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Not Yoked with Unbeliever – 2 Cor. 6:14
Not Yoked with Unbeliever – 2 Cor. 6:14
Paul wrote to the Corinthians "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
In this section, Paul mentions several ‘categories’ of people and activities: unbelievers, lawlessness, darkness, Belial, idols. He also speaks in various ways of associations with such: unequally yoked, partnership, fellowship, accord, portion, and agreement.
The principle here is based upon the truth that we are God’s people and are governed by our desire to be pleasing unto Him in all aspects of our lives. Obviously, such yoking/partnership has some limitations of application in that we live in and deal with unbelievers all the time. That which involves worship and acknowledgment of false gods is wrong. That which involves participation in that which is evil and ungodly is also prohibited.
One such activity would be joining in worship of idols and false gods. Such is obvious to us, but apparently wasn’t as clearly seen in the Corinthian community of the first century. The problem becomes how this is to be applied for our lives today. Becoming a partner in a business venture with an unbeliever COULD pose such problems but is not necessarily a violation of this principle. One could also think of joining a bowling league or playing in a softball league. Such involve fellowship and participation in an activity YET such is not under consideration here for it does not involve false gods, unlawfulness, or ungodliness.
Marrying an unbeliever can have a serious impact upon one’s faith but it not thereby prohibited nor necessarily sinful. I speak as one who was the unbeliever and was converted through the relationship with my believing wife. Was it wise for her to marry me? I would say ‘no’ — but I am thankful for the way things worked out. I realize that more often, such marriages end up with the believer losing their faith or at least compromising their faith to some degree. It poses problems on how to raise children. It poses problems on how to spend the family money. It poses problems on activities that are engaged in. Yet, it is not in itself sinful.
The given solution for one who has become entangled in a partnership, fellowship, agreement, and accord with that which is ungodly, lawless, and evil was to ‘come out from among them’. This would have serious implications if it were demanded that all who married an unbeliever must so separate. There would be and are marriage situations where a believer is made to choose either to remain married or to compromise his faith. While that makes for a difficult choice, one must love the Lord more than one's spouse. Obviously, to me that really is not a matter of choice: we must obey God and not men. If standing firm means the unbeliever departs, then ‘let him depart’ (1Cor. 7:15) for believers are servants of God and NOT in bondage to the unbeliever. Yet, not all marriages to unbelievers involve this radical of a choice. In these situations, one will remain married but will have problems.
Loving God above all else, including our mates, our jobs, our material possessions, IS the first and greatest commandment. Learning to serve Him while living in and among the world is our challenge. Choosing those situations in life that will promote my faith and make it easier for me to live godly is to make good choices. Choosing to enter into situations that make it more difficult to be faithful to God is risky at best and foolhardy at worst. Let us live wisely before God.
Hugh DeLong
