Well, our non-Christian marriages, the marriages of two non-Christians, are these unions legit

in God's eyes.

It's a question today from a listener named Steve.

Pastor John, thank you so much for your ministry, your rights.

This podcast and a number of your books have had a large impact on my spiritual walk.

Here's my question.

A coworker asks me if I thought God honored secular marriages.

My gut reaction was yes.

My coworker said no.

He believes that if two parties don't believe in God, then God is not in that marriage

and therefore God does not recognize the marriage.

He went further to state that God does not even hear non-Christian prayers.

I'll be honest, I didn't know how to respond or defend my opposition to his stance.

Is there a biblical backing for the legitimacy of secular marriages?

This is one of those classic instances where disagreement precedes definition, or where

conflict precedes clarification.

So it's an opportunity for me to get on my soapbox and plead with all Christians that we

not engage in conflict or in debates where the terms of the conflict and the definitions

in the debate are not clear.

Arguing about words or phrases that are undefined is like a watchdog barking at shadows.

It might scare away a burglar, but he also might scare away the fireman who's here to

save your house from burning down, an argument without clear definitions.

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