"Yoked with a non-believer"

[MusicalMe]

Since I've seen the "do not be yoked with a non-believer" (2 Cor. 6:14) issue come up in so many threads, I thought I'd see what everyone had to say about Hosea. God commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute and take in her children and to continue loving her after she had an affair. Thoughts?

(And by the way, if you haven't read it, "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers is an excellent book on this subject. She sort of takes the story of Hosea and puts it in 19th century California during the gold rush and it's beautiful. A must-read for Christian women, in my opinion.)

 

[faithwarrior]

Being a prophet of God is not an easy task. The Lord sometimes requires His prophets to perform difficult and even humiliating object lessons to complement their messages. That was the case with Hosea. At the beginning of his prophetic ministry, God told Hosea to get married and announced that Hosea's chosen bride would be unfaithful to her marriage vows. Her adultery would vividly illustrate Israel's unfaithfulness to God. Gomer continually turned her back on Hosea and lived as a harlot. Hosea, in response, repeatedly rescued her from her sinful lifestyle, took her back and loved and cared for her. But after awhile, she would leave him again and return to prostitution. Because of Gomer's adulteries, the marriage disintegrated, and she eventually became the slave or concubine of another man. However, the Lord instructed Hosea to buy back his wife. Hosea's act of mercy towards his wife was a striking picture of the Lord's great love for Israel. It shows us that God's love and mercy never stop reaching out to us. No matter what we have done, we can have a fresh start with God.

God told Hosea to be unequally yoked with this woman. Israel was committing spiritual adultery. In order to understand and demonstrate God's love for backsliding Israel, God required Hosea to marry a prostitute. God had a purpose in this---Hosea's life would be a picture of God's message to His unfaithful people. Despite their unfaithfulness, God's love is constant. Hosea had to live the message he preached.

God is against us being unequally yoked with unbelievers. God told Hosea to do this in order to give an illustration of His love.

Being unequally yoked with someone can lead to many problems, for instance, disruption of fellowship with God. God is the center of your life, but who is the center of his or her life. If God isn't who is? If their moral values is not based on the Bible, then what are they based on? Nonbelievers can lead believers astray or they can get corrupted.

I love God with all my heart and I seek to live a life that is pleasing to Him. As a born again believer, I want to mature in the things of Christ. I no longer want to drink milk. How do I grow in Christ? I spend time in the Word, prayer, fellowshipping with other believers,etc. These things strengthens my walk with God. I notice that even if I try to be friend a non-believer, it doesn't last. Because I am not interested in the things they are doing, they cut me to the curb. When I try to share with them my spiritual battles or concerns they can't understand. The Bible said they wouldn't because they are spiritually discerned.

 

[Narn]

I agree with faith the story of Hosea (Incredible story) was not something we are to look to when we choose our mate. We need to realize that we as Christian's need to be looking for a Christian mate. If our mate does not share our most important essential faith then the marriage will not be strong at all.
If I were to date or marry (God forbid) a Muslim women we would have some serious issues. She would be very uncomfortable at my church. 1. She is an unbeliever. 2 Her Religion teaches that Christianity is wrong.
I want to witness to Muslims but the way to witness is NOT DATING THEM OR MARRYING THEM. Same with any other religion.
Why?
Because all of a sudden I have added the element of the romantic love to the relationship which can blind you.

 

[Silex]

What about Joseph, who married an Egyptian priest's daughter?

Also, Naomi's daughter-in-laws were both non-believers. Esther also married a non-believer.

Would you rather marry a non-believer girl who fits the profile of a submissive wife, or would you marry a believer who's likes to boss around?

Are all unbelievers living in lawlessness?

Is Paul really talking about marriage in 1 Corinthians 6? Or is he instructing the believers to separate themselves from those who live a lawless life and dwell in evil and perpetual sin?

 

[seoulsearch]

What about Joseph, who married an Egyptian priest's daughter?

Also, Naomi's daughter-in-laws were both non-believers. Esther also married a non-believer.

Would you rather marry a non-believer girl who fits the profile of a submissive wife, or would you marry a believer who's likes to boss around?

Are all unbelievers living in lawlessness?

Is Paul really talking about marriage in 1 Corinthians 6? Or is he instructing the believers to separate themselves from those who live a lawless life and dwell in evil and perpetual sin?

I thought I had an answer to this question because I was married to someone who was essentially an unbeliever, but Silex has made some very interesting, well-taken points... I do believe that at times, God influences marriages between Christians and unbelievers for a reason... but for myself, I would be very, very cautious and only do so with the approval of those who know me best at my church, as well as my family. But that's just my opinion... certainly not an absolute.

Thanks to those who brought up Hosea... that story has always bothered me because it made me afraid of who God might ask me to marry, but I hope to pick up that book that Musical recommended sometime.

 

[faithwarrior]

Hey Silex...I wasn't just talking about marriages. Friendships as well. It happens, but God really doesn't want us to. The story of Joseph's wife..history stated she was converted to Judaism before Joseph married her. After Naomi's sons died, one of Naomi',s daughter-in-law, Ruth stayed with her to continue to serve her God. When God allowed Esther to married the king, it was all apart of God's plan--to save his people from annihilation.

When we are yoked up with nonbelievers, there could be long-term consequences. If you look throughout the Bible, the consequences of God's people for yoking up with nonbelievers.

There is a curse that is birthed in us when we join ourselves with people from other beliefs or people that do not serve Christ as God. You see, when you join yourself with people of different religions, occultic organizations, strