Yes, my current boyfriend was not a Christian when I met him. Well, he said he was a Christian because he went to an Anglican church as a kid, but hadn't for many years and did not have a relationship with God in a way that is shown through lifestyle at all. My dad is a pastor and I've grown up in a strong Christian home. We're pentecostal, and so my dad warned me about being "unevenly yolked" when deciding to date this boy, but was there for me. I knew this, and it laid heavy on my heart. One of the most important things for my future husband is for him to be a Christian as well, with strong values, so that we can have a household that actively seeks, trusts, and works on building a better relationship with Christ at all times.. together. And for me, the purpose of dating is to find the right person for marriage, not "for fun" as many people my age. (Im 21). So I wouldnt continue to date anyone that I know I wouldn't have the potential to marry.

We started dating and I shared my faith with him a lot. I believe that to be a Christian and go to heaven we must be "saved" which is a thing certain denominations do not believe, however, it is stated in the Bible. My boyfriend came to chruch with me, and showed lots of interest. He asked many questions and constantly wanted to know and learn more. One day at the pond he asks me "what time is chruch tonight?" I told him and he jumped up and said "We're going. I want to be saved. Tonight." We smiled, hugged, etc. He said he was ready and certain he wanted to take the next step with God and live for him. He had dramatically changed his lifestyle before I met him.. and still continues to. he doesnt drink or anything anymore, and we see eye-to-eye on many very important issues. We have similar values, and he reminds me to trust in God when i'm having a hard time in life. He takes his Bible to work to read on breaks, and asks me for Christian music on a USB drive. He loves it. He plays guitar on the worship team at church too some weeks. He's grown a lot spiritually and we would like to get married for sure. We're hoping within the next year. :)

God has answered a lot of my prayers for this man, and I'd like to thank him for it sincerely. He gave his testimony at church on Easter and thanked me and my family for being such a great model of what it means to have a relationship with God, and for helping him find his way. It makes me smile to look back to that night he got saved last summer. We still have minor disagreements about things about religion at times, but I trust God will work those out.

As for your situation, I personally wouldnt have married unless I knew we had the same faith and could support eachother spiritually. It's one thing to have a loving, caring relationship.. but having a God-filled one also makes an enormous difference in it! I've experienced the huge difference personally. However, since you're already married I'd make the best of the situation and keep doing what you're doing. Keep praying for him, and leading by example. Ask God to make himself real to him and open his heart to things he hears in church. If you continue to grow, he will notice the difference in you. When God shows in our lives, people notice. People notice the changes and will wonder what you have that they don't. It adds so much purpose and fulfillment in life. He will see it, just keep pressing on. It may take months, or even years.. but let God do the work. 

Best of luck to you two, and congrats on the marriage! Lucky!

@midge4ever@xanga - I was trying to remember where that verse was located. Thanks so much for posting it 

Thank you all so much for the advice! I know it's a little late for the marriage thing, but I think Shawn is showing some serious interest in Jesus and what it means to be a Christian. Thank you so much for all the prayers...I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! xo

I'm a Buddhist but maybe you can translate this over to your situation. When I began practicing Buddhism my wife didn't object and she didn't ask much about it. She didn't interfere with my morning and evening prayers. She didn't object to me going to meetings. She seemed not to pay much attention at all. After about 3 months she asked out of the blue if she could attend a meeting with me. I suspected she was curious as to why I was so excited to go to meetings and perhaps thought my enthusiasm was because of the girls there. At the meeting she was asked if she had any questions and she answered "How do I start practicing?" I was surprised. She continued telling the people there that I had changed. She said I had become happier, more attentive to her and I was doing things like dishes and vacuuming without her prompting. That brought a laugh out of everyone. I was the only one there who was in the dark but then I thought about it and it was true. I had been doing those things and was transforming my life for the better so seamlessly that I wasn't even aware of it. I think badgering her about practicing herself might have had the opposite effect. 

