I must state clearly that dating and marrying outside the church is not recommended and can become a significant stumbling block, bringing trouble in future years. The principle of not being unequally yoked with unbelievers applies strongly to marriage, as it represents the closest of alliances where partners should be united as one. Such unions with unbelievers are incompatible with God's way of life, as the two systems are like oil and water, unable to mix due to differing beliefs and goals. Practically speaking, having an unconverted mate or dating outside the church makes it nearly impossible to fulfill God's purpose in us. Even if an unconverted mate is moral, friction often arises due to incompatible ways of life. Challenges include keeping the Sabbath, dietary laws, and raising children in faith, as fundamental disagreements can confuse and negatively impact them. Life is already difficult, and knowingly entering such a situation seems foolish. Even in the current scattered state of the church, with few potential mates available, the principle remains unchanged. God's laws and ways do not alter with circumstances. Taking matters into one's own hands, as seen in historical examples, can lead to long-lasting consequences. Instead, trust in God, wait patiently, and have faith that He will provide what is good for us in His time, including a suitable mate. If one encounters someone outside the church who seems suitable, extreme caution is necessary. Do not compromise God's way of life; be upfront about beliefs and provide church literature to gauge their receptivity. Only proceed if they show genuine interest and progress toward conversion, waiting for baptism before marriage. This is rare, and dating outside the church remains a risky and unwise choice. The ideal is to marry someone comparable, sharing beliefs and experiences, as the best marriages are built on common ground. God's pattern, both physical and spiritual, emphasizes finding a mate who fits closely with us, fostering unity rather than division. Despite the challenges of the church's current situation, there is no need for despair. God, who can accomplish the impossible, is capable of providing mates for us amidst any circumstance if we trust in Him.

God takes marriage seriously, and His intention from the beginning was for it to be a permanent union. In Malachi 2:10-16, He condemns the men of Judah for divorcing their Israelite wives to marry pagan women, labeling this act as treachery and unfaithfulness. This sin not only broke their marriage vows but also profaned God's spiritual covenant, showing disloyalty to Him. Such actions were not new, as earlier instances during the Exodus and at Baal Peor, as well as in the times of Ezra and Nehemiah, revealed similar unfaithfulness through intermarriage with those of false beliefs, leading to spiritual and marital adultery. This unfaithfulness reflects a deeper rebellion against God, as these men pursued foreign women and their false religious practices, mirroring Israel's broader unfaithfulness to the Lord. God had established marriage for the good of humanity and as part of creation, expecting His people to maintain loyalty and faithfulness to Him and to each other. The apostle Paul also warns against partnerships with the world, including romantic ties, which can lead to similar spiritual compromise. The impact of such unfaithfulness extends beyond the individual, damaging the vitality of the community and its ability to fulfill God's calling. God opposes divorce resulting from faithlessness, as it causes destructiveness and pain, yet He allows it in certain cases due to the hardness of hearts and the presence of sin that irretrievably damages marriages. His original intent, however, remains that marriage should be lifelong, reflecting the sacred union He designed.

Marriage to someone outside the faith poses significant challenges for a Christian, as it hinders the deepest spiritual connection that God intends for the marital union. A Christian who marries a non-Christian willfully chooses substantial unhappiness, unable to share what is most real and precious in their life. Such a marriage may achieve a union of body with body, and sometimes even soul with soul, but it will never attain the spirit with spirit connection that God desires. This is exemplified in the case of Solomon, who married the daughter of Pharaoh despite knowing it was against God's will, as she did not worship the Eternal. Solomon's recognition of this mismatch led him to build a separate house for her, compartmentalizing his life and illustrating the inevitable division in such unions. The warning is clear: do not assume you will lift the non-Christian to faith, for even if conversion occurs, years of heartache may precede it. If the other person is not a Christian before engagement, they are not the spouse God intends for you. The call to avoid being unequally yoked with unbelievers underscores that true fellowship cannot exist between righteousness and lawlessness, or light and darkness. God's purpose in marriage is to reflect the eternal bond between Christ and the church, a profound mystery that can only be fully realized in a union of shared faith.

Any given doctrine must be built layer by layer, combining and comparing scriptures rather than allowing a single scripture to determine the doctrine. When we understand that porneia includes all the hideous perverted sexual sins that go beyond ordinary adultery- including bestiality, pedophilia, homosexuality, incest, and every other imaginable sexual perversion, we understand that Jesus gave a greater latitude and flexibility in these divorce decisions than we had earlier assumed (based exclusively upon adulterous 'fraud'). Any violence against the marriage contract (stemming from unconversion) would constitute grounds for divorce, and would permit the converted partner to remarry. Mutual access to the tree of life (God's Holy Spirit) gives marriage the best (actually the only) chance to succeed.