unequally yoked

Post by **_glow** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:59 pm

I have a question. The bible speaks of us not being unequally yoked. Exactly what does that mean?

Does it refer to just Christian being with a non Christian in a marriage partnership? Or does it expand to individual Christians.

For an example a Christian who loves to go to church vs one who hardley ever goes. Should they be married or close friends , partners in a business etc? What if the differences are greater such as one is wealthy and likes material goods and the other has very little and comes from a back ground of poverty etc. Or greater still, one comes from a background of yelling and fighting while growing up and the other comes from a very settled God inspired family.

It seems like people around me end up hanging out with people of similar backgrounds and financial status. Christian or not. I am curious what others glean from the bible in this area.

thanks Glow

Post by **_Steve** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 12:31 pm

While it may be true that "opposites [initially] attract," when it comes to marriage, it is the similarities that make a lifelong union pleasant and dissimilarities that create challenges.

Paul's main concern in the verse you mentioned is strictly concerned with the wrongful combining of believers with "unbelievers." Thus a marriage between two Christians of very different temperaments, backgrounds, and tastes is not forbidden—just unwise.

Post by **_eppsjason** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 12:45 pm

Read all of 2 Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

It's saying that a saint should not marry or be closely acquainted with a sinner. You have to be careful using "Christians". Everybody thinks they're a Christian just because they believe in God. That's not all there is to being saved. Believing and being baptized is not all there is to being saved. Notice the scripture uses "righteousness" and "light". It is referring to those who are truly saved and don't sin anymore. You can't be righteous if you still doing some wrong things. Whether a person says they're a Christian or not is irrelevant. Are you saved is the question.

May you be a hearer and doer of The Word.