what does it mean to be equally yoked in a relationship

If you've grown up in church, you've probably heard the phrase "unequally yoked" from 2 Corinthians 2:14 only now you're wondering what this actually means. Is dating someone who doesn't share your beliefs really such a big deal? Actually, yes.

What does it mean to be "unequally yoked"?

2 Corinthians six:xiv is the oftentimes-cited verse calling believers to exist "as yoked".  To exist yoked refers to two oxen that are joined past a wooden bar in social club to complete work together. Being unequally yoked means that the two oxen are not equal in strength - one being weaker. When oxen are not equally yoked, they can not complete a task together well. Using this imagery, Christians cannot be partnered with unbelievers or they volition non be able to live out the Christian life that God wants for them. The weaker unbeliever who lives according to the flesh will deadening downward and hinder the Christian. Our faith is not meant to acquaintance with the darkness of the sinful globe.

Many believers fail to come across why this command from the Campaigner Paul is then important. Others disregard it completely. Permit's take a wait at this verse using different versions of Scripture.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" - KJV

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" - ESV

"Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can lite have anything in common with darkness?" - God'due south Discussion Translation

Beingness every bit yoked is non meant to inhibit our dating lives. Rather, it is a command designed for protection and accolade. Being unequally yoked is more unsafe than yous think – and waiting for someone with whom you share the same spiritual heritage is far more rewarding than many believe.

Dating an Unbeliever is Disobedience

I once received an email from a reader. In it, she said she didn't call back God cared about who she dated or married – He had bigger things to worry almost. But this couldn't be further from the truth. God has always cared about the unions His people make – equally evidenced by His relationship with Israel.

In Deuteronomy 7, Moses is instructing the Israelites in their responsibilities as the people of God. They have been freed from slavery and are now free men, near to enter the Promised Land. Merely Moses gives a warning:

"You shall make no covenant with [the people of the land] and testify no favor to them. Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them…for they will turn your sons away from post-obit Me to serve other gods…" (Deut. vii:three-4)

Fast forward several hundred years, and nosotros discover Israel in directly rebellion against God'due south command:

"The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites…; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods." (Judges 3:five-6)

Information technology probably didn't seem so harmful at showtime. Perhaps the Israelites felt like in that location weren't enough women, or there weren't enough men to get around. Still they rationalized it, the Israelites formed covenants between themselves and people who neither knew nor served God. In and then doing, they were led astray.

Over and over in Scripture, we see this theme repeated. 2 are Samson, who repeatedly sought out unbelieving women, a choice which in the finish destroyed him (Judges 14), and Solomon, the wisest human being in the world – until his many wives led him to worship other gods (1 Kings 11).

Uniting ourselves to people who do not love, follow, or submit to Christ is direct disobedience

Intimacy is Incommunicable Without Spiritual Unity - I Yoked to Christ

If Christ is truly King of our lives, our most intimate selves should be submitted to His influence. How so can nosotros unite a Spirit-led soul to ane in rebellion against God?

This rubs people the wrong way, considering no matter how respectful, sweet, or "loving" an unbelieving partner is, he is at odds with Christ – he is in rebellion. Just if we call ourselves Christians, we're saying we believe the Bible is our last dominance. The Bible says that allhave sinned and fallen curt of the glory of God and that without Christ we are "[unresponsive] in our transgressions", conformed to the world, "living by the cravings of our mankind" and "by nature, children of wrath". (Eph. 2:1-three) This is who we are without Jesus. This is who anybodyis autonomously from Christ.

Therefore, those of us in Christ cannot exist in a harmonious, God-pleasing relationship with an unbeliever. There is no fellowship between calorie-free and darkness (2 Cor. 7:14)! The Greek word for "fellowship" in this passage literally means contactor intimacy. Through Paul's inspired words, we learn that intimacy with unbelievers is non merely discouraged – it's incommunicable.

God knows this. It's why he allowable the Israelites to marry within the household of faith, and information technology's why He inspired Paul to issue the aforementioned command. This is for our spiritual protection! Righteousness has nothing in common with a person who believes they are good enough apart from God:

"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in mutual? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Cor. 6:14-15)

No relationship autonomously from Christ can be truly "good" (Mark ten:18). No "dear" apart from Christ is truthful love (1 John 4:16-17). It may await like these things from the outside, simply volition never exist unified within.

Your Body is a Sanctuary of Worship

Paul'south mandate to be "every bit yoked" isn't found in a listing of commandments; it was written to the struggling church at Corinth, a group of people confused nearly how to live for Christ in a corrupt world. That's why he took the time to explicate whyequal yoking is essential to the Christian walk:

"What understanding tin can exist 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 volition exist their God,
and they will be My people."
"Therefore come out from among them
and be carve up,says the Lord.
Touch no unclean affair,
and I will receive you lot." (2 Cor. 6:16-17)

Your body is the new Temple. As a follower of Christ, the Spirit of God dwells in you. This is why God calls u.s.a. to "come out from among them, and separate." He's non telling the states to be unloving – we are called to honey unbelievers (1 Pet. 2:12). God is calling us to love Himmore than we love our own desire for a relationship. He's calling u.s.a. to be a place of worship.

This is a call to reconsider your view of God and dating. God cares about our relationships because He cares about the states.He cares near our purity because that is what keeps usa in a human relationship with Him! Our holiness preaches the gospel louder than our words. Diff yoking hinders our walk with God – the one thing nosotros need more annihilation else.

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If you are already married to an unbeliever, the Bible speaks to your side by side steps. Start past reading 1 Corinthians vii. Questions? Email Phylicia at phyliciadeltablog@gmail.com

Phylicia Masonheimerblogs at Phylicia Delta, where she teaches women how to preach the gospel with their lives: proclaiming Jesus in work, dear, and home. Her eBook Christian Cosmo launches March 1st, 2017.

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Source: https://www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/why-being-unequally-yoked-is-more-dangerous-than-you-think.html

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