Tag: don’t be unequally yoked
Come Out and Be Separate!
Scripture reading for November 29th: 2nd Corinthians 6-9
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you.” (2nd Corinthians 6:14-17)
This passage has been used for a variety of applications over the years. It is used to tell those getting married not to join themselves to an unbeliever. All of these questions are designed to help a person think through their relationship and make sure that they are marrying a believer who is spiritually compatible with them. That is a good and proper use of this passage and may be a proper interpretation.
Another application that I have heard of is using this to tell Christians not to have anything to do with non-Christians. The idea is taught that non-believers are full of the devil and may contaminate believers who go near them. God won’t bless us if we get too close to unbelievers and we will live a miserable life. The problem with this argument is that it is not exactly what this passage is talking about. Being yoked with someone has to do with making a covenant or business agreement. It does not mean having just casual contact with someone. How can we reach unbelievers if we separate ourselves from them completely? Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would be kept safe in the world, not that we would be taken out of the world. Jesus sent us into the world as the Father sent Him into the world, to reach lost people.
We must not love the world or become entangled in close relationships with unbelievers. There will be inevitable conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. They will not mix! We must be wise and heed the advice of Scripture rather than trying to defy it. God is your loving Father and His will is best!