To Be Unequally Yoked

[xyla12]

One option with this; both get married as non-believers and one of them becomes born again.  In 1 Cor. 7:10-16  Paul mentions as by himself (his words), not the Lord, that one believer in the home can make the family righteous.  For we do not know the Will of God in bringing others to Him.  Yet, this is for those spouses that are not as awful as some are...(abusers, adulterers, killers, etc.)  To take this further, let us say the non-believer fornicates (cheats), then definitely there is perfect biblical grounds for being set free from the marriage.  Even further, the spouse hates God, yes, that is definitely not going to work anyway, because the spouse that hates God usually ends up hating their believing spouse. 

I think, as we continue in our walk with Jesus Christ, we will be guided as to the discernment of such unique situations and how to deal with them.  I have trust and faith in Him and know that He is a great guide of the things in our lives if we give Him the submission and chance to take care of it for us and not force our will in impatient ignorance/confusion.  My prayers to all who come across such situations to take it to Jesus and let Him take care of it/guide you.

[desi2007]

Good point Ladykay, I never thought about how that was addressed concerning the women back in that time. I will do some research myself on this topic.

[myab]

I am not sure but I'm thinking if we are believes and God allows us to be yoked that he has his plan in store for us

[Guest]

One option with this; both get married as non-believers and one of them becomes born again.  In 1 Cor. 7:10-16  Paul mentions as by himself (his words), not the Lord, that one believer in the home can make the family righteous. 

I believe Pauls said the unbeleiver was made holy or is sanctified, not made righteous, there is a difference.

 

Regarding the yoking question, I do not beleive that it is limited to mariage at all, nor do I think it extends to every possible relationship. I would not think to apply this to neighbor, friends etc. in most cases. It seems to be about yoking, that is partnering.

 

If I am in business with someone who is not a believer, chances are good that our moral and ethical outlooks will be different, and question will arise where incompatible differences create real issues. Same thing in marriage, who needs the difficulties of incompatible outlooks.

 

Friendships are different, because there is no yoking in a friendship, there is no contract to keep. Friends you love, and part of love is telling people about Jesus. We cannot effectively communicate the gospel, to people we try to keep separate from, but we need not to participate in sin, with friends or anyone else.

 

However, we are told to separate from beleivers who act as if they are not:

 

 9I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

[kwikphilly]

Blessings Everyone.

      Paul was addressing the church at Corinth not necessarily speaking on marriages but that also would apply....as far as arranged marriages goes I know a little about this as not much has changed in many Italian traditional families...I come from a long line of arranged marriages and the thinking behind it was to keep within race,the Italians ,for example from Rome would frown upon one of their children marrying a Sicilian....this way all family customs,traditions and values would be upheld and what they believed would remain pure & unadulterated.....I would imagine it was not very different in ancient times........

      Life does seem less complicated when you are around people that are brought up the same way you are.....but here in America & I suppose much of the world today we are all intermingling with all walks of life and families just don't seem to be very traditional anymore...so many customs are a thing of the past...

     But Gods Word is never changing & we should not be yolked with the unbeliever that we not be lead into sin.....

                                                                                                                     With love,in Christ-Kwik