Being Unequally Yoked
Unequally Yoked Bible Verse
Christianity Oasis Ministry provides this What is Unequally Yoked Bible verse study looking into being unequally yoked truth bringing forth truth, understanding, hope and then peace within.
Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Christian Walk study program. This is our thought provoking and extremely important ... Being Unequally Yoked study taking an in depth look into the truth within the unequally yoked Bible verse meaning and how it affects Christians today. The loving and absolutely awesome message within the What is unequally yoked Bible verse on being unequally yoked will truly enhance your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.
Being Unequally Yoked Bible Verse Curse
What is Unequally Yoked Dispute
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What is Being Unequally Yoked Meaning?
There is a phrase in the Bible described as being unequally yoked, that some of you may have read about by Paul, which states;
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
But, what is being unequally yoked? Many Christians have associated the Scripture with marriage. They believe that Paul is saying that a Christian believer is not to marry an unbeliever. But, is that the true interpretation? Let us look into the Unequally Yoked Bible verse together and discern what the Truth is, shall we?
What is Unequally Yoked to Christians?
Let's look at the words ... "being unequally yoked." A "yoke" is a wooden crosspiece bound to the necks of a pair of oxen, or occasionally horses. This keeps both working together at the same goals, harnessing their strengths. So, to become yoked to something means to be bound to someone or something to the point that you are being pulled by it, as much as it by you. Unless you work together at a common goal.
So being unequally yoked means to be connected to others who do not have the same goals thereby causing an imbalance in direction. This would hinder one's spiritual growth. This is why many believe that Paul is speaking of a Christian believer not marrying an unbeliever.
But Paul also wrote this, which is about marriage and this very topic:
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not,
and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,
and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were
your children unclean; but now are they holy.
As you can see in this What is Unequally Yoked Bible verse ... If someone is married to an unbeliever the spouse and even children can be sanctified by the union. The 1 Corinthians 7:13-14 Scriptures were within the first letter to the Church which was at Corinth and the 2 Corinthians 6:14 Scripture was within the second letter to the same Church at Corinth.
So, we know that if those folks in the Church of Corinth who read the first letter and were told By Paul about the unbelieving spouse being sanctified by the Faith of the believing husband or wife and would've interpreted the part in 2 Corinthians 6:14 in the second letter the way some folks do now, they would have said "Whoa there Paul. But, you said" ...
In addition, we know the 2 Corinthians 6:14 Scripture does not mean that we are to avoid unbelievers altogether, because we are taught by our Lord to reach out for and teach unbelievers, as Paul was doing.
So, this brings to mind a Unequally Yoked Bible verse trivia question. Was Paul talking about marriage or was he speaking generally about Christians who are supposed to be doing God's Works becoming entangled in worldly matters as to become unequally yoked to man's world trends.
Just like a Christian that sets out to reach a lost soul. What if the intent of the husband was to bring the unbelieving wife to become a Christian? Does this change the playing field?
What is Unequally Yoked Bible Verse Explained?
Then again, maybe Paul was referring to those who were already married in one Scripture and preventative measures before becoming married in the other. That is a matter of interpretation I suppose and believe me there is much debate on this matter.
One more interesting thing one may want to consider ... Paul said the following statement just before he made his statement about the unbelieving spouse being sanctified by the believing spouse:
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
So, this brings up another question.
If all Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, was Paul filled with the Spirit when he made that statement?
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Here is something else Paul said ...
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But
every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and
another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good
for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is
better to marry than to burn.
What is Unequally Yoked Concern?
He is suggesting we stay unmarried ... Here is his explanation:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are
of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin.
The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may
be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth
for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may
cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may
attend upon the Lord without distraction.
So it appears that Paul is suggesting everyone remain unmarried as he chose to do. But, is that what he is saying? Note: Paul did say: "But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that" ... Which means that we all have our own calling and purpose which God judges accordingly.
Here is an Unequally Yoked Bible verse tidbit of Truth to pray and ponder upon ... One size does not fit all. We know that he is not saying everyone should remain single as how would the population continue? We know that there are folks to be married from the beginning. Man and woman were to become one;
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Jesus repeated it:
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
What is Unequally Yoked Warning?
And even Paul echoed this Truth ...
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Though Paul spoke of the symbolically of the Church.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.
So, as we can all see, it is always best to research the whole Bible and then ponder and pray about all the information that you discover as to interpret the Spiritual meaning of all Scripture properly as in the end ... It is between you and God !!!
We receive letters from husbands and wives that are married to unbelievers. I have feared that if they hear of what some believe of the " being unequally yoked" theory that they may feel that they are being told they are living in sin.
I mean, the theory may appear to be saying that Paul said an unbelieving spouse was sanctified by the Faith of the believing spouse only because they had already married at that point and this was not applicable to those that married the next day or next year or two thousand years later ...
However, this is only a possible Unequally Yoked Bible verse interpretation. It came to light because some wanted to interpret something Paul said in his next writing to say that we are not to marry someone that is not a believer because it would make us "unequally yoked" so they had to come up with something that made sense.
When it could have very well been talking about Christians who were supposed to be doing works of God, being caught up in worldly trends resulting in being unequally yoked. Instead of it meaning a believing soul could not marry an unbelieving soul. Paul may have been talking about the members of the Church hooking up with worldly souls in day to day life.
What is Unequally Yoked Rule Today?
This brings up a few questions to the mind and heart. Here are a few Unequally Yoked Bible verse scenarios that I would like to share, so you can feel me. Let's say that a couple gets married and they are both Christians. One falls as we all oft times do. Let's say they lost their child in a car accident and the wife just cannot believe that a loving God would allow her child to be taken away from her, so she says she does not believe any longer. The man is slowly working to restore her faith and came to seek fellowship on this matter. Do we tell the man to walk away as not to be deemed as being unequally yoked?
Then again, what if a couple married and one was a Christian and one was not and all this time the believer is working on the faith of the unbelieving partner that they chose to be with for the rest of their life. Do we tell them they are obligated to depart?
What if a couple married and were both just young party people and were both not believers as of yet. As time passed, one became a believer while the other did not but she is working on her husband. Should we advise that she immediately go wake up little Timmy and say come, we are getting outta here because Daddy is an unbeliever and I ain't about to be unequally yoked and be in contention with God as my friends at the Oasis suggested?
Is the "assumed rule" in 2 Corinthians 6:14 applicable to the above scenarios?
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
In other words ... Is being "unequally yoked" (as it is being interpreted to mean that one cannot be married to an unbeliever) applicable in one or all of these scenarios? Or are we as Christians to attempt to determine the validity of the marriage for them?
Maybe we get to say that because they were already married as believers then the Sanctification process kicks in? Or because one was and one was not, something changes. or maybe because they were both not believers, some other rule of thumb applies?
I mean ... These souls married after the words of Paul were shared.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not,
and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,
and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were
your children unclean; but now are they Holy.
What is Unequally Yoked Truth?
So, the question becomes ... Are they living in sin? Understand these are actual people within the counseling program and letters we receive. They are the Christian souls that you see all around you. These are children of God. Who are we to judge the heart of their marriage? This brings to mind when Jesus was presented with a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. The law demanded that she be put to death. But Jesus, knowing the law very well, gave us the Spirit of the law:
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
The Religious "interpreters" of the law, knew not the Spirit of the law, much less of God's plan of Grace ...
For the law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.
What is Unequally Yoked Debate?
I seek not to join the ongoing debate concerning the Unequally yoked Bible verse Scripture. I am just concerned about some married Christian souls being judged by the beliefs of others. Here is wisdom ... The simple question of would a single Christian want to hook up with another single Christian or an unbeliever, is a given.
Of course that would be the ideal scenario for most. But, we all know it is not a perfect world. Each single Christian could marry at some point and find ourselves in any one of the scenarios mentioned above and I believe that these souls who once held dear to their interpretation, would have a different perspective.
I mean come on folks ... True Love has few barriers. It will sweep you off your feet without any premeditation. It is Spiritual as it is Love and God is Love. So, to those who are married and may find themselves to be "unequally yoked" at any time during your marriage.
Please remember that the interpretation and words shared from a Christian Single's perspective do not define your Love and marriage. I have gone to such extremes with this Unequally Yoked Bible verse topic because, I know of many souls that visit the Christianity Oasis Ministry who are married and one partner is not Christian. They are our friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.
I cannot fathom what they would feel like if they were told they are living in sin. Especially if it was just the one Scripture being presented to them without the whole picture being shared and someone telling these brothers and sisters in Christ that they are being deemed by God as unequally yoked with their spouse of years.
Let's be real ... God very well may have wanted one to be the tool that He would use to reach the other. That sounds like Love and Grace to me. Here is proof. I have seen many husbands and wives that were reached by their believing spouse and became Christians in the last 15 years of this Ministry and I am thinking that angels rejoiced with each conversion. Despite the balance of the yoke in their marriage bond. God may find the balance very equally yoked.
What God brings together let no man try and pull apart. So, why do some folks believe the Unequally Yoked Scripture is saying that believers are not allowed to marry unbelievers? Well, besides the obvious reason that it sounds like it may be saying that (though the word marriage is never mentioned).
What is Unequally Yoked Pitfall?
Many say that belief in this Unequally Yoked Bible verse interpretation stemmed from a law of the Israelites. They are not saying that we should be under the old law of the Israelites as most know this Truth. The Apostles learned from the Holy Spirit that the Jewish customs and some of the Jewish laws were not to be placed upon the Gentiles (anyone who is not Jewish).
As well they should not be under the Old Covenant ... As God has made a New Covenant and that is why it is shared with us in the Book of Acts, that it was divine intervention from the Holy Spirit who directed this:
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from
blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if
ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
In short if you are not Jewish ... You are a Gentile. You are not bound to Jewish customs of the Old Covenant.
No, many of these souls that believe in the Unequally Yoked Bible verse interpretation suggesting that believers are not allowed to marry unbelievers believe the Jewish law is symbolic of this new law though I did not read of this law when the Holy Spirit gave His list.
You see ... The Israelites were not to marry outside of the Israelite nation. Many believe that this law was put in place to prevent the bloodline from being defiled. So naturally they connect this law with the Unequally Yoked Bible verse meaning unbelievers should not be joined with believers.
What is Unequally Yoked Summary?
However, there were lots of God's chosen people who did marry those who were not Israelite women. Moses got him a woman from Ethiopia. Moses' brother and sister pointed the law out to Moses and were against Moses due to the marriage;
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Uh huh ... One would think they should.
Was Moses punished for this apparent violation of the law? No ... God punished Miriam for disrespecting Moses.
9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and
he departed.
10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and,
behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon
Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
Again the woman named Ruth was a Moabite:
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth.
Ruth married Boaz which was the bloodline to David:
5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of
Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat
Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
These are just a couple examples. So, we see, there are exceptions to every rule. Not to mention our carnal interpretation of God's law oft times lacks Spiritual insight as Jesus pointed out many times when Pharisees quoted their interpretation of law to Him. One size does not fit all.
So, am I saying believers should go marry unbelievers or that those who believe that believers should marry believers are wrong. God forbid. No, I would imagine it would be better and easier if they were both already Christians. No, I am saying that we should never allow our beliefs and interpretations of specific Scriptures that we apply to our own lives to be a stone that you cast at another.
Ladies and gents ... Only God can judge such matters of the heart. So please be careful applying the interpretation of this Scripture or any specific Scripture to other Christians because ... God is not subject to man's limited carnal understanding of His Word. God is looking for ways to get us into Heaven, not keep us out. Let that be the reason He sacrificed His only Son to give us Grace. God judges the heart of every matter.
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There is a force out there that is attempting to overtake us all; it is Satan. There is another force that is protecting us from him; it is the Holy Spirit. It is a battle for souls. This battle is called Spiritual Warfare, and like it or not, you are right in the middle of it.
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