. As regards unequal yoking, I think understanding the essence of the instruction makes it easier to accept & practice. God's idea for marriage is to mirror the union between Christ & the church; to love your spouse unconditionally as Christ has loved us. Only the knowledge of Jesus' love & lavish grace can teach us true love & help us to extend it to others.
Secondly, if your partner is an unbeliever, it'll mean that they're actually condemned to eternal damnation. Sometimes, the decision to be with such a person does not really stem from love but selfishness, selfishness to get married at all costs OR infatuation.
It's so hard to meet Christ followers (romantic and platonic!). It's not as Black and White and as easy as "not being unequally yoked". Easier said than done.
Sometimes the road to a companion in this life , means a walk with Christ first. Few are willing to do so, or even feel the need. When it all goes south and you find yourself no longer in the fold, then you will wonder how you came to be there. Most women all they want is to get them a man. This might even be secondary to wanting a deeper walk with Christ. I'm a single woman , in my fifties and many an unsuitable condidate comes my way. However with two marriages behind me it's time to marry for the right reason. When God says so and shows me the person. Otherwise I'm quite happy in my singledom worshipping and pleasing God😁🙏🏽❤️
Thanks Mandisa,
Of course we shouldn't shun the company of unbelievers. How else would we witness to them?
Jesus' opinion on the matter of intentional courting/marriage is clearly written in the Bible though🙂
Loving Christ is the core of who we are. How then can we pursue God honoring relationships with others who do not profess such love for Christ as well?
That'll be a lot of compromising on the things that matter most, and will only make for a complicated relationship.
Whewww!! @mandisaofficial this episode could have easily been extended into two... There are so many levels to being unequally yoked. I totally agree that it is vitally important to be equally yoked in order for a husband and wife to fulfill their purpose for the Lord. Your words at the end are on point! Definitely searching the scriptures, so that I can give an accurate account of what I've heard and believe. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤓😇
I could relate to this episode. 💝 I am in total agreement with what Mandisa said in her personal comments that she shared at the end. I can tell you, being equally yoked is my personal choice.💝 If you are in a situation where it seems to start that way and your partner changes, go to God and stay focused on His word and trust Him and what He reveals to you! Thank-you sweet Mandisa and all your friends for being open and real! I believe that you are helping many!🤠💖🙏💖 I look forward to each new episode!
Definitely don't missionary date, but being equally yoked comes in many different aspects - not just Christian vs non-Christian. Because I know Christian couples who have miserable marriages vs a "mixed" marriage that is better than the Christians.🤷🏾♀️ And what if one loses the faith during the marriage?🥴 This isn't as nice and clean as we want it to be. Let God truly lead in everything.🙏🏾
Being equal can also include finances, health, ambition, etc. Just because you're a Christian does not mean y'all are equally yoked.😬
Thank you for posting this and not editing out the other people's opinions! It's true, just because an unequally yoked marriage worked for one person doesn't mean it will work for you; and also, it's clear right there in the Bible lol, like come on, be obedient. I need prayers daily because I'm in an unequally yoked marriage, and it's hard not sharing my first love with my spouse. Don't do it, guys. Please! Stay encouraged, everyone! God can and will send you someone who loves Him as much as you do, just seek ye first His kingdom.
Maybe because I'm older; I've been married twice. My first marriage we became believers but he divorced me went in a different direction not with God. My second marriage he was a believer. I thought he was a strong believer he was a Sunday school teacher read the word. I found out year later after marriage he was a substance addict. So saying that. I would not mary someone who doesn't have a relationship with God and is saved in their walk. This is definitely important to God we don't have to go through more struggles than we have to.
I love these episodes!! So much knowledge and wisdom. I just love hearing so many different perspectives.
This was cool! Thank you for having this conversation! I love the comfortable, diverse panel.
Jesus hung out with the outcast ! We need to embrace people because we are called for unity.
I am waiting for the person God has made for me. I believe that God is able to do exceeded, abundantly above all that I can ever ask or desire for. He knows I like surprises so this should be good.
Okay so I have a personal story to share about this topic for anyone who may need to hear it.
When I was younger I had told myself that I would only pursue a relationship with someone who I knew was very grounded in the faith. Because since I was a child my faith was very important to me and still is.
However at the end of my college career I got involved in a relationship with someone who was a very close friend. I made the mistake of assuming that he was of the same faith but did not actually talk about it too much with him. I just knew that at the beginning of the relationship he was interested in going to church so I thought that he was a believer.
Fast forward a couple of years and we got married. After a year we both started to realize that there were a lot of deeper level complications.
Eventually I came to find out that he had, I guess, changed his mind about Christianity and he said he didn't believe anymore. It broke my heart to hear but after learning this all of the issues that we had started to make sense.
