“For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband” (1 Corinthians 7:14). Years ago, I met a Christian man whose wife did not believe in Jesus. He thought that she would be saved merely by clinging to him, and not by believing in Christ. His faulty assumption was based on a misunderstanding of the above Bible verse. This is what can happen when Christians are poorly catechized, pull a Bible verse out of context, and don’t bother to learn more about their own faith. *** I was recently talking to an Iranian expat here in Germany who shared his situation. A new Christian, he proudly wears a cross around his neck—a bold move since he regularly interacts with people from Muslim countries. He also explained that his wife is still Muslim. Although she has many issues with Islam—as do most Iranians—she doesn’t wish to convert so she can still visit family back home. I told him that I understand where she’s coming from and that it’s tough for people from Muslim countries to convert to Christianity. Indeed, in many cases, they are no longer allowed to return to their homeland. “But,” I noted, “fast-forward forty or fifty years. Would your wife really want to forego eternity in heaven with Christ so she could visit Iran during her lifetime? Not to mention, what if her time on earth ends suddenly—due to an accident or illness? She would be locked out, like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. Your wife is taking a risk…” Having said that, this lady is married to a man who now believes in Jesus Christ. I had to think of that Bible verse. Let us pray that, as he grows in his faith, he would be a patient and encouraging witness, demonstrating to his bride the peace that all Christians have since the Lord has covered all our sins, and walks alongside us every day–wherever we are.
The Tiews in Germany 