Don't Be Unequally Yoked

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 NKJV

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 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.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Paul is aware of the prevalence of idolatry in Corinth. He knows that many believers would find themselves in situations, such as a dinner party, where hosts would sacrifice or pray to false gods. There were also trade guilds, like workers union, where they'd worship a patron deity/idol for their trade. So, you'd be expected to honor that idol since it was the source of blessing on your craft.

Understanding this reality, Paul warns of the dangerous influence partnerships can have on our lives. In that culture, idolatry was common, expected, popular, and self-serving. It was fine to be a Christian, but you were expected to honor the other gods too. The temptation for the Christians at Corinth, then, would be to acknowledge Christ AND fit in with the pagan culture too. People today are wanting to claim Christ, but also want to remain the same, want to please every idol of our day, and want to be popular and happy. Paul will make it clear that that can't happen. Why? Because it would be an unequal yoke. In 2 Cor. 6:14 he says,

2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV

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

Now, what is a yoke? A yoke is a farming tool placed along the back of two animals, such as an ox or donkey, for the sake of plowing. If you had one strong animal paired with a weaker one, they'd go in circles and make no process due to the weak one lagging behind. The law warns of this in Deut 22:10 when it says:

Deuteronomy 22:10 NKJV

10 “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

So, Paul picks up on this and applies it to the partnerships we form in this life. Why? Because as a Christian, we are under the yoke of Christ, and if we pair ourselves with unbelievers, we will find ourselves soon plowing Satan's fields. Why won't this work? Because 1. We are Different Breeds. 2. We are Moved by a Blessed Promise.

We are a Different Breed

Much like an ox being paired with a donkey, Christians are not mean to be yoked up with unbelievers. This isn’t just an isolated point made by Paul, but is a regular warning made all throughout the Old Testament too. The primary reason that we won’t work well together is because we are simply a different breed. In verses 14-15, Paul makes it clear that we simply won’t mesh. 2 Cor. 6:14-15 says,

2 Corinthians 6:14–15 NKJV

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

Notice the contrasts that Paul is making. First, it’s like a donkey and an ox when he quotes us being unequally yoked. Second, it’s like righteousness and lawlessness. Third, it’s like light and dark. Fourth, it’s like Christ and Satan. We are two different streams, like water and oil, we simply don’t mix. Why? Because we, who use to be like them, have been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. We used to be like them, and without God’s grace we would still be like them. Our eyes use to be blind, our minds use to be darkened, our wills use to love only sin, and our hearts use to be hardened, but now everything has changed. In verse 16, 2 Cor. 6:16

2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV

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.”

Notice, the difference is that we are the Temple of God. The primary thing that Paul has in mind here is that there is serious danger afoot when we, the temple of God, try to associate with and fellowship with idols, or the enemy of God. Now, this doesn’t mean that we should become like the Amish. What it does mean however, is that we better be careful when entering into influential relationships and partnerships with those who don’t know Jesus. For example, say you want to go into car sales and you’ve got a man who’s interested in going in with you on this investment. Well, after a bit you notice that he’s selling more cars than you by a long shot, so you ask him what’s his secret and he tells you that he intentionally steers his customers away from flaws, and deceives them into thinking they’re getting good deals on what is really a bad car for them. Well, as a Christian, you can’t do that. Why? Because, we aren’t led by the idol of greed, but are guided by the word of God which clearly teaches us that we are not to deceive others.

This would have been a huge deal in Corinth. Why? Because, as I said earlier, people had traders unions. Farmers, blacksmiths, etc. would all belong to a guild and those workers would expect each other to offer up a sacrifice, or some sort of reverence to their trades idol so they could be blessed in their work. Now, they wouldn’t expect you to go over board with it. You weren’t expected to make it the thrust of your personality. But you were expected to go along with it when the time came. But for Christians, we simply can’t do that. So Paul is warning about the danger of yoking up with unbelievers.

Now, he understood that this would be difficult. After all, we don’t look forward to being abandoned. So, what encouragement does Paul provide? This leads us to our second point:

We are Motivated by Blessed Promises.

2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1 NKJV

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.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

I want us to notice the structure that Paul is forming here.

A. Partnering with evil is bad.

B. God promises His presence.

C. Flee from uncleanliness.

B1. God will be a Father to you.

A1. So, cleanse yourself from evil/sinfulness.

In verse 17, Paul is going to make God’s expectations for us clear. Separate yourself from this sinful world and he does that by quoting God’s call to Israel to flee from Babylonian captivity back in Isaiah 52:11. Israel had originally been sent into captivity as judgment for their sins, but over time they became comfortable in that pagan world and began to dig their roots in and settle there. So, God calls them out of that sin-filled country and tells them to return to His presence. Paul tells those Corinthians, and us too, that even though we might have grown comfy in these situations, God calls us to forsake them and comforts us with a promise: I will meet you there. On both sides of that command, in verse 16 and 18, God surrounds that command with a promise. In verse 16, he promises to dwell among them. In verse 18, He promises to be like a Father to them.

With that in mind, Paul finishes up this thought in 7:1 to tie it up in a bow for us. The message is clear, you don’t get to have your cake and eat it too. God is a jealous God. God is the Lord Almighty and He’s not interested in split custody with His children, so He’s calling us to cut ourselves off from sin and run into His presence. And the promise, Paul says, that He will be a Father to us should cause us to cleanse ourselves from filthiness and to pursue holiness.

With that said, I want us to apply this to the most serious partnership of life: Dating and Marriage. You could title this: Why we don’t do missionary dating.

Missionary dating is when a Christian person dates an unbeliever with hopes that they will get them to come to the Lord. While it’s great to want to win souls for Christ, your dating/marriage is not an evangelism tool as a believer. In Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Deuteronomy 7:3–4 NKJV

3 Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. 4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.

There is perhaps no place in Scripture where this is more clear than in 1 Kings 11. There we find one of the OT’s most interesting men, King Solomon, and there we find one of the most heartbreaking falls in the Old Testament too. Let’s look at it together...

Now, having looked at Solomon, who is known as one of the wisest men in history, I think we ought to conclude that if this happened to Solomon, then perhaps it wouldn’t be wise for me to use my own relationships as a way to win a lost boy or girl to Jesus. Why? Because God tells me that they are likely to lead me away from the Lord.

If you come to me for dating advice and your struggling with whether things are right for you, I’m probably going to ask you this question first: Do you think they make you a better Christian or a worse Christian? If they don’t encourage you in the Lord, if they don’t want to honor the Lord, if they don’t want to fight to build a relationship on the Lord, it ain’t for you.

Now, the last thing I want us to think about is those who are already married to unbelievers. For instance, our lead deacon has a beautiful testimony. Many of you know that Linda Nance attended Beacon by herself for years and years and that the church prayed for God to save Paul. And by His grace He did and now Paul is our lead deacon and a precious brother in Christ. Now, while it is wrong to date and marry unbelievers, there are scenarios where you either 1. Weren’t saved yourself when you married them. Or 2. You didn’t know they were lost until after you got married. Regardless, there is wisdom in the Bible on this. In 1 Cor. 7:10-16

1 Corinthians 7:10–16 NKJV

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Furthermore 1 Peter 3:1-4

1 Peter 3:1–4 NKJV

1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

In essence, if someone finds themselves married to an unbeliever, God commands you to stay put for the sake of your spouses soul knowing that your godliness may lead them to Jesus. It isn’t ideal, you will certainly struggle and will feel alone since your spouse doesn’t love your God and Lord. But God promises to give you grace to show the love of Jesus in that relationship and says that He may use that to save your husband or wife.