Meaning of unequally
yoking?
In the Old Testament the Lord Almighty warned Israel, “When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; and when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shall smite them, and utterly destroy them;
thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto thy son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. But thus shall thee deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.”
(Deuteronomy 7:1-5)
We read in the Holy Bible about a great King of
Israel, the King Solomon, "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding
exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the
sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children
of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than
all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the
sons of Mahol; and fame was in all nations round about. And he spake
three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five. And he
spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the
hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of
fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people
to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had
heard of his wisdom.
(1-Kings 4:29-34)
But we see and read
after all this prosperity and success that the Lord Almighty God gave him
King Solomon could not obey the God. And it is stated in the Holy Bible
that how he bedded with strangers. "But king Solomon loved man strange
women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites,
ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning
which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not
go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will
turn away unto heat after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in
love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred
concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass,
when Solomon was old , that his wives turned away his heart after other
gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the
heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess
of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the ammonites. And
Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the
Lord, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for
Chemosh,, the abomination of Moab,, in the hill that is before Jerusalem,
and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise
did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto
their gods.
And the
Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord
God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him
concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he
kept not that which the Lord commanded. wherefore the Lord said unto
Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept
my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely
rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
(1-kings 11:1-11)
Now a days we see how the Church has badly “Bedded” with strangers? The Church has bedded herself with many lovers and has accepted every religion and sin into their hearts with open arms. The Secular minded and nominal Christians have been welcomed every evil and wickedness like as sexual-immorality, idolatry, homosexuality, and same sex-marriages, fornication, voluptuousness, sorcery and many other deformed teachings!
Unequally
yoking:
t is obviously written in the word of God, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with and infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; and God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Whereof, Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch not the unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, And ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith
the Lord Almighty”.
(2-Corinthians 6:14-18)
In the light of above verses
we see:
Marriage between believers
and unbelievers:
It is forbidden in the word of God, “Be ye not equally yoked together with unbelievers.” (2-Corinthians 6:14) Saint Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ says, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
.”
(1-Corinthians 9:5)
Then we read in the Holy Bible, “Can two
walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) This is a definite
Scriptural principle that does not change with the passing ages.
Separation:
It is written in the word of God, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”. (1-John 2:15-17)
Though we see these are some hard words, yet as a true believers we must face them daily. But it does not mean also to go away in seclusion and live in monasteries. The word of God also explains the meaning of the word “World” in 1-John 2:16, the very next verse after telling us not to love it.
“World” means “the lust of the flesh”, and “the lust of the eyes”, and “the pride of life”. Or the word “World” means this present world system which is controlled by Satan. There is also no allusion to leaving the material blessings of this life. These blessings God give liberally and richly for all to enjoy as it is written thus in the word of God, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living
God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life”.
(1-Timothy 6:17- 19) This would include innocent laughter, the play of children, clean social life, healthful recreation, the beauty of nature and the love of flowers etc. These cannot be unscriptural, worldly or sinful. Considering these wrong can make one an ascetic. .
Separation from all
unrighteousness:
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers ; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”
(2-Corinthians 6:14) “Saint Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ says, “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this word, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters, for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written
unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother (believer, Christian) be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1-Corinthians 5:9-13) It may be considered in business partnership between believers and unbelievers also as we see in the old Testament. “Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab…And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to
Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king jehoshaphat, shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the
land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God…And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.”
(2-Chronicles 18:1; 19:1-3; 20:35-37)
Separation
from all works of darkness:
“….and what communion hath light with darkness?”
(2-Corinthians 6:14)
The Christian is indwelt by Christ, the light of the world. “But not ye
therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now
are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:….And have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them.”
(Ephesians 5:7,8,11)
Separation
from Belial:
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial?” The Christian is indwelt by the Son of God".
(2-Chrinthians
6:15)
Separation from infidels:
“…or what part hath he that believeth with and infidels? “We must separate for we can have no fellowship.” (2-Corinthians 6:15) “But I say, that the things which the gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord,
and the cup of the devils: you
cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils”. (1-Corinthians 10:19-21)
Separation from Idols: “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? “A Christian is God's temple, indwelt by the Lord Himself”.
(2-Corinthians 6:16) So it is written thus, “And we know that we are of God, and whole world lieth
in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us
an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and
eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
(1-John 5: 19-21)
Separation from the false
teachers:
That dispute about primary doctrines, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you. Who privily
shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them,
and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their
pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken
of. “
(2-Peter2:1-2)
Separation from
heretics:
As it is
written in the word of God, “For many deceivers are
entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we loose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth
him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
(2-John 7-11)
Basic matters we have to follow
Time:
How much time ought we to give to worship, business, study, family and pleasure? To give excess time to any one field could be entirely wrong in relation of the day or life for which we are responsible.
So our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ in everything might have the supremacy
in our life.
Pleasure:
Pleasure are generally innocent and enjoyable, but some types are harmful. The word of God teaches us, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is for spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to
fulfill the lusts thereof.
Sports:
Most sports are beneficial and healthful, but one must keep balanced here. “See then that ye
walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the
days are evils. Wherefore
be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
(Ephesians 5:15-16)
Worldly amusements:
Dancing, cards, theater, magazines, betel nut, smoking, make-up, modern
styles of dress and hairdo, hobbies, television, fiestas, clubs, dating.
These things almost are written in the Holy Bible.
(Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21; Isaiah 3:16-24; 1-Peter 3:3; 1-Timothy
2:9; James 4:4)
Three basic rules to follow
If a certain point is troubling us, apply these three rules. Let it be very personal.
1.
I must separate
from anything that is designed to overthrow my faith in God, such as
infidel or atheistic clubs, Communist organizations, Secular culture,
etc.
2.
I must separate from anything that would destroy my testimony. My testimony is one of the most
priceless things that I possess here on earth.
3.
I must separate from any thing that would debase my morals and lead me to sin. If cards lead me to
gambling, then I must leave them. If dancing causes me to have impure and
unholy desires, then to
me
that things become sinful.
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God.”
( 2-Corinthians 7:1)
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