Do Not Be Yoke Together With unbelievers, you have nothing in common, you may think you do, It is sad, but you don't.

[PloughBoy]

@PloughBoy -- no Wonder you have the attitudes you have. Some very poor pastoral guidance. And a challenging wife. Thanks for sharing that which you have shared. Explains a lot.

That was over 40 years ago. It help lead me to Christ and study my Bible! and learn words and go to Bible college and endure hard ship! and Help lead many to Christ. Is that not something. I have kept the faith. And through that relationship many men and women and their children came to christ and a few became Ministers and Pastors. Now is that not strange. and many did also say to me years later that i was so far up in the religious body that they cannot speak to me. And that really hurt me. Then I change my pace, with the help of God.

 

[Brother-Paul]

John 15:12 (NKJV)
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Ermmm

Has God not created us all different? So with so many differences I guess we could say there are going to be conflicts amongst us, in the world no doubt, but we do not belong to the world.

1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Shalom

 

[PloughBoy]

That was over 40 years ago. It help lead me to Christ and study my Bible! and learn words and go to Bible college and endure hard ship! and Help lead many to Christ. Is that not something. I have kept the faith. And through that relationship many men and women and their children came to christ and a few became Ministers and Pastors. Now is that not strange. and many did also say to me years later that i was so far up in the religious body that they cannot speak to me. And that really hurt me. Then I change my pace, with the help of God.

and thank God when I became born again, they gave me to God and said they could not teach me! I never been under a pastor in "actuallity" but I was among them in Private sessions. No other non-pastors or women allowed. Over 300 pastors every week i set with them. Wondering what I'am doing hear. just watching and learning and observing their behavior. My life has been strange. imagine a young man among Pastors who said regular church services is not where i should be. Now imagine how i felt. Like a duck out of water, I had to learn theological words on my own. they would lecture using those big theological words. I didn't know what they was talking about! LOL, then sometimes they would ask me a question! i would answer with a verse and stop! LOL expound what? I didn't know what the word expound meant let a lone speak! I know many might think i am lying, but i am telling the truth! I learn that WORD! Those Theologians was to heavy for me! I remember one guy graduate from "Yale" started to Talk about "Elohim", I didn't even know what he was talking about. I was trying to firgure out what a 'L,O HIM" was. then i figured it out it was something about GOD.
You might think i am lying, i am telling you the truth. i did not want no part of this thing, Iwas trying to get a way out! And they kept tellling me about 'Jonah" and how God had A Fish made especially for you, even if he had to call the wind and seas to come get you, you coming. I was scared. every where i went, Methodist female Pastor the family knew, "I been watching you all these years the hand of God been on you"!

You might like this "Discipleship' stuff. and want to do great work for God. Not me!! just leave me alone, all I ever wanted was a nice family, go on summer trips, Bar B que in back yard, canoeing and camping trips, Nice little pretty christian family, Put my arms around her waist, kiss my wife on the lips, pat her on the back side and look in her eyes! and watch her wear those jeans and put on that Sundress and those Sandal shoes with painted toe nails! And fix her bath with bubbles in it! Is that to much for a christian God fearing man to want! You go ahead and you do great things for God! I wanted to be "Tarzan with his Jane"!

 

[Brother-Paul]

Hi PB, Bless you brother,

As we get older and look back not much of our lives was has we would have liked, tomorrow always had its surprises, and not often nice ones.

But thank the Lord for Jesus my friend, our lives could have been much worse. One day at a time PB, do not worry about what isn't or hasn't, do not worry about tomorrow, do not worry at all, one day soon brother we will be with the Lord, and be with Him for eternity.

Bless you my friend.

Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding (you know the rest brother)

Let us Rejoice and give thanks my friend.

Jesus loves you PB we do to.

 

[Dave M]

I know you addressed this to Sue, and I won't presume to speak for her.

In this case you may be right, I suspect he is looking for converts.
But should we do this in every case? The knife cuts both ways.

A long time ago.. (in a galaxy far away)...
Some Mormons came to my house. Obviously to share their faith with me. They had their "elder" badges on, and the Book of Mormon with them.
They made no pretense about why they were here. They offered to "mow my grass" or do some small chores to help me out. I give them credit for the way they evangelize.
So I invited them in, we talked about Jesus for a little while. Eventually we got around to some of the differences between "the Mormon Jesus" and "the Jesus of the Bible".
They had never heard this before. They were there less than 30 minutes, but when it was time to leave they asked if they could pray for me.

Sometimes I feel a little prickling behind my ears... a still small voice as it were. I was about to say no.
But I told them, they could with one small stipulation. That they specifically say "the Jesus of the Bible". It may sound like an odd request, but they were willing to do it.
Once or twice during the prayer, they mentioned Jesus. I corrected them, and they added the words I asked them to.

They kept coming back, over the next few months. We continued to talk about Jesus from a Bible perspective. Eventually they agreed with me. They left the Mormon church.
They got saved and got pretty involved as leaders in the church I was going to at the time. We became good friends.

Now maybe it was the Holy Spirit here. But something told me, that even though they wanted to witness to me, they were still looking for answers themselves.
They were young guys, in their 20's at the time.

With the Episcopalian Witch Doctor, I've been around him long enough to know... he isn't looking for any answers. He thinks he has them all.
He is older than me, and I'm old as dirt.

For some reason, the Mormons quit knocking on my door after that. (at least until I moved).

We are called to share the gospel, I suppose sometimes even to those who think they already have it. Like someone above said, sometimes it's difficult to know which is which.

Praise the Lord thanks for sharing !! that story just made my day !! well almost my CPA had some good news for to

 

[KittyLinda]

What you say regarding the Greek word heterozygeo is correct sister, but let us not forget, in context there are 5 questions or comparisons made here 2 Cor 1:14-18 not just the one.


The expression be mismated (ginesthe heterozygountes) contains the idea of being unevenly yoked. The verb heterozygeō is found only here in the New Testament, but is used in the LXX at Lev 19:19 as part of a prohibition on yoking different types of animals together. It is used by Philo and Josephus in the same way. The concept, but not the word, is found in Deut 22:10.

Using language reminiscent of these prohibitions, Paul exhorts his readers not to enter into ‘partnerships’ with unbelievers.
But what sort of partnerships did he have in mind?
Were they marriage partnerships 1 Cor7:39, or was it the more general notion of partnership in pagan practices 1 Cor 10:14-22?





To hold onto the context of 2 Cor 1:14-18 lets look at what Paul said.

The opening exhortation of verse 14 is here backed up by five rhetorical questions which underline its importance.

1 - For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity?
2 - Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

The contrasts between righteousness and iniquity, light and darkness contained in these first two questions are found frequently in the Dead Sea Scrolls also.

3 - What accord has Christ with Belial?

The word Belial, found in the third question, is also found frequently in the Dead Sea Scrolls and elsewhere. In these writings Belial is a name given to the chief of demons, or Satan.

In the AV the expression ‘sons of Belial’ or the like is found in a number of places in the Old Testament, e.g. (Deut 13:13, Judg 19:22, 1 Sam 2:12, 1 Kings21:10, 13)

In Col 1:12-14 Paul depicts salvation as the deliverance of believers from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son, where they share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Thus those who have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ and light can have no fellowship with Satan and the dominion of darkness.

In 1 Cor 10:14-22 Paul speaks of participation in pagan worship as fellowship with demons, and his question, What accord has Christ with Belial?, probably reflects concern in the same area.

4 - Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?,

In this case his fourth rhetorical question, would be best interpreted also in relation to worship, and the call for separation which this whole passage makes should then be related not to the day-to-day contacts that believers have with unbelievers (1 Cor 5:9-10), but to the matter of pagan worship.

5 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols?

This final question with its worship imagery offers extra support for the view that the earlier questions reinforce a call to have no involvement in pagan worship. When Paul speaks here of the temple of God the background imagery is that of the Jerusalem shrine, but in the foreground is the Christian community as God’s temple. This is confirmed by the affirmation which follows in verse 16.

For we are the temple of the living God.
Having emphasized the incompatibility of ‘the temple of God’ and idols, in the first part of the verse, Paul continues with this affirmation which shows why the Christian community must not become involved in pagan worship: it is because its members constitute the temple of the living God.

In 1 Corinthians Paul speaks of both the individual Christian’s body 1 Cor 6:16-20 and the Christian community as a whole 1 Cor 3:16-17 as God’s temple. It is the latter sense which he employs here. The expression the living God is also used frequently by the apostle Rom 9:26, 1 Cor 3:3, 1 Thess 1:9, 1 Tim 3:15, 1 Tim 4:10. Its background is the Old Testament contrast between the living God of Israel and the lifeless idols of pagan nations. In the present context the same contrast is implied. Elsewhere Paul states clearly that idols in themselves are nothing, the danger of idolatry being that the involvement with demonic powers active therein provokes the Lord to jealousy 1 Cor 8:4-6, 1 Cor 10:19-22

Paul's message in context is, Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean.

Where Paul used words taken from Isaiah 52:11,

Paul then sets about to encourage his readers to make this stand, Paul brings forward more quotations to show how God welcomes those who turn to him. First there is a brief quotation from Ezek 20:34 then I will welcome you.

Paul's aim here seems to be that he is using the 5 questions to cover as many possibilities as possible, from any Born Again from above believer with and unsaved person they could be dating, to any Born Again believer betrothed to an unsaved person, it can also include a married believer with an unsaved husband or wife, but this gets a little more complicated and would have taken Paul off topic very easily. He had a message so stuck to the 5 examples of extremes he could without watering down the message.

If Paul had included a married person who is born again with a husband or wife as the unbelieving partner, many questions would have been raised.
- were they both lost souls when they married and one was saved later, hence other scriptures to cover this separately?
- was one born again from above and the other lost, yet went a head and married despite the warnings of being unequally yoked?
- had there being a divorce and remarried a believer to a none believer, etc

It is understandable he kept to the five conditions, examples, questions, and in each showed the extremes to back up why we should not be unequally yoked to none believers.

We mustn't compare what happens in the world, once we are saved, born again from above, we no longer belong to sin, 'the world' and the devil, we were purchased at a price, we are no longer slaves to sin, we are slaves to God and righteousness.

If we mix the darkness with the light, our understanding will be full of grey areas.

Bless you sister. We pray you will make the right decision.

Belial is a name that can be translated as “without a yoke.” So, it is not very surprising that it is used in the context of that verse. That name also means ungodliness, or lawlessness if you want to make it more threatening, but do not take it from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Here, it is used to say “without a yoke.” or to describe ungodliness in a general way. It is just a warning against idolatry. Many bibles will have that title for it because the context is so clear that everyone can see it.

The only way for us to repent of any sin is by not doing it again. Tell me, how will you repent of being unequally yoked?

You see. . . It does not matter, if they both were 'lost souls' when they married, or not etc..

Sin does not have other conditions that make it OK. Actually, if you think this is the reason why God allowed it there, then you are saying there are gray areas, and I told you before it is not always white and black. By the way Jesus did tell people to leave 'everyone' for him in (Luke 14:25-27.) Why we have (1 Corinthians 7:12-16) ? He could just have said it again about marriages.

People make things more complicated, and it is so very simple actually. Let me show you what I mean in simple words spoken not by Paul, but Jesus himself: “Whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:40) So for those here who said you can't even have a cup of coffee with them. I think they have no idea what they are talking about, because Jesus meant what he said. There are those who are NOT against us. That is another 'gray area' you got.

I can see how the principle can be applied to marriages and relationships. A lot of verses in the bible perhaps seem to go hand in hand with it, and what you said makes perfect sense. Even, if being unequally yoked is not sinful, or forbidden, it can be dangerous, and it is also very unwise regardless. I'm not saying it is OK.

Thank you for your prayers.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Belial is a name that can be translated as “without a yoke.” So, it is not very surprising that it is used in the context of that verse. That name also means ungodliness, or lawlessness if you want to make it more threatening, but do not take it from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Here, it is used to say “without a yoke.” or to describe ungodliness in a general way. It is just a warning against idolatry. Many bibles will have that title for it because the context is so clear that everyone can see it.

Belial is used 17 times in the Bible, but only once in the NT 2 Cor 6:15

Bible translations can be misleading depending on many factors, some are expounded, some are said to be in more understandable todays English, the latter can often be cotton wooling the wording, there are other factor's to consider in translations but it is always best to search back for the 'True meaning' of the original words.

Here is the translation from Strong's and Vines Dictionary

Greek Strong's Number: 955
Greek Word: Βελίαλ
Transliteration: Belial
Phonetic Pronunciation: bel-ee'-al
Root: of Hebrew origin <H1100>
Vine's Words: Belial
English Words used in KJV:
Belial 1
[Total Count: 1]
of Hebrew origin [ <H1100> (beliya`al)], worthlessness; Belial, as an epithet of Satan :- Belial.


Hebrew Strong's Number: 1100
Hebrew Word: ‏בְּלִיַּעַל‎
Transliteration: belîyaʿal
Phonetic Pronunciation: bel-e-yah'-al
Root: from <H1097> and <H3276>, Greek <G955>
Vine's Words: Wickedness [sinfulness]
English Words used in KJV:
Belial 16
wicked 5
ungodly 3
evil 1
naughty 1
ungodly men 1
[Total Count: 27]
from <H1097> (beliy) and <H3276> (ya`al); without profit, worthlessness; by extension destruction, wickedness (often in connection with <H376 ('iysh), <H802> ('ishshah), <H1121> (ben), etc.) :- Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked.
Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.


Shalom

 

[Brother-Paul]

I can see how the principle can be applied to marriages and relationships. A lot of verses in the bible perhaps seem to go hand in hand with it, and what you said makes perfect sense. Even, if being unequally yoked is not sinful, or forbidden, it can be dangerous, and it is also very unwise regardless. I'm not saying it is OK.

Hi Kitty

The context of the message from Paul is the extremes between that which is Godly and that which is ungodly, that was the theme of the 5 questions or comments he gave as examples. His message was not directly about marriage, that is for sure, is message is however clear, as was detailed in Post #58. Here again are the 5 items in his message.

1 - For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity?
2 - Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
3 - What accord has Christ with Belial?
4 - Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?,
5 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols?

These 5 comparisons of light and dark, righteousness with evil, Christ and belial, are all examples to us in all walks of life of the born again from above believer. They are for all walks of life for the believer, young or old, male or female, single, engaged or married.

The emphasis is on every believer who has the Temple of God dwelling in them, to be aware, be cautious, be of understanding in The Word, we are righteous, we are called out from the world, we are NOT to be yoked to iniquity, we are not with be yoked with the spiritual darkness of this world, we are not to be yoked to belial, or idols, we are not to be yoked to an unbeliever, because if we are 'we are unequally yoked' with them, to them.

Now someone said previously, but Christ went out amongst sinners, He did that is correct. But he was not yoked to them, we are wheat amongst weeds in this world, but we are not yoked to them, unless we choose to allow ourselves to be yoked to them, many scriptures, including this one, give us adequate warnings.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Shalom

 

[Brother-Paul]

Did Jesus isolate himself from the wicked people who were in darkness? Did he ever communicate with them or go to their homes to eat with sinners? (Mark 2:15) Why would he do such things?

Yes he did brother, but he didn't yoke himself to them.

Shalom

 

[Sue D.]

This discussion is about born-again believers being yoked together with non-believers. Maybe it's that God wants us to take relationships for more seriously than we do. With eternity in mind -- which we don't a lot of times -- we have This life time to go from being spiritually dead to spiritually Alive. While here on this earth, we Do need to make a living , etc. and born again believers Should be connecting With non-believers -- how else are we going to be to reach them for Christ. But having Close relationships Should be with other believers. But He doesn't want it in a legalistic form but in relationship.

We can get so caught-up in word studies in Scripture / dissecting Exactly what a word means , that we miss the relationship part.

Of course we Do need a break from all the COVID mess and election that's coming up very soon , but ......... just sayin.

People Usually apply the unequally yoked together with non-believers as applying To marriage. And Society doesn't seem to take marriage very seriously any more. Haven't in a long time. And That's what leads to a messed-up Society. And 'family' affects every part of life including work.

Jesus Christ was divine in nature -- we are mere humans who make mistakes and live with the consequences both good and Bad. When we 'yoke' ourselves more with non -believers than With believers, we are potentially harming ourselves. Non believers tend to tear us down rather than us building them Up. Invite them to Bible studies / church activities.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Greetings Sue,

This discussion is about born-again believers being yoked together with non-believers.

The topic relates to 2 Cor 1:14

To look at this verse in the right context we need to look at what Paul was saying in 2 Cor 1:14-18

5 comparisons were made not just the first one, I detailed these in Post 58. They must be understood together to understand the context.

Post 68 follows on and condenses the 5 items Paul talks to us about. The scriptures though not about marriage, do after considering the extremes Paul is making do or should affect the thinking of every believer, married, engaged or single.

Please do look back Sue, the verse initially quoted is just one statement, we must consider all 5, having done so you will see Paul's aim was to tell all saved souls, donor be unequally Yoked with none believers, we cannot equally yoke a believer with a none believer without spiritual consequences. Light doesn't yoke equally with darkness, Christ would never yoke with satan.

Now as I stated, some may say, but Christ went amongst sinners, he ate with them, yes he did Sue, but he wasn't yoked to them in any way, so yes we are to reach out to none believers, as Jesus did, but not to yoke with them, it is understandable, when considering the context of what Paul is saying, we should consider seriously any form of relationship with a none believer, friendships, engagement, marriage or otherwise.

Shalom

 

[Brother-Paul]

We can get so caught-up in word studies in Scripture / dissecting Exactly what a word means , that we miss the relationship part.

In reality Sue, most of the issues appear to be caused by reading one verse out of context.

Also if there is a misunderstanding between what people are discussing, this translation says this, or that translation says that, then to look for the true meaning is of paramount importance.

In the situation you refer, the reason for quoting the Greek and Hebrew in a recent post above was due to an incorrect understanding that was quoted.

Understanding the Greek or Hebrew of a word helps us to better understand The Truth in The Word.

 

[Brother-Paul]

People Usually apply the unequally yoked together with non-believers as applying To marriage. And Society doesn't seem to take marriage very seriously any more. Haven't in a long time. And That's what leads to a messed-up Society. And 'family' affects every part of life including work.

It is the latter days of the End Times Sue.

Hardening of hearts, increase in wickedness, people being lovers of themselves and not God, etc, etc.

And it is going to get worse.

 

[B-A-C]

Maybe it's that God wants us to take relationships for more seriously than we do.

I started a thread about this some time back. It's very close to what you are saying here.

People to avoid

Hmmm... aren't we supposed to go out unto all the world and preach the gospel? Yes we are. But there are some people who reject it over and over again. There are even some who call themselves Christians who reject it. We are told to avoid some of these people. 2 Tim 3:2; For men will be...

www.talkjesus.com

I believe we need to know what others believe. Not agree with it, but know about it.
Recently we had someone who exhibited a lot of Mormon beliefs. I told him I thought he was a Mormon 5 or 6 months ago.
But it just came to a head this last week.

We've also have Unitarian Universalists on here from time to time, and Jehovah's Witnesses a few times.

I've seen a lot of people come into agreement with these people, click on the "Like" beneath their posts, and call them brothers.
I do not.
I do not consider these people my brother's in Christ. As far as I am concerned they worship a different Christ, a different God. A "Belial" if you please.
I try to have polite discussions with them, but I do not "bond" or become yoked with them.

There was recently a discussion about "What is the church" (the body of Christ). Some said, the church was ONLY saved believers. If this is the case,
why do we call those who believe in other gods our brothers?

 

[Brother-Paul]

There was recently a discussion about "What is the church" (the body of Christ). Some said, the church was ONLY saved believers. If this is the case,
why do we call those who believe in other gods our brothers?

You raise a Good point brother, in fact you raise two good points.

First one first, The Church, the ekklesia, is the body of Christ, only the saved souls, only the born again from above are the church.

Second, this is quite interesting, now you may have had words with a person and pick up they are JW'sor others, but due to the nature of the worldwide forum and the quantity of posts posted, others may not have seen your messages, or their past ones, so have not picked up at that time what you have brother.

Another issue I know you know,about is that due to time gaps of members across the world, often a person replies on the last message posted. So I see many reasons here where we can miss things another has seen. Would you not agree? I am probably as guilty as much as any other, sometimes there can be to much to read, or we jump over many posts due to waffling. Another situation that clearly shows people don't look back at every message is shown by how often a thread goes off topic.

I welcome your comments Ray, just trying to see both sides of the arguement.

Bless you, you got a good heart my friend.

 

[B-A-C]

So far, I haven't seen anything he has said that isn't a Mormon belief. (including Universalism).

I agree it's hard to read every post by every person. (I know I can't read them all). It's harder still to remember what you read a few months ago.

But my point here is, it shouldn't just be or two of us that have this discernment. After a few conversations with someone a Christian should be able to "see".

Your spirit should be bearing witness. (or NOT bearing witness, as the case may be).

just trying to see both sides of the arguement.

I'm not sure many of us have an "argument" on this.

 

[Sue D.]

Without Any form of relationship with non-believers, it's going to be hard to share Christ with them. Besides -- how are we to distinguish non-believers with believers at first sight. We Can't. Well-- unless they're dressed in some outlandish way or are acting crazy.

And my comment 'here' is out of place with the rest of your comments.

And, yes, it shouldn't take many comments to distinguish -- by their fruit we will know them. Which is another debated comment.

 

[B-A-C]

And my comment 'here' is out of place with the rest of your comments.

My apologies, I guess it does look like I'm picking on you. That wasn't my intention, but rather I'm asking the question to all of us (myself included).

 

[KittyLinda]

Hi Kitty

The context of the message from Paul is the extremes between that which is Godly and that which is ungodly, that was the theme of the 5 questions or comments he gave as examples. His message was not directly about marriage, that is for sure, is message is however clear, as was detailed in Post #58. Here again are the 5 items in his message.

1 - For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity?
2 - Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
3 - What accord has Christ with Belial?
4 - Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?,
5 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols?

These 5 comparisons of light and dark, righteousness with evil, Christ and belial, are all examples to us in all walks of life of the born again from above believer. They are for all walks of life for the believer, young or old, male or female, single, engaged or married.

The emphasis is on every believer who has the Temple of God dwelling in them, to be aware, be cautious, be of understanding in The Word, we are righteous, we are called out from the world, we are NOT to be yoked to iniquity, we are not with be yoked with the spiritual darkness of this world, we are not to be yoked to belial, or idols, we are not to be yoked to an unbeliever, because if we are 'we are unequally yoked' with them, to them.

Now someone said previously, but Christ went out amongst sinners, He did that is correct. But he was not yoked to them, we are wheat amongst weeds in this world, but we are not yoked to them, unless we choose to allow ourselves to be yoked to them, many scriptures, including this one, give us adequate warnings.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Shalom

Lets discuss each one of them.

1 - For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity?

“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” (KJV-Psalms 32:5)

Iniquity is defined as being evil, or immoral. It is different from sin, as you can see in Psalms 32:5. Now we need to ask the question. Are unbelievers always evil or immoral? I say, no. Not necessary. A lot of them are capable of doing good things. We have many charitable organizations that help the poor, the weak, and the innocent for the sake of being good, yet they are not saved sometimes.

2 - Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Those who are in darkness are not blind. They can still ‘see’ the light. Many of us joined the darkness, until the renewal of our minds. An unbeliever can still see the light in their believing spouse, and some of them convert for that reason, and become born again. “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (KJV- Isaiah 9:2)

They have a higher chance of converting than any unbeliever we chat with at work. Do not you agree? We could be the only ones who can facilitate their journey from darkness to light. In my current relationship, I do not see this happening soon, but I want to have some hope. Also, in the Corinthian church, there were those who were not ‘loyal enough.’ Paul recognized that some were very divided, because of their close association with heathens. He feared some may back-slide. Most of us in unequally yoked relationships do not have ‘heathen’ partners who worship false gods. I never heard of a Christian marrying a heathen these days. Most unbelievers now believe what they can prove in a lab. They are ‘lost souls.’ Having fellowship with ‘darkness’? What does that even mean? Nobody knows, until we know 'the context.' It can be a long list of things, because it is an abstract term.

3 - What accord has Christ with Belial?

Brother. I'm sorry, but I do not agree with the translation you added here. There are so many possible explanations for the word Belial. Some Bible language scholars said Belial is from the Hebrew word beli. That means "without" joined with ol and it means "yoke." Here, are two biblical sources that explain in depth this name: [1] , [2]

4 - What has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

I have my daughter. It is good enough for me, and it is ironic, because I'm at least 10 times more likely to be dating women than men. If you go back to 1 Corinthians 7:12–16, you will see how children meant a lot. Spiritually speaking, there is nothing in common, but they can have a lot in common when it comes to humanistic desires. Most of us desire to be happy, or loved, cherished by someone. They are very basic things, but I did not receive. I felt rejected most of my life, and I hated myself for being born different. Of course, it is risky for those born-again believers. This can go the other way. I sinned after encountering rejection, not because I was unequally yoked. I never intended to be in this unequally yoked situation from the beginning, as I was married to a believer first.

We were equally yoked, yet our faith in Christ did not matter to my family, or my friends, or most people of the faith. Can you live with that? They can only see the ‘same-sex’ in love. They actually focused on the fleshy side. As I said, people love to judge others. People like to make things complicated, and some even try to be more righteous than Jesus. Did not you read it here? Some said you can’t have a cup of coffee with unbeliever. It is very sad. God does not say that. He said do not add to his word. A lot of us are baby Christians actually, even though some of us reach 70s, and live a holy life, but really to what extend we’re going to make this hard for those who sinned, struggled with belonging, and finally want to please God? I have friends who are unbelievers and some who believe. If I do not join in sin with them, then I do not see why I can't have them.

5 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols?

Exactly! This is all within the ‘context’ of blending Christ with idols. Be separate,' says the Lord. 'And do not touch what is unclean. 1 Corinthians 7:12–16 answered that!

Not all relationships with unbelievers are forbidden; marrying unbelievers without committing sin is NOT forbidden.

God bless,

 

[Brother Paul]

This is all good so long as we do not interpret being UNEQUALLY YOKED with the idea we should have nothing to do with those who believe differently or live a lifestyle of sin. If that were the correct interpretation NONE OF US would be saved and we could not complete the great CO-mission....love sinners and hate the sin, Jesus did!