Mr Average Christian

I wonder if you’ve been faced with the temptation of having a relationship with a non-Christian? It’s easily done. They are probably a lovely person, it could be that you feel they are morally more upstanding than other Christians you know. They are attractive and fun and you get along very well… what’s the problem?

It’s normally the older (and may I add wiser) Christian who will throw a painful wince as you suggest such a thing. You’re not going to pay too much attention though, they are just being old fashioned. They don’t understand, you’ve found someone you connect with and that can only be a good thing…

Normally about the time of the painful wince your older Christian friend will point out the old classic “Do not be unequally yoked to an unbeliever”….. So there you go, end of argument, no non-Christian partner. This argument comes from 2 Corinthians 6:14, and we must be careful not to take it out of context. We will get to that later.

Firstly, our own attitude is very telling on the matter. You start out with the best of intentions, you’re not turning your back on your Christian life. God is still in focus. Normally you will have reasoned with yourself along the following lines:
1) I’ll be a witness to them, get them to come to church, they might become a Christian.
2) It’s just harmless fun, nothing serious.
3) I know Christians who have had relationships with non-Christians, and they were fine.

I could spend a whole post arguing against this reasoning, but I want to focus on the root of what scripture says. I mean lets be honest, that kind of thinking isn’t about defending yourself to that dear older Christian. It’s about convincing yourself it’s fine – and it’s at that point the alarm bells should be ringing! So lets see if the passage in 2 Corinthians holds any weight with regards to a relationship with a non-Christian.

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? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

To get this in context, we need to understand the background that Paul is writing against.

Although, the Corinthian church had turned to God, the Pagan culture that surrounded them was having an influence on the believers there. Unholy unions with idols, idol feasts, temple prostitutes and sacrifices were being practiced by the believers in Corinth, they were being sucked back into their old way of living.

And so we find in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, the Apostle Paul identifying two opposing worlds, two different kingdoms, two ways to live. One is a life of righteousness, light, Christ, believers and the presence of God. The other is described as lawless, dark, satanic, occupied by unbelievers and the presence of idols. Two societies, utterly different, utterly distinct, completely incompatible and at polar opposites.

The ‘Yoke’ analogy, is from a concept back in Deuteronomy Where Israel were to live in a certain way. One way was that they were not to plow with an ox and an ass yoked together. And the reasons for that are obvious. Those two animals have two different natures. They don’t have the same strength. They don’t have the same kind of instincts. You can’t yoke them up and expect a straight furrow.

Paul is borrowing off of that analogy and highlights how there is no possibility for people in these two kingdoms to be bound together in common work, no partnership, no fellowship, no harmony and no agreement does or can really exist.

This then is the situation Paul is highlighting in the church at Corinth. They can only live one way, they can’t have one foot in and one foot out. It’s all or nothing! And since they have chosen to follow God, they must recognize that a change of lifestyle is needed.

The Principal from this passage is that we should choose our partnerships carefully. The simple truth is followers of Christ have a totally different outlook to unbelievers. Our lives are about glorifying God, not about gratifying self. Our lives are focused on making God the centre, not living for those drink fuelled weekends.

It is impossible for believers to be in close union with unbelievers, the lifestyles, outlooks and attitudes conflict.

Does this passage specifically refer to not having a non-Christian partner? Well, no.

Should this passage be regarded as a warning not to be in close union with an unbeliever, absolutely. Not just on a romantic level though. Consider, close friendships, business partners etc… This is not to say we hide away from unbelievers, definitely not, scripture is clear on our being in the world and a good witness. But we should not seek out anything or anyone that would compromise our relationship with Father God. (scripture deals separately with varying circumstances i.e. Married when one of the couple becomes a believer).