It had always been difficult to bring up and have discussions about my faith with him and I didn't understand why.
After the first year a situation occurred that almost led to us getting a divorce (wanted by him). He had changed his mind though and we tried to work things out for the next three years. However knowing that we we're not on the same path spiritually it made it very difficult for me. Because of many points brought up by your guests in this video, it was often painful for me because while I cared for him and he cared for me we were just disconnected at the spiritual level which made it difficult to connect with each other in other ways. I started to feel like I was being pulled in two different directions, trying to please my heavenly father, and trying to please my husband, and sometimes things just did not align.
Sometimes I would go to a church service by myself and I would be very sad that he was not there sitting next to me. I wanted so desperately to be able to talk to him about my faith and share the same faith based mindset.
I wanted someone that I could pray with, worship with, and be involved in ministry with.
I think we had different ways of seeing the world, had different goals and wanted different things in life.
I didn't want to divorce over these things though because I know what the Bible says about divorce and I felt that two wrongs didn't make a right. I know it sounds bad, but it was my personal conviction that if we were to get divorced it would have to be because he wanted it and filed for it.
But while this was very difficult for me, it has also been very difficult for him in ways that he does not understand. He has not been in a very good place mentally or emotionally, and obviously spiritually which is the part he doesn't understand. I hated that there wasn't anything else that I could do for him because knew that I could not be the one to lead him to Christ. But I just kept praying about it and having faith in God hoping that something would change in him and God would call him to Him.
I just wanted to see him and happy and healthy and until he and spiritually.
But after talking on and off about splitting up for the next two years He finally decided to go through with it this year. While the first time he brought up divorce was extremely horrible for me emotionally, The last time was not so bad.
God had shown me and taught me a lot of things between that first time and this last time. This time I was not angry and I just gave it all to the Lord and told him that I trust him with whatever he had planned for me and my husband.
We both still care about each other and I believe we will continue to be friends after it is all over with.
But this whole story has made me realize just how important being equally yoked is. Like I mentioned in the video I do believe it is important to be friends with people who do not believe or are unsure. And I think that while my current husband and I made good friends in college we did not make a good couple romantically because of our spiritual differences.
If anyone follows Jamie Grace I would definitely recommend hearing some of her advice because I wish I had had her around to tell me all of the things that I needed to hear before I said yes. As she has explained they were very intentional about everything they did from the very beginning.
I will definitely be more careful in the future when or if I ever get to the point where I can think about being with someone else. I will definitely have a lot of questions for him from the start because like Jamie and her now husband Aaron, I want to be very upfront about my faith to make sure that I'm on the same page as the guy I'm dating!
Thanks for sharing your story!
I am struggling with this same scenario. 24 years of marriage have been unraveling for the last 10. Thank you for sharing.
God bless you for sharing dear sister in Christ ! I literally cried 😥
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28
I hope and pray that you'll be blessed with the man that Almighy Father made just for you when it's His time!
Amén, Thank you for the courage and bravery God has given you to speak your testimony to others. Living and walking with Christ is NOT easy. We must remain focused on his will, his plan for our lives, and on his timing...not our timing. 🙏😇
Love your talk show mandisa this episode was very interesting and great!!🤗❤️🙏🏻
Wow! Incredible! I love everyone's point of views. For me, the more I'm Evolving and Growing in my walk with God and hearing from the Holy Spirit, the better choices I make for my Dating Life. As far has being Equally yoke, Saying I'm Christian and actually walking the Christian Life are two different things; so I say there are many Levels to being equally yoke.
Hi, there are levels and seasons in our Christianity, yet not with being equally yoked. There are no levels, in being equally yoked. I finally understood that 2 years ago, now I'm 46. How much time I have waisted and so much hurt I endured. Stand firm on the word of God and he will give you the desired of your heart. Stand boldly. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. 😇
I was actually in a relationship with a non-believer. He was very disciplined, respectful, and loved me very much. We connected in mind and body but not soul. I struggled in my faith because I loved God so much more than man and my relationship with God is most important. I continually questioned if God would be pleased with me? How would others view my walk with Christ? Would I want my daughter to make the same choice to marry an unbeliever. The answer was hard. I fasted and prayed and gave sacrifically for his salvation. But the both of us are extremely committed to our faith. And stayed our separate courses. However, he challenged me to know more about God and my relationship with God grew exponentially through this test.
Would you marry them?
