Articles
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked Together With Unbelievers
“Do not be unequally yoked
together with unbelievers” By Derek Long
2 Corinthians 6:14 commands us, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” We are then given a list of reasons why it is important for us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. We are reminded righteousness and lawlessness have nothing in common. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 says, “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” The chapter ends with statements regarding how we are to be God’s temple and children. As God’s temple and children we are to be separate from the wickedness in the world around us. “As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18). Let’s think about how these passages might apply to relationships we have with others.
“Unbelievers” is a term used in reference to non-Christians in several places (1 Corinthians 6:6; 7:12-15; 10:27). The term “unbeliever” also is broad enough to include an unfaithful child of God as well (John 20:27, etc.). Unbelievers in the context would include people who are going to have an evil influence upon us whether they are non-Christians or unfaithful Christians (1 Corinthians 15:33).
The concept of being “unequally yoked together” seems to go back to the practice of having two different animals yoked together to do work. Deuteronomy 22:10 commanded the children of Israel, “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.” When animals were unequally yoked together, one animal (the stronger animal) would be able to influence and lead the other. Christians need to be careful about entering into relationships where the wicked are exerting an influence upon them rather than the child of God influencing the wicked.
A question which often arises in discussing this passage is: Do these verses prohibit a Christian from marrying a non-Christians? Is it sinful for a Christian to marry a non-Christian? 1 Corinthians 7:12-15 and 1 Peter 3:1-2 speak of situations where a Christian is married to a non-Christian. The relationship must not be a sinful relationship because neither passage commands the Christian to leave the relationship. In fact, 1 Corinthians 7:12-15 tells the Christian to remain in the relationship as long as the unbeliever is willing to remain married to them. While these passages may be written to address a situation in which an individual obeyed the gospel and their spouse did not, they do teach us marriages between Christians and non-Christians are not sinful. The fact a marriage between a Christian and a non-Christian is not sinful does not necessarily mean it is the best situation. The ideal situation would obviously be for both husband and wife to be faithful Christians. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” If we are doing something which the Bible tells us not to do, repentance would require us to stop the sin (2 Corinthians 6:17 - “Come out from among them and be separate). Therefore, 2 Corinthians 6:14 is not saying a marriage between a Christian and a non-Christian is sinful. Does the passage have application to a marriage relationship between a Christian and a non-Christian? Yes. The passage has application to any relationship we have with any unbeliever. Christians need to think seriously about marrying a non-Christian and recognize the challenges it might bring. A non-Christian spouse will not share some very important things in common with their Christian spouse.
A non-Christian spouse can have a wicked influence upon their
Christian spouse. The Bible warns us to be careful about our relationships with unbelievers but does not forbid us to have relationships with them.
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 speaks of Paul encouraging the Corinthians to be open to them. Part of being open to Paul and his fellow workers would be to receive their teaching and influence. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 seems to be a contrast in telling them not to be open to the teaching and influence of unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 11:4 shows Paul was concerned they might be influenced by unbelievers.
A Christian in his relationships with unbelievers must be careful not to allow the unbeliever to influence them and lead them into sin. A Christian cannot just follow an unbeliever into their sinful actions. If we have been allowing people to influence us to engage in sinful actions, we need to get out of such an arrangement and separate ourselves from the wickedness they have led us to engage in. For example, a Christian who is married to a non-Christian should not be unequally yoked to their unbelieving mate in the sense of following them into some sort of sinful action (1 Corinthians 7:15, 23). If we find ourselves being influenced by unbelievers, we may not necessarily have to exit the relationship entirely e.g., a Christian would not divorce their non-Christian spouse. We must exit the unequal yoke and resolve to follow God instead of being unequally yoked to an unbeliever and walk in sin along with them (Ephesians 5:11; 2 John 9-11). Remember James 4:4, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God
- Bulletin_-_2_16_20.pdf (50.70 kB)
