Unequal yoke

[Willa]

On 5/6/2023 at 4:36 AM, SACREDWARRIOR said:

Hello,

 As in all scripture, CONTEXT is important...I Became a Christian after I got married.....wife did not follow me in that journey for 11 years....we now have a beautiful Christ centered relationship...

 The Unequally yoked passage..Is talking about a business arrangement, but does also apply to a marriage union...still we have to becareful not to Judge how God may be working in the circumstance.

 THE BATTLE RAGES TIL THE LION ROARS,

 Clarence

I also married an unbeliever and often asked God how long I would have to suffer for my disobedience.  The context of the passage is definitely speaking of marriage.

2Co 6:14  Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2Co 6:15  What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

It was 11 years before he was saved as well.  God spent 5 years of that time changing me into Christ's likeness while I, weeping, travailed in prayer night and day for his salvation.   

[Who me]

On 5/7/2023 at 4:33 AM, Wayne222 said:

I don’t fellowship with there life style of sins

Jesus ate with sinners, that is fellowshipping with them.

 

We don't have to identify with their lifestyle choices, but we are called to live in the same world, work in the same firm, have them working along side us etc etc

[FJK]

1 hour ago, Who me said:

Jesus ate with sinners, that is fellowshipping with them.

Were there non sinners for him to eat with?  To "fellowship" with?

My understanding is that he came to bring salvation to sinners, repentance and reconciliation with God, and associated with them to that purpose.

FWIW, there's an old saying that if you hang around a barbershop long enough you'll end up getting a haircut, something to contemplate as you establish relations with others and involve them in your life and your lifestyle.

Just a thought, not a judgment, make of it what you will.

[farouk]

6 hours ago, Willa said:

I also married an unbeliever and often asked God how long I would have to suffer for my disobedience.  The context of the passage is definitely speaking of marriage.

2Co 6:14  Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2Co 6:15  What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

It was 11 years before he was saved as well.  God spent 5 years of that time changing me into Christ's likeness while I, weeping, travailed in prayer night and day for his salvation.   

@Willa Glad it worked out well in the end.............

I do think Amos 3.3 is relevant also: "Can two walk together except they be agreed?"

[Neighbor]

Going back to the beginning post. Of course one can be friends with non-Christians!

Plus; partnering up or buying into what a person says or does because they are Christian  is a serious error. One that can cost dearly.  

Example: How many a person has been hit up by a salesperson from church, how many  that sell annuities and other products, like  stocks, essential oils, Cyber currency propositions, etc?

Are those individuals , those Christians, partnering up for benefit of anyone other than themself? No they are not! Their being Christian does not in of itself make for a grand recommendation for entering into a business deal or partnership. 

All that look like sheep may not be sheep either.

[FJK]

28 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Are those individuals , those Christians, partnering up for benefit of anyone other than themself?

Calling yourself Christian does not make you Christian, living in faith and obedience to Christ in all of your life and in all that you do does. 

[Vine Abider]

14 hours ago, Wayne222 said:

I don’t understand why the plain scripture is not listen to . If God says be NOT unequally yoke with unbelievers. People will come up with unsound reasons they can . Good post !

I don't think anyone here - at least from what I can see - is saying to marry an unbeliever!  It has simply been pointed out that in this passage, Paul does not use the word "marriage" specifically in context with this verse  That's it.  He saves that mention until much later.

For me this was an eye-opener that marriage was not mentioned in this passage, since I have ALWAYS heard it used specifically for marriage.  Now can it apply to that relationship?  Sure.  But let's not put our natural reasoning in there, where the word of God is silent, thereby putting undue human emphasis on something.  Again, no one, to my knowledge, is advocating marrying an unbeliever!

 

[Marathoner]

2 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I don't think anyone here - at least from what I can see - is saying to marry an unbeliever!  It has simply been pointed out that in this passage, Paul does not use the word "marriage" specifically in context with this verse  That's it.  He saves that mention until much later.

For me this was an eye-opener that marriage was not mentioned in this passage, since I have ALWAYS heard it used specifically for marriage.  Now can it apply to that relationship?  Sure.  But let's not put our natural reasoning in there, where the word of God is silent, thereby putting undue human emphasis on something.  Again, no one, to my knowledge, is advocating marrying an unbeliever!

 

Indeed. I haven't advocated such a thing either. We have pointed out how scripture is sometimes silent regarding something others feel strongly about; this is one of those situations.

It's clear from the passages I referenced in an earlier post that marriage with an unbeliever was neither forbidden nor unheard of in the early Church, so this isn't something that arose in modern times because men and women are searching for ways to be disobedient. Paul gave his judgment to the Corinthians as to how specific situations arising with an unbelieving husband or wife ought to be handled. We note how the apostle did not rebuke anyone for marrying an unbeliever.

It's troubling that scripture can't be discussed without accusations of wrongdoing cropping up: "You don't believe as I do, so you must be looking for ways to disobey God." That's common fare, and has nothing to do with discussing the scriptures. 

Simply because the Lord permits something doesn't mean we advocate for it to be done. 

[Vine Abider]

12 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

Indeed. I haven't advocated such a thing either. We have pointed out how scripture is sometimes silent regarding something others feel strongly about; this is one of those situations.

It's clear from the passages I referenced in an earlier post that marriage with an unbeliever was neither forbidden nor unheard of in the early Church, so this isn't something that arose in modern times because men and women are searching for ways to be disobedient. Paul gave his judgment to the Corinthians as to how specific situations arising with an unbelieving husband or wife ought to be handled. We note how the apostle did not rebuke anyone for marrying an unbeliever.

It's troubling that scripture can't be discussed without accusations of wrongdoing cropping up: "You don't believe as I do, so you must be looking for ways to disobey God." That's common fare, and has nothing to do with discussing the scriptures. 

Simply because the Lord permits something doesn't mean we advocate for it to be done. 

Double indeed!  That is rightly dividing the word of God!

[Wayne222]

16 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I don't think anyone here - at least from what I can see - is saying to marry an unbeliever!  It has simply been pointed out that in this passage, Paul does not use the word "marriage" specifically in context with this verse  That's it.  He saves that mention until much later.

For me this was an eye-opener that marriage was not mentioned in this passage, since I have ALWAYS heard it used specifically for marriage.  Now can it apply to that relationship?  Sure.  But let's not put our natural reasoning in there, where the word of God is silent, thereby putting undue human emphasis on something.  Again, no one, to my knowledge, is advocating marrying an unbeliever!

 

      Your making a issue out of nothing. It’s used a lot for marriage because it applies. And for a lot of other things. It’s not silent you need to use other passages to know all of scripture. I am not in a debate about this subject. The Bible is super clear.

 

 

 

16 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I don't think anyone here - at least from what I can see - is saying to marry an unbeliever!  It has simply been pointed out that in this passage, Paul does not use the word "marriage" specifically in context with this verse  That's it.  He saves that mention until much later.

For me this was an eye-opener that marriage was not mentioned in this passage, since I have ALWAYS heard it used specifically for marriage.  Now can it apply to that relationship?  Sure.  But let's not put our natural reasoning in there, where the word of God is silent, thereby putting undue human emphasis on something.  Again, no one, to my knowledge, is advocating marrying an unbeliever!

 

I do agree the word marriage is not there but the principle is there of course