Are you guys still married 😢😢 till this day
I can appreciate who & why Christians believe this so ardently. This was the main reason why I stayed in the faith longer than I could bear. I knew that if I was honest with my doubts and changing beliefs, it would end my marriage, my family and my close relationships would radically change. But I couldn't suppress my doubts (ironically debunking the ever-so popular Romans 1:18-20 indictment often hurled at an unbeliever). It's not an easy road, to navigate an intimate relationship when major shifts in ideology or worldview happen. Obviously this wasn't a scenario talked about in this video, but this is certainly a way this issue plays out in a lot of relationships, especially nowadays given so many leaving their faith. So much to say on this, but I just leave this comment to say that one size doesn't fit all, nor is clubbing people over the head with a definitive "this is what God says" usually a path that is helpful when people find themselves in more nuanced situations.
Our family has been through some incredibly hard things and I know that our family nor my spouse and I would not have made it if we not both individually anchored to Jesus. You never know what life is going to hit you with and you can’t control your spouse or their responses..it’s allllllll Jesus
That's so true and really interesting! I'm planning on creating videos for people who are searching for a Christ-centered community(especially during quarantine) and I'd love to have the opinion of married individuals as well, so you're more than welcome to join if you'd like.
Yes, “the Chosen” is such a great show!! I love it 😍🙌🏻
I like what was said about Austin Amor sister- she didn’t date the man UNTIL he became a follower of Jesus. I totally agree it’s OK to be friends but dating and marriage HAS to be equally yoked.
Exactly
You really keep it real ❤️😍 I’m so glad I found this channel. God bless you all
Very excited about this conversation!!!!
Gr8! Very interesting and inspiring! Keep up the great work 👏🏽👍
I had so many thought about this as I listened.
First I want my husband to love me like Christ loves the church. But if he doesn’t know Christ he can’t identify with that. There are so many benefits that comes with being on one accord in any relationship but especially dating and marriage. Adam and Eve where created for each other and we all know how a “little” comprising
changed the trajectory of not only there life but mankind. There are certain things that the Lord has been flashing neon lights in the word about and marriage is one of them. There are several examples in the Old Testament were the Lord told the Israelites not to marry people from certain nations because it would cause them to follow after their false Gods. I went back and read the scripture you are speaking of and it never mentions marriage at all. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
But it does speak on believers being unequally yoked with unbelievers. Just like Eve anything that is going to distract us and draw us away from fellowship with Christ and may cause us to compromise is not in Gods plan for us. So I understand isolated incidents because if a donkey can speak and an axe head can float. Our father can draw someone in to fellowship with him by whatever means he sees fit. I also thought of the story were Peter had the dream and he called unclean what God called clean. Peter was in prayer when this happened and the Holy Spirit lead him through the entire experience Acts 10:15 and that is what we have to do when it comes to marriage be in prayer, know the truth of the word, lean on the Holy Spirit and allow him to order our steps. Marriage is one of the most amazing things we get to experience on earth and one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Not only you and your spouse but so many others can be influenced and affected by your choice, so let’s get our Fathers approval on who he allows to marry his Son/Daughter. So that we may have a Christ centered marriage. Our Heavenly the Father knows best!!
I love this show more and more! Thank you so much for sharing all of this! God bless you!!! ❤️
Important to note that some of us are unequally yoked because we were already married before we became believers. I felt this could of been mentioned in the conversation as it was only focused on those are the choosing stage! Scripture says we must stay married if we are already married,
Yep but if the unbelieving spouse wants to leave the marriage we are not bound to stay married to them. Our prayers while married are still for them to be saved and born again.
Thank you for sharing your testimony!
i appreciate the transparency. thank you for not editing. your girl is right .... i am exploring and learning God, his Work and his Word. and it was over coffee, 1st date.
hi from south padre island texas!
Hallelujah & Praise God for your testimonies!!!🙌❤😊😇🙏
Thank you for having these conversations
I love you Mandisa! This series is a blessing from God.
There's nothing impossible by God.
With constant prayer, faith, hope and love we will be able to transform their hearts.....Just pray to God to open the eyes of their heart. God wont ever leave our prayers unanswered , just dont give up no matter how impossible the situation may seem ❤🙌
That was good .... keep the real talk Disa🤗👌👌. Realllllllllllll
We should not be unequally yoked however, some people step out of the will of God and the loving God He is blesses that union inspite of.
