When asked for help by Christians living in religiously divided households, elders refer to such counsel as that of Paul, who wrote: “To the married people I give instructions, yet not I but the Lord, that a wife should not depart from her husband; but if she should actually depart, let her remain unmarried or else make up again with her husband; and a husband should not leave his wife....
Kui usuliselt lahkmeelses peres elav kristlane palub kogudusevanematelt abi, võivad need viidata muu hulgas nõuandele, mille Paulus kirja pani: ” Abielus inimestele annan ma juhised, kuid mitte mina, vaid Issand, et naine ärgu mingu oma mehe juurest ära, aga kui ta siiski läheb, jäägu ta abielutuks või leppigu jälle ära oma mehega; ja mees ärgu jätku oma naist maha....