Sunday, July 22, 2018
Not Unequally Yoked
2 Corinthians 614
a.
First, Paul’s overall
concern is a desire that these brethren be holy. The context bears this
out in 2 Corinthians 7:1, the conclusion of this point.
Notice the entire context – 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1.
His point in this section, and it has been addressed in various concerns
for the Corinthians, was that they not be caught up in idolatrous
practices, nor imply approval of such.
In fact, he challenges them to take steps to ensure that they are
not in a position where they MIGHT participate in sinful conduct.
b.
Do not be unequally
yoked
i.
Yoked together – a yoke
is a device used to join together two (or more) animals so that they
work together as a team.
Used for pulling wagons, plowing, etc.
The purpose is to make both animals move in the same direction,
thus increasing the power of the team.
ii.
To be unequally yoked
(it is a compound Greek word found only in our text that means “yoke to
another”) would be to put together two different or contrasting things.
iii.
Under the Law of Moses
this was forbidden - Leviticus 19:19 – a prohibition against mixing
certain items –You shall keep My
statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You
shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed
linen and wool come upon you.
Deuteronomy 22:10,
“You shall not plow with an ox and
a donkey together. As Moses
repeats the law, this is given as an example based upon the previous
text.
The reason for this is not given – and at times it makes sense, but
perhaps the main point was to emphasize SEPARATION and distinction.
A lesson we very much need.
c.
With an unbeliever
–
i.
Could it be Jews who outright rejected Jesus?
– cf. 2 Corinthians 2:7-18.
Christians continually had to deal with these Jews who despised Christ
and Christians. Acts
18:12-13 describes them causing trouble in Corinth.
ii.
Or could it be descriptive of brethren who were causing such problems with
true Christians?
How often has Paul challenged these troublemakers both in other
letters and in dealing with the Corinthians?
In other letters he dealt with Judaizing teachers (Galatians,
Romans, Ephesians, Etc.)
In 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 he noted we not keep company with a brother (a
Christian, a believer) involved in immoral and ungodly practices.
2 Corinthians 2:17 – Paul contrasts himself with those who are
“peddling the word of God”, 2 Corinthians 4:2 – handling the word of God
deceitfully, etc.
iii.
OR could it be one
who has never submitted to God (& Christ), such as the idolaters,
pagan, or one who just rejects the gospel, etc.?
The term unbeliever, even in the Corinthian letters often refers
to this – 1 Corinthians 6:6, 7:12-14, 2 Corinthians 4:4 – the “god
of this age has blinded, who do not believe…”
iv.
OR, could it be all
the above? While
the principle certainly applies to all of them, Paul is probably
specifically dealing with the idolatrous unbeliever.
d.
The point - the context is dealing with is yoking yourself to one
committing sin – or participating in that sin in some way.
Consider that the next thing Paul says deals with having
fellowship with these ungodly people. He uses 5 terms (vs. 14-16), some
found only here to describe how we are to NOT be in joint participation
with or mutual sharing with or fellowship with.
Paul is saying, do not become involved with those who are
practicing sinful (esp. idolatrous) practices, and thereby you are
guilty of the same sins.
HOWEVER, the text seems to imply we should NOT put ourselves in a
situation where the unbeliever has an advantage over us.
THAT is when we are likely to get caught up in sinful behaviors.
In the text, Paul will challenge them to “come
out from among them and be separate.”
While not a direct quote, Paul is possibly referring to Isaiah
59:11-12, Depart! Depart! Go out
from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be
clean, You who bear the vessels of the Lord.
The point is, we are different, and we take steps to make sure we are
different and stay that way.
e.
Is Paul saying we have no dealings with those of the world?
No!
1 Corinthians 5:9-10 – Paul notes that they do have dealings with those
of the world.
Paul himself, “became all things
to all men” – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
Note that he specifically mentions “to
those without law, he becomes “as
without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward
Christ)”. His goal is
to win some.
1 Corinthians 10:25-27, Paul even acknowledges that you buy meat in the
market place, where sacrificed meats were sold along with other meats
(and by looking at them you can tell no difference).
He even says you can go to dinner with them.
But he warns, DON’T ask questions!
Even Jesus acknowledged that we are in the world – John 17:14-16.
Jesus associated with sinners (and perceived sinners)
f.
This really comes down to WHO you prefer to be around!
Our brethren or the world?
More on this in a while!
a.
As we have noted, the
primary warning of Paul is to avoid being associated with idolatry.
For the Corinthians that could have included participating in
ceremonies (possibly as part of some trade guild, etc.) or eating foods
they KNEW were sacrificed to idols, participating in temple
prostitution, etc. EVEN, if
they knew the idols were nothing but lifeless objects, their influence
portrayed a different picture which they were to avoid.
But can this apply to us?
b.
Are we guilty of being
unequally yoked with idolaters?
What is an idol? In its
broadest definition, and use in scripture, it is anything we put before
God or make into our god. An
idol does not have to be a carved, graven or molded image, it can be
anything we put before God.
Colossians 3:5 calls for us to put to death various sins, including
“covetousness, which is idolatry.”
(cf. Ephesians 5:5).
Do we find ourselves associating with and practicing the idolatrous
behaviors of the world? Do
we proudly endorse the covetous of our society (praising the rich, even
in their ungodly pursuits)?
Do we find ourselves, by behavior, worshipping athletes and
entertainment celebrities, or politicians?
Have we made various forms of entertainment into a god? Sports,
television, movies, exercise, SOCIAL MEDIA, etc.?
ARE we living our lives so that the things and ways of the world have an
advantage in our lives? Are
we striving to serve God and mammon at the same time? (Matthew 6:24)
c.
Is this talking about marriage to an unbeliever?
No! Some use this text to say it is a sin to marry one who is not a
Christian.
There are many problems with this, including NOTHING being said about it
in the context.
If it is a sin to marry an unbeliever, then does God recognize the
marriage? If not, then
they are not married – they can (must) divorce and marry scripturally
(NOTE: THIS IS WRONG!!!!!!
I’m simply pointing out the fallacy of making this argument).
IF God does recognize the marriage, then He is approving of
something that is sinful (AGAIN, THIS IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF MAKING THIS
CONTEXT SAY IT APPLIES TO MARRIAGE)
Note that Paul in 1 Corinthians 7 addressed this saying that if married
to an unbeliever, you remain in that marriage (1 Corinthians 7:12-14).
Being married to an unbeliever is not a sin in and of itself.
HOWEVER, while the union may be
recognized by God, marrying an unbeliever is NOT wise or recommended.
It is likely that you put yourself into circumstances where an
unbeliever has advantage over you, OR compelling you to engage in (or
fellowship) sin, and that CAN involve this text.
Statistics show that marrying an unbeliever is more likely to
pull the Christian away from God, than the Christian converting the
unbeliever.
BUT, it’s not the union that’s a sin (unless it IS a sinful union), but
your conduct IN that union.
d.
By failing to prepare to
defend your faith
1 Peter 3:15 tells us to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is
in us.
Our society is becoming increasingly more secular - And by that I mean,
anti-God, especially the God of the Bible.
We are being barraged with ungodly and anti-godly rhetoric
everywhere. Television and
the movies portray the nuclear (and Biblical model) family as
unnecessary and even foolish.
More and more and declaring themselves as atheist, agnostic, skeptic or
non-religious. They have
their websites on the internet and role models, including many of our
leaders locally, statewide and nationally who are advocating and forcing
the acceptance of ungodly behavior or facing the consequences.
Are we prepared, or are we simply burying our heads in the sand?
What are we doing to ground our youth to put God first and answer
their peers, the skeptic and the educator who mocks their faith?
To ignore such is put someone in a situation where they are unequally
yoked to unbelievers.
IF we can’t answer them, we may be in this circumstance.
(NOTE: This is why a class is being prepared on apologetics –
TT).
e.
By going places where
you are tempted to sin and are outnumbered spiritually
We must learn to prefer our brethren, and be willing to sacrifice to be
with them.
1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us that evil company corrupts good habits.
Paul told Timothy to “flee youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22).
Psalm 1:1 begins, Blessed is the
man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path
of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
It was also a frequent theme of Proverbs (1:10ff, etc.)
When we deliberately go into the devil’s domain, we very likely are
putting ourselves into a situation where we are unequally yoked with
unbelievers.
f.
By failing to grow spiritually – if we are not growing as Christians, we are very likely
drifting back into the world.
The life of a Christian is about growth, as we have extensively
emphasized.
The Bible gives us direction to becoming stronger.
We have to study, pray, assemble with the saints, live godly
lives, and be willing to give
up our ungodly and worldly pursuits.
2 Peter 1:5-11 promises us that if we keep increasing our faith and
various qualities, we will be fruitful and make our call and election
sure. We will insulate
ourselves so that we will never fall (or stumble).
When we fail to grow as Christians, we give Satan the advantage in our
lives and He will take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Peter
5:8-9, etc.). We put
ourselves at a disadvantage and are unequally yoked when we face
troubles.
And
thus we can see the need to beware of who we are around and what we are
doing. As you look at your
life, are you putting yourself in a situation where you are unequally
yoked with unbelievers? If
so, what will you do to remedy that?
How can we help you?
Think about it!