Hey Mandisa! I loved listening to this topic! I'm not able to have children so, having a family with someone isn't really a worry for me. I think that if both parties state their beliefs and they still choose to continue on with the relationship, it could be successful and may eventually lead the unbeliever to salvation. As long as both parties are open and have a mutual respect towards each other, it could work out. As the saying goes, we plan & God laughs. It's important to be open to opportunities God presents to us & pray about them. When we do this, we give God the floor to do a work in us & change a wayward heart with how we act & live our lives as Christians! We have to live up to the name and God overtime will do a work in you & it will spread on to others :)
I'm confused as to why you have to go on a date in order to have a conversation to see where that person is with their relationship with Christ. Maybe I'm old school and out of date BUT.. shouldn't we have already been talking and getting to know each other before the first date? I'm not saying wait 3 mos before going out, but FOR ME, we gotta talk first. Imo, first dates aren’t great for that initial "getting to know you" so I don't agree with accepting a date without talking first. Just me though.. 👀🤷🏾♀️ I feel like you can preserve your time and makeup and money by doing some recon on the front end. #Ihatewastingtime
EXACTLY!!!!!!
Dating or just eating out, or enjoying an outing is not yoking.
@@adj5767 My response was in reference to the young woman who said she would go on a date to find out about someone's walk with the Lord. I was saying that FOR ME, a first date would only happen after we have talked and gotten to know each other a little bit. I didn't say anything about being yoked.
Completely agree.
Tereshia Yarbrough I have mixed thoughts on that one. Part of me feels like, what’s wrong with having coffee with someone. The other part says, let’s just get the hard stuff out the way
Christ said it! Do not be unequally yoked! Simple. Don’t do it!
I liked even before i listened
Absolutely love your closing!🙌❤
Loved this video! I wish it was longer!
For the separate church issue, I agree that families should go together. Sometimes that's not possible. I think of families that are struggling relationally and where going to separate churches gives each partner a little bit of breathing room. This was my parents experience. Thankfully there were no contradictory messages and sometimes the whole family even went to the other's church together. This breathing room actually eliminated a point of contention rather than escalating it. They are still married 20 years later and now do go to the same church.
How is it small minded to believe what the Bible says @2:38? Do not be unequally yoked. It doesn’t matter what outliers there are where it worked. Obey God’s word. Getting in a relationship knowing someone is an unbeliever shows two things: a heart disobedient to God and a heart that doesn’t trust God to provide a Godly spouse. It’s impossible for us to please God without faith. Nevertheless, if you want to go by anecdotal stories, I’ve heard so many stories from Christian women crying and suffering, bc they married an unbeliever.
The lady @12:19! Loved her commentary and what Mandisa said about purity! When Mandisa spoke about being judgmental, it made me think of a common problem we have as Christians. Many of us feel judgmental, bc we adhere to and believe in God’s word. But what matters is that we speak the truth in love. The word of God hurts. It’s a double edged sword and it pricks the flesh. That’s a given. We just need to season our delivery with love.
Well said
Thank you so much for all these wonderful episodes. :) I enjoy watching them every week. Please don't worry about leading people astray. The Holy Spirit will definitely lead them if they seek Him. Also, there are special circumstances where believers are directed by God to marry an unbeliever. Hosea and Gomer is one example. In the end, it's all up to God.
I enjoyed watching, it has added to my thoughts on my own experience
❤👍🙌
Interesting stuff!!! ❤
Hi Nibs my friend 🗣 i know you'll watch this in the morning 😂😂love you😂❤
I’m not Nibs but I think this is so cute
@@sinolukhalo5121 Hi Sino, I hope you're well. Thank you❤❤ wishing you a beautiful day 😊
@Tsakani Shilowe aww thanks, sweetie. I hope you’re having a great day too. God bless. ❤️
This was so insightful! Thank you!
Love these videos!
Thank you so much for this. All glory to Jesus
Well said Elizabeth Chan
It will fall apart and you will get hurt and you will have to cry out to God to heal your soul..
My parents went to the same church and still had disagreements about interpretations of scripture. 🤦🏾♀️
Lol Lord help.
Yeah, that happens. And I am wary of the trap of coasting on your spouse's faith at times. Like, if your spouse is very enthusiastic about going to church you can get caught up in that, and if they are always the first one to suggest that you both pray about an issue, it's easy to say yes, but then it can sneak up on you that you haven't actually initiated prayer yourself for a while. So I would be in favour of taking steps to avoid that so that you don't get slack in your own faith, and I think separate churches, or separate services, might be part of that solution. Not necessarily, of course, but I think it definitely needs to still be an option. But if you both talk about the services afterwards, getting to see which teachings you believe and coming to agreement, it's all good.
This is exactly why I say 😂😅😅😅❤ give the unbelievers a chance I maybe the first to say that maybe I'm still young but give them a chance and see how it'll go from there the can even change in the process and end up being stronger and better than before in Christ 😢😢 who knows I'm not suggesting it but I'm open to it I guess it's just dating not marriage right!!!!
I'm early!
1. Double edge sword
2. Serve the Lord your God no matter where He leads you.
3. Seasons, remember, some people are in your life for a season.
Great convo...
Iron Sharpens Iron. Don't be unequally yoked.