Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 NASB)
The same scripture in the King James Version reads:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)
What is unequally yoked?
Definition of YOKE: (from Latin to join) – a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals (as oxen) are joined at the heads or necks for working together. (From Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary)
The bible uses beasts of burden as an example of yoking. For instance, if a donkey and an ox are yoked together (which God forbid the people to do in Deuteronomy 22:10), the yoke will weigh more heavily on one animal and while pulling or choking the other animal that is bigger and has the longer stride. If an animal is yoked with a like animal of approximately the same size and weight, they will be able to work in conjunction with each other, helping each other out.
In scripture, we are command not be unequally yoked or bound together. Many Christians believe it is limited to marriage — but it is not. We are not to attach ourselves to relationships that are unequally yoked (believers versus non believers).
If we are equally yoked, we work in conjunction with each other. By the same token, if we are unequally yoked, one is dragging the other for the unbeliever walks in darkness and the believer in light.
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2 comments
Harlequin
October 22, 2010 at 6:00 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hey blog Lady T.,
I hit ‘random post’ again
This made me immediately think of walking my dogs. I have a Border Collie / Lab mix and a Treeing Walker Coon Hound. The hound is always trying to go ahead or, worse, double back, and since I hold both leashes in the same hand the Border Collie (a bigger dog) get choked. I’m still working on my technique.
Anyway, I’m very thankful that when I came to Christ my wife followed. On the friendship side we do have friends who are not believers, and some even hostile to the gospel, and all we can try to be is a light and be open to them. But as far as who we spend the most time with it seems more natural to us to be spending time with other believers.
Good topic.
Tishrei
October 29, 2010 at 12:10 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi Harlequin,
That’s a good example you used with your two dogs.
I also have friends that are not believers and like you, I find that I have more in common with my believing friends. The folks that I hike with are not believers for the most part though I do enjoy their company. But there is always something missing in my relationships with non believers.
BLT