New Christians in Unmarried Partnerships.

I'd like your thoughts on this.
One half of the unmarried couple becomes a Christian while the other half cannot take Christ seriously (at least not yet).

They have children under 18, so splitting up is unappealing since broken homes are both unpleasant for children and major predictive markers on dysfunctional adulthood.

Continuing the current situation (unmarried but living together) is not desirable either, for obvious reasons.

What is the right thing to do here? Is it really - as I myself suspect - the duty of the Christian to leave their partner? Some Christians marry non-believers but as I understand it, this too is advised against, with what appears to be good Biblical evidence to support it.

Thoughts, please?

Excellent question. I would say that if one is a Christian and the other isn’t, God doesn’t want them to spite, but become married. If that does not come to fruition, their relationship will not be blessed as they are essential living in sin. Of course since adolescence children are involved, God would want them to have a stable family even though unmarried. Since one member is a believer, I think Romans 8:28 is applicable:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose

I'd like your thoughts on this.
One half of the unmarried couple becomes a Christian while the other half cannot take Christ seriously (at least not yet).

They have children under 18, so splitting up is unappealing since broken homes are both unpleasant for children and major predictive markers on dysfunctional adulthood.

Continuing the current situation (unmarried but living together) is not desirable either, for obvious reasons.

What is the right thing to do here? Is it really - as I myself suspect - the duty of the Christian to leave their partner? Some Christians marry non-believers but as I understand it, this too is advised against, with what appears to be good Biblical evidence to support it.

Thoughts, please?

The presence of children is the tipping point. If it was a question of cohabitating alone the answer would be different. But destroying a family in deference to faith (without other tangibles that were not mentioned) is inappropriate.

The honorable solution is marriage and the patient labor for the other’s salvation through love, example, and prayer. There are several resources for persons in your situation. I used them for another in the past. While we never lived together and weren’t in a relationship either. My reconciliation to God created a burden in my spirit for him.

I spent several years being a light, praying, and showing him God’s love through my behavior. He’s an atheist and was very vocal about his ambivalence to faith but our interactions and the constancy of lovingkindness have softened his heart. I didn’t preach or share the gospel. I lived it and that made all the difference. I am one of many the Lord will use on his behalf and that usually holds true for most. Your greatest witness is your character. Not bible quotes or the many tactics people use. They’ll read the truth through your behavior.

Note: While it’s important to hear the gospel. Oftentimes proximity creates a barrier. Friends and loved ones can be resistant to religious messages due to familiarity. But more receptive when the same is shared by strangers or another with less intimacy than you and I. It’s important to understand your role in the process and seek the Lord’s guidance.

Here are the resources I mentioned earlier:

When He Doesn’t Believe by Nancy Kennedy
Spiritual Mismatch by Lee Strobel
Winning Him Without Words by Lynn Donovan
Waiting for His Heart by Joy McClain
The Power of a Praying Husband/Parent by Stormie Omartian
Kingdom Man by Tony Evans
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
The Mingling of Souls by Matt Chandler
Love & Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
The Spiritually Unequal Marriage Community

I have read and used all the information shared. This is the best I’ve encountered. There are new titles since that time. But this is a great starting point. Good luck.

Co-habitation has become so common that the laws have changed around it, and legally this couple is more than likely considered married. Are you sure they are not also considered married in the eyes of God? The Bible teaches that the believer married to a non-believer is not to leave their spouse, and married couples are never advised to deprive each other of sexual intercourse except by mutual consent for short periods of time so they can devote time to prayer.

Well, biblically, if they are cohabiting, and especially if they have children, they are married. (Married=one flesh) There were no marriage licenses in Bible times. Then I would see Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7:12 as applicable -- do not divorce/separate if the unbeliever is content to stay.

Excellent question. I would say that if one is a Christian and the other isn’t, God doesn’t want them to spite, but become married. If that does not come to fruition, their relationship will not be blessed as they are essential living in sin. Of course since adolescence children are involved, God would want them to have a stable family even though unmarried. Since one member is a believer, I think Romans 8:28 is applicable:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose

I'd just like to know why nowadays there are so many coming up with excuses as to why it is ok to live in sin. Paul addressed the married not the fornicators in those scriptures. Fornication (not being married) is a whole different beast described by the Bible... it is sin...just saying.

I can't get how people can say they love someone and have kids with them and live with them but not be committed enough to get married. I mean in most places a marriage license costs about 40 to 100 dollars...So if a couple is committed and loves each other what is the problem with that.

Getting a divorce costs a whole lot more. So could this be the reason people are choosing to live together; they are not really committed to the other and know that just breaking up with someone is a whole lot easier than divorce...IDK...

Why have humans always chosen to live in sin? It’s by our very nature hence why we need a savior.

I'd like your thoughts on this.
One half of the unmarried couple becomes a Christian while the other half cannot take Christ seriously (at least not yet).

They have children under 18, so splitting up is unappealing since broken homes are both unpleasant for children and major predictive markers on dysfunctional adulthood.

Continuing the current situation (unmarried but living together) is not desirable either, for obvious reasons.

What is the right thing to do here? Is it really - as I myself suspect - the duty of the Christian to leave their partner? Some Christians marry non-believers but as I understand it, this too is advised against, with what appears to be good Biblical evidence to support it.

Thoughts, please?