A lot of the time, people read “unequally yoked” in 2 Corinthians 6:14 and immediately think of marriage. But that’s actually not the primary focus here. The focus is on the believer and his or her spiritual life. When we’re unequally yoked with an unbeliever, it can cause us to be led astray from the Lord.
To be a Christian requires us to be in the world of unbelievers. However, it’s important for us to not be “unequally yoked” with unbelievers. And it’s important for us to understand what this phrase means.
“Unequally Yoked” Is a Personal Thing
As we read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, we see that being unequally yoked is a very personal thing. It has to do with relationships, and it affects our relationships with God and others.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
– 2 Corinthians 6:14a (ESV)
The idea of being yoked is a farming term, referring to two animals being hitched together for work. So unequally yoked has to do with two different animals being put together. This, of course, causes hardship for both in trying to complete the work.
If a Christian is bonded to an unbeliever, it’s a problem. Why? Because it can be harmful to the Christian’s spiritual life. It ties him or her to someone who has different beliefs and values, and tempts them to be drawn away from Christ. As it also says in verse 14, “For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?”
- Read more articles on 2 Corinthians right here!
To have such an un-Christian influence in our life is dangerous. Put a different way in the same verse: “Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Christ and Satan are incompatible. You cannot worship God along with other gods.
What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God …
– vv. 15-16
“Unequally Yoked” Affects Our Walk with Christ
Being unequally yoked is something to try to avoid in business relationships and marriage. (If you’re already married and become a Christian, though, stay married and witness to your spouse.) This also applies to close friendships.
You might be wondering, “Should I leave my non-Christian friends then?” If so, consider this. If you continue to faithfully follow Christ in those relationships, one of two things will happen:
- You’ll influence your friends, and they’ll become believers.
- Your friends will leave you because they’ll be uncomfortable.
We have to make sure that our fellowship is drawing us toward Christ. As Christians, we’ll never see eye to eye with non-Christians. We’ll always experience conflict with them. We’ll constantly be tempted to participate in things that are contrary to our beliefs. And such believer/non-believer relationships can bring idols into our lives.
“Unequally Yoked” Keeps Us from Being Yoked to Christ
Christianity isn’t all negative. In other words, it’s not just about what not to do. Making sure we’re not unequally yoked is really something that protects us so we can enjoy something better.
… as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
– vv. 16b-18
Christ wants to protect us in our day-to-day relationships because He wants to be close with us. Christ wants to be yoked with us so that He can steer our lives. He wants us to be obedient so that
- He can dwell with us
- we can walk with Him
- He will be our Father
As individual Christians and as a church, we want to establish relationships in order to touch people’s lives with the gospel. But we need to be careful not to be negatively influenced by these relationships. We must influence unbelievers without them influencing us.
Avoiding being “unequally yoked” doesn’t mean we can’t interact with non-Christians. It means not getting so close that we’re pulled away from Christ. He wants to have the primary relationship with us, guiding us in everyday life.
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