Don't yoke with "them"...

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

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2 Corinthians

6:14

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

6:15

And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

6:16

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you* are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."+

6:17

Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."*

6:18

"I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."

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What does the "unequally yoked" refer to? Is it marriages? Or businesses - like in contracts or business partners or co-workers? Or friendships? Or??? <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/whatsign.gif[/] I wonder about this because I still have very close pagan friends.

[Dr. Shane]

Marriages.

[Nan]

I think the intent may be more than just marriages, Shane. I re-read the passage in several translations (even a French one) and marriage is not specifically mentioned - whereas it is easy to apply the passage to a variety of situations. I believe it does apply to marriage, but also that it has a wider meaning.

I have no knowledge of Greek so cannot directly know what the original says. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[cleverdics]

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rudywoofs said:

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2 Corinthians

6:14

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

6:15

And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

6:16

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you* are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."+

6:17

Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."*

6:18

"I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

What does the "unequally yoked" refer to? Is it marriages? Or businesses - like in contracts or business partners or co-workers? Or friendships? Or??? <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> []http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/Rudywoofs/whatsign.gif[/] I wonder about this because I still have very close pagan friends.

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I believe this is about relationships Pam. God told Israel not to be harnessed to other nations, and they disobeyed to their detrement. I also think there is an ephesis on the "unequally" part. If two cattle are unequally yoked together, one being stronger than the other, the weak one will pull the strong one down. So, I beleive it is saying, have your most important relationships with strong Christians, and make them a priority in your life (spend more time and effort on those relationships). If the weak ones in your life, the non believers, start to weigh you down and pull you toward them, cut them off. This is very hard talk, but it is essential. It may well be true of your church as well, and even your partner in some cases. God must be number one. Being Christian is very hard work, and doing it with a monkey on your back may just kill you and the monkey. Better to get rid of the monkey and trust that God will look after them. They are His children as well. He is fighting for them, but it may not be you He is going to use to get them through. I have had to cut off friendships because I could not carry my own faith and continue to be synical with those friends. This does not mean that I don't love these people, I still do, but I cannot be with them as we pull each other down. I am a sinner which means I am easily persuaded in the wrong direction. Thus I have to protect myself from those temptations like a drug addict/alcoholic has to avoid certain situations etc...

Everyday

[Gail]

Talking about animals being yoked together. Two mixed species were forbidden in the Bible to be yoked together, reason being that their unequal gaits would grate against each other and cause much discomfort

This application can be applied in a spiritual sense in more ways than just marriage

[Dr. Shane]

The Old Testement was the Scriptures that Paul used. So the comment is to be taken in the context of the Old Testement. The great sin of the predeluvian people was that the "sons of God married the daughters of men". Isreal was allowed to be taken into captivity because they were led into idolatry by their heathen wives.

I do not see the passage is saying we shouldn't have friends that are unbelievers. Or even that we should have business partners that are unbelievers. I have worked with a number of unbelievers that were more ambitious and honest than professed believers.

The only relevant intrupretation I see is that the passage applies to marriage.

[LynnDel]

It also helps to define "unbeliever." I've seen Christians of other flavors get pretty frosty when an Adventist blindly uses this verse to describe why an Adventist should not marry a Christian of another denomination.

LD

[cricket]

And yet, we (sinners) are to be the bride of Christ. We (sinners) are to be yoked with the Holy One.

I believe it is the Christian's duty to walk with others at their speed and to help them in their walk toward God. Not to be burdensome to them, but to ease their burdens.

This is what Christ does with us.

[Dr. Shane]

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It also helps to define "unbeliever."

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How about we let the Bible define a believer?

"the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17

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I've seen Christians of other flavors get pretty frosty when an Adventist blindly uses this verse to describe why an Adventist should not marry a Christian of another denomination.

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They don't understand the prophetic message and the significance of the time we live in.

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3

[Nan]

If we are going to apply this verse to marriage, I do not think a bilateral understanding of the SDA message is sufficient basis for a good and lasting marriage. A necessary foundation - yes - but I think the agreement has to go way beyond that. On values, spending habits, agreement on things physical in marriage, kids, enjoyable leisure pursuits - and the list goes on. Hence I think the "agreed" word has a much deeper meaning than we commonly give it.

[LifeHiscost]

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rudywoofs said:

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2 Corinthians

6:14

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> bold mine LHC

It would seem the second sentence in the counsel describes the "what" not to yoke together. When my wife and I were first contemplating marraige, we had some of higher religious authorities make decided efforts to dissuade our decision. (It's important to recognize we were both beyond the romanticism of youth with heads in the clouds.) We both had sought God's counsel apart from other's opinions, and felt He was just as able to speak to us directly as use a mediator.

We both knew in conversation with each other that our primary foundation of the love of Jesus would enable us to live with ordinary human differences strengthening us as we yielded to the needs of each other. Almost thirty years with a depth of love almost lost to the general population, even among believers, has revealed that the loves of those yoked to Jesus, first and foremost, will survive with deep contentment and happiness, while serving the world better for it.

[:"red"] "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. " [/] Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/DOVE.gif" alt="" />

I've long felt the 3rd party would best be the Holy Spirit

for often even highly religious people have trouble yielding

to each other.

Blessings!!

[olger]

Good question Rudy. Some points to consider:

1) We will gradually become like the people we associate with (Proverbs 22:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:33). I must respectfully disagree that the passage in 2 Cor 6 is confined to marriage only. Yes, the principles apply to our marriage but the context is not dedicated to the marriage relationship as are Ephesians 5, and 1 Peter 3.

2) God's word says that we cannot totally avoid being around ungodly people, in fact we would have to leave this earth to accomplish that (1 Cor. 5:10-11).

Ultimately we will be affected by those with whom we associate, whether for good or for evil. Let us be a blessing to others and avoid that which would dissipate us.

gcw

[David Koot]

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rudywoofs said:

What does the "unequally yoked" refer to? Is it marriages? Or businesses - like in contracts or business partners or co-workers? Or friendships?

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Marriages, without question. Also, business partnerships. Contracts are a quite different matter. Even buying something at the store involves a contractual relationship. However, that is not a partnership. There is a difference between a 'partner' and a contracting party. The employee relationship is not a partnership, either. I believe that the 'unequally yoked' issue applies to partnerships, whether marital, business or otherwise. As for friendships? A friendship is not a partnership. Personally, I have friends of various stripes of belief and lifestyle, but I do not enter into all of their practices. They know where I stand, and what I stand for, and they respect and appreciate that.

Dave