Nicole Richie has been told by boyfriend Joel Madden she must be become a Christian before he’ll consider marrying her.

The Good Charlotte rocker has a four-month-old daughter, Harlow, with the TV star - but he apparently won’t consider marriage until she finds God.

A source tells the National Enquirer, “Joel is determined not to marry Nicole until she asks for forgiveness for her sins and is willing to raise Harlow with the same religious upbringing he had.

"Joel regularly went to church as a child and believes God has made him who he is today.

“As much as Joel loves Nicole he feels their marriage would never work unless they are on the same page with their religious beliefs. Bottom line, he wants a Christian family."

"Joel may look like a rebel rocker, but he is an old-fashioned conservative with hardcore Christian beliefs. The Bible is a big part of his life, so much so that he has a tattoo of Jesus and a Sacred Heart on his arm."