Unequally yoked

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2 Corinthians 6:14 - 15NIV

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

Ok, this verse is getting quoted a lot so I thought I'd start a thread to look at it. I've always struggled with this passage. I have a couple of very close friends who are atheists, several who are gay, I play in a darts team full of atheists. Is this passage saying I need to give all this up? To end these friendships? If that is the case, am I supposed to quit my job because my boss is an atheist or my work colleagues are? With most passages, is there a limit to how its applied? Is it just referring to marriage?

The thing is, how can you talk about the gospel to people if you're not where they are? In Galatians (I think its Galatians, please don't get mad if I'm wrong) Paul talks about there being no Jew or gentile we're all equal.

So what is everyone's take on this?

The majority of believers read Paul's statements on that matter and they instantly think 'me' and 'some other person' i.e. not a believer.

Most 'instant' thoughts like that are not of God.

Paul is factually speaking much closer to home. To us individually. Though few will understand.

Never abandon your friendships of those you might perceive as unsaved as you noted above. That is not what we are called to do:

John 17:15
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

It doesn't matter where any of us are in the world. This is the factual condition of the whole world wherever you may choose to go or how you may actually perceive the world:

1 John 5:19
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

The location where His Light shined upon us is here as was our prior darkness:

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It is there, internally, that we are to understand the difference in our own YOKE. Not some other person. If a believer is secure in His Light, they can stand ANYWHERE with ANYONE and they can not be changed within. In this way our faith overcomes the world.

When I witness to my friends, and yes I have gay and unsaved friends, I flat out tell them that God in Christ loves them, period, end of conversation, and if they don't believe it it is because the god of this world blinds them to His Love. That's the truth of the matter and it's all they need to hear.

His Freedom will draw them from there, and others are repulsed by slavery to darkness, once pointed out. If you are an example of His Love to them, you are a SON OF LIGHT in this DARK WORLD. Lest the darkness take our HEART.

There we must not be unequally YOKED, within.

And we hope to never forget that don't we?

Philippians 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

enjoy!

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[ezra]

this is marriage issue... certainly we should be careful of the company we keep. there is nothing wrong with a friendly dart game* if the game is held where alcohol is consumed on a regular bases ( bar). its not good to go there. i say play your game don,t be influenced by them . but let your light shine bring up a small talk along the way about salvation. don't hammer it in. just bring into a conversation. if they are friends they should respect that. who did paul go to the saved or the Lost as i stated don,t let them influence you. if you being a christian and are standing for what is right. it creates a conflict i do suggest getting out.....

 

[felix]

The verse is speaking about fellowship and yes, you must not as scripture says.

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