I received a letter from Jerome in an African country who wrote via Global Media Outreach. He said his wife is Muslim. He married her because she was a virgin. Now that they’re married she refuses to become a Christian. His question: “Should I dump her?”
I responded: “I’m sorry you married for the wrong reason. The first consideration in seeking a wife should be a woman who shares your faith in Christ. Now that you are already married, you are to love and honor her as your wife. You are not to ‘dump her.’”
A few weeks later he wrote again and apologized for misleading me. He said he called her his wife because he didn’t know the English word for “girlfriend.” Meanwhile, after living with her for a while and learning she wasn’t open to converting, he “dumped her.”
Now he writes, “The Old Testament tells us to worship God on Saturday. I’ve been told the Antichrist is coming and will force all people to worship on Sunday instead of Saturday. I believe this is sin. I will refuse to disobey God and worship on Sunday, even if I am tortured to death. Please advise.”
“Jerome, You are fearful of sinning against God by worshiping on Sunday. Yet you were not fearful of sinning against God when you lived with a Muslim woman outside marriage and later ‘dumped her.’ I don’t understand your kind of faith.
“You need to carefully study God’s Word and ask yourself if you are truly born again. Once you choose to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, that’s when you also make the decision to repent (turn away from your sinful ways). God’s Holy Spirit will give you the desire and the power to do so.
“I want you to read Revelation 21:8 and think about it. Nothing is said there about the day of the week we are to worship. Sexual immorality is serious sin before God. Yet you had no qualms about serious sin. Please go to https://www.godlife.com/en/new-believers-guide and learn what it truly means to be a Christian.”
- But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
- GOD IS READY – Robin Poem by Elizabeth Cheney, circa 1931; music by Kathleen
[This life is temporary. This life is short. Let me ask you an important question: If you were to die today, where do you think you would go? When this life is over, our bodies will die and become an empty shell, but our souls will continue to live forever. Where will the “real you” live? Will you live for all eternity separated from God? Or will you spend eternity in the presence of God in heaven? Learn more so you can make your most important decision: http://www.whoisjesus-really.com/
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Sounds like good advice you gave this man – I pray God will be with him.
Thank you Mark. I’m sure he can use the prayer.
Sounds so odd to me… He only wanted her because she was a virgin (but not to marry her), took her virginity (a gift that can only be given once), and then dumped her.
Is he aware that she is now walking around with a piece of his soul inside her (if they had sex and became one flesh) and he has a piece of her too? I’m glad he is now more aware of the truth and following Christ the way he should be (hopefully). But what about this poor girl?
I agree…it sounded odd to me as well. What I am learning more and more as an online missionary, is that in many countries of the world today, sexual promiscuity is not considered sin. Why is that? I believe it’s because many churches today are not teaching the Bible. They seem to teach certain portions of the Bible, but not all. It’s unfortunate.
Praise God for Global Media Outreach and the opportunity you had to write and admonish this man who seems to be seeking. I pray he will truly find salvation and submit to God’s will for his life.
Yes Linda, I believe he does want God’s will for his life. Just misguided by the mixed up world we live in.
Jerome was quite confused in his doctrine. Thank God we have the authoritative truth of God’s Word to guide us in this confused world. The one good thing is that this man reached out to you, and you were able to advise him as you always do so well.
Thank you, Frank. If I didn’t know God’s Word my doctrine would be as confused as his.
I wonder if he has no New Testament as he talks about worship on Sat.? He can see by reading the book of Acts and the letters of Paul that the body of Christ gathered and worshiped God daily in prayer, teaching, and breaking of bread.
I believe you’re correct, Helene. Moreover, the early believers did seem to meet on Sunday. In Acts 20:7 we read, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.”
Also, within the New Testament is sufficient evidence that the seventh day Sabbath is no longer a requirement. Romans 14:5-6 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.”