THE CONTRAST
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 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.”
Paul is writing to a group of believers who have come out of a very pagan culture. We typically do not see this in America due the start of our nation revolving around people seeking religious freedom. We have made some massive steps backward in the last twenty years, but still, our culture has strong Christian roots. The Corinthians, not so much.
In our verses for today, Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that they are not the same as they used to be and that they are not the same as the culture they live in. The main point of Paul’s inspired message is that because of the new life that believers now have in Christ, they are to be very selective in their relationships with unbelievers.
As Paul spells out the contrast, at first blush, he would appear to be advocating for Christian isolation. This thought process was part of the movement into monasteries. Monks would separate themselves from society in order to live holy lives to the Lord. But if believers drastically limit contact with unbelievers how are the unsaved reached? The contrast is real and stark. Believers are called righteous and unbelievers lawless. Believers are called light, and unbelievers are called darkness. Believers identify with Christ, and unbelievers with Belial. Paul used Belial as a designation of Satan. So we could assume that we are to have no contact with unbelievers.
However, some of the words Paul uses give us a better perspective of what he is referring to. Paul says don’t be unequally yoked. A yoke was a wooden instrument used to connect oxen together to increase their pulling power. A yoke insured that the oxen would move together. When Paul says unequally yoked immediately marriage comes to mind. A marriage involves two becoming one, and that is a strong yoke. So when a believer marries an unbeliever, that is an unequal yoke of light versus darkness, righteousness versus lawlessness. I also believe we can carry that same analogy into business and partnerships. Paul talked about communion and fellowship which is closer than a mere acquaintance. Paul was not lobbying for the church to avoid sinners at all costs. He warned about entering binding and close friendships.
Again, if the Corinthians did not understand, Paul continues his contrast by likening the believers to the temple of God and the unbelievers to idols. And then he drops a great truth. Believers are the temple of the living God. God dwells in the believers by His Spirit and calls the believer to live a life that is different from the unbeliever; to live clean before God because believers have been made clean. God is now a Father to the believers, who are now His sons and daughters.
APPLICATION
I don’t do much Biblical life coaching on a one-on-one basis. My schedule simply will not allow it. But in the past, when I was more engaged one-on-one, I became conscious of how people were yoked, how they were connected. I have never encouraged a believer to marry an unbeliever. This is not saying the unbeliever is bad. I am simply choosing to agree with the Scriptures that there is a big spiritual contrast. I believe that according to this passage, if a believer’s closest friends are unbelievers there is an unequal connection. I fully believe we are to reach the world. But, we still have to be aware of the level of relationship we have with those who have such a great spiritual contrast with the light and life of Christ that is in us.
Without going into great detail, my unequal connection with unbelievers played a big part in my falling away from the Lord during my college days. And when I came back in relationship with the Lord, my new friends were believers, and that was extremely helpful. There is a contrast. God knows what He is talking about.
PRAYER
Lord, help me reach my world without being unequally connected. Help me be a light in the darkness.