† My dear Kent, I am awfully sorry for the response given to your son by the minister, but these kinds of comments and "turn offs" are not unique to the Baptists. All denominations have their "rules and regulations" and they do not in many cases line up with the word of God.
The word of God does tell us that we should not be unequally yoked with "unbelievers", but you did not say whether or not the minister asked your son if he believed, he only asked if he went to church.
First of all,going to church is no predictor of a persons heart or belief. A church is just a building. And many people in those buildings are just "pew potatoes", who go for various reasons, of which I'm sure you know of a bunch yourself.
Secondly,even if your son is or was a non-believer at the time of "questioning" by the minister,he had no right to judge or refuse to marry them,except that the "rules of his denomination" prohibited it!
As do many denominations. But he did have a duty, which if I understand you correctly, he shirked. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?! Rom.10:14...."They" limit the mercy and love of God! And do disobey His commands!
The word of God speaks also directly to your son's situation.
..."if any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him NOT put her away.
And the woman which hath an husband that believeth NOT, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her NOT leave him.
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife sanctified is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
But if the unbelieving depart, (on their own) let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to peace.
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 1Cor7:12-16
This scripture also applies to divorce.
Kent, many ministers, pastors, priests, and preachers have not been called or chosen by God, they are but hirelings. John 10:12-13
For this reason it is so important for us as followers of the "good shepherd" to know His word, and not the word of man.
Kent I must also say this, there are a lot of good ministers, pastors, priests, and preachers out there too.Many of them are "bound" to the rules and laws of their "higher-ups" and therefore the word of God the "higest up", gets twisted and bent out of shape, and in the end becomes corrupted and made null and void, and does in fact turn people away from God and His love. They will be the first judged! Jer.23:1
God has plenty to say on that very subject, read all about it!
Ps.119:105
Shalom
BTW to answer your question. Shalom of course as you know means, hello, goodby, and peace.
Hepzibah, pronounced in the hebrew, khef-tsee'baw which translated means, my delight. it is not an alias, it is a given. |