You are starting off in the right direction! For me it was a long haul. My husband was raised in a very traditional church that was very strict. He had "gone through the motions" because it was expected. But the real heart connection never happened till much later.

You have a kind heart and a loving one and are working to stay close the Lord yourself. That is all the Lord needs to help you. And that is the one thing to keep in mind: It is the Lord's job to save him, you can do all the most perfect things in the world for him but the Lord is the one who does it. I say that not only because it's true but to keep you from getting discouraged. It will happen...but all in God's good time.

Praying for you too!

@Kidd - Yes there are verses that tell us to not be unequally yolked. But, there are some cases where two unsaved people get married and then after a while one gets saved. Or there's a case like this one where she got saved before she was married. She let her passion for Christ die down a little. Her husband says he's a Christian, but it doesn't show through how he acts. Her fire for God comes back and she now realizes that her husband is not who he says he is...or at least he doesn't act like it. These are cases where verses like I Peter 3:1-6 come in handy.

"Do not be unequally yolked" is a command. As well as the command in I Peter 3:1-6. God wants us to be prepared for every situation that we get ourselves into.

@Kidd - Did you even read my comment. Both are a command. There are situations where two UNSAVED people get married. After a while one gets saved. This is the point where they become unequally yolked. But, God says not to divorce. Rather he says that we should be a light to our unsaved spouse and show them God's light through our purity. They are both a command. The unequally yolked thing isn't even directed towards marriage. Though it is meant to be taken into account when you are getting ready to marry someone.

I feel like we`re talking about eggs here... I made a spelling error in my first post (yoked not yolked) and now I can`t stop laughing when I read my own comments. lol

@Kidd - Ok. I shouldn't have phrased my last comment the way I did. Because now I just confused you even more. I think the problem is you don't understand because you don't want to understand. You will probably dissagree with me. But, that's really what I think. And let me tell you. Not everything is easy to understand. But, one thing I know for sure is that EVERYTHING in the Bible should be taken as a command. Everything. Not just the things you want to do, but also the things you don't want to do. When The Bible says, "do this." It's God saying, "do this because I told you to do it and not only when you feel like it!" Take the verses into context (read the verses around that verse. That usually makes things clearer.). I'm sorry I couldn't really help you.

Hi my name is Kyle and i need alot of help and Prayers.  Im in asituation that i had never been in before ill explain.  I am at the age of 20 almost (21) the thing is that I have been in a relationship for bout 2 and half years with this girl i lvove to death.  I was born and raised in a somewhat christian home knowing wrong from right and attending church and multiple church camps while growing up.  I had read my bible bouy every day and prayed before i went to bed but now it seems so hard to get back on track.  A couple years ago i had first started at a community college just making friends and getting to know roomates well one day my friends girlfriend came to the dorm to hang out wit us and just to chill.  eventually we got know eachother and she wanted to be with me because here and my roomate were not getting along at the time so i said why not.  well ihad found out that she knows that there is a god but doesnt believe in god i have lost the connection with god ever since that day.  She says shes an atheist and im christian i want to change her views but dont know how.  I have not gone to church or read my bible or even prayed since i had graduated form highschool just because i had felt free to do whatever.  I had partied and did things i regret now.  I dont know how to handle the situation.  I now have a pregnant fiance i have been with her like i said earlier been with her since i met her in college.  she is not 18 so she is pregnant and i had sex before marriage we both have been physically bonded with each other but i had lost all connection with god and need help on understanding how i can get that connection back im lost in a situaion shes an athiest and im a christian or was one.  Everytime i try to talk to her bout god she stares at me like im crazy and just doesnnt care bout anything i say bout Christianity or god because of what her belies are she willing to go to church but i dont think she wants to for the same reasons as i do also she wants to get married on Halloweej of this year and i dont know if thats a good thing or not. I mean i want to marry her but i not sure if im ready or not and i had tried talking to her parents bout it and they said that they were married at our age and lasted like maybe 2 yrs so i dont want to get married and then divorced in two years.  I really do need help and pprayers to help me revive what was lost with god in the begining.