Unequally Yoked

(Dedicated to John McCoy and John Thomas. Thank you guys for opening my eyes to the true meaning of being unequally yoked.)

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? – 2 Corinthians 6:14

You’ve probably already heard the team unequally yoked. This is an image that calls up a team of oxen, one much stronger than the other. How can they plow in a straight line if they’re not pulling the weight equally? The Bible is pretty clear here. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, don’t enter into a relationship with someone who doesn’t believe. You won’t be pulling together.

We are called to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of all nations, but not when it comes to dating. There’s always a temptation here to be a “missionary dater.” “It’s okay that he’s not a Christian!” you think. “I’ll teach him about Jesus!” I’ve seen it happen many times. Everyone wants to believe she’s the exception to the rule. That he’s different. But dating someone who doesn’t understand the most essential part of your life is a recipe for disaster.

In the Bible, James makes an even bolder statement. “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Harsh, but true. When we take advantage of the grace of God, taking relationships into our own hands, we put ourselves at risk. Malachi 2:11-12 says, “A detestable thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. The men of Judah have defiled the Lord’s beloved sanctuary by marrying women who worship idols. May the Lord cut off from the nation of Israel every last man who has done this and yet brings an offering to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” We all know those friends who keep their dating life and religious life completely separate. Saturday night and Sunday morning have nothing to do with each other. But there still hope, says John. “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:8-9).

Prayer: I need you help to test and approve what your will is – your good and perfect will. Show me which relationships are pleasing to you. Keep me from evil. Amen.