here - The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

J DFM 2.2 (2012): 14-20
When Only One Spouse
Believes: Hope for Christian
Women in Mixed Marriages
WILLIAM F. COOK, III
William F.
Cook, III is
Associate
Professor
of New
Testament
Interpretation
at The Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary.
In addition, he serves as
senior pastor at Ninth and
O Baptist Church, Louisville,
Kentucky. Before coming
to Southern he taught
at the Baptist College of
Florida for nine years. Dr.
Cook has written a number
of scholarly articles and
has extensive ministry
experience.
A Christian mother carting her children
off to church on Sunday morning
while her husband sits at the
table drinking coffee and waiting for
the ballgames to begin is an all too
familiar scene in America today. The
children eventually question their
mother as to why they have to go to
church if dad doesn’t go. Some days
she wonders what use there is in stressing
their need for Christ and to hear
his word while she gets no support
from her husband. She sits at church
surrounded by families with husbands
and wives holding hands as they sing
to the Lord. Their children seem eager
to be there. She realizes that the most
important part of her life is something
that her husband tolerates but has no
interest in talking to her about. She
contemplates how long she can live
this way, and if God wants her to go
on living this way. Maybe for her own
spiritual wellbeing and that of her
children she would be better off as a single mom.
Thoughts like these roll around in the minds of
many Christian women on Sunday morning. Sunday
mornings in the Lord’s house can be the loneliest times
in their lives. They feel alone, confused, and uncertain
as to what God’s will is for them in their present circumstances.
How can they possibly glorify God in their
current situation? Does God have any word for them?.
The answer is yes; God does have a word for women in
these circumstances, as well as a strategy for evangelizing
their husbands.
Ministry to families is often difficult at best. This is
especially true when only one spouse is a believer. Most
sermons and teaching on the family do not address this
very sensitive and difficult issue. As a result of this failure
to instruct people in this situation, Christians are
often unclear as to what their responsibilities are to their
unbelieving partner. While few passages in the Bible
speak directly to this issue, two crucial passages provide
sufficient insight and guidance. This article will examine
these passages and the implications that can be drawn
from them. In addition, consideration will be given to
the influence a Christian parent can have over their children
in a mixed marriage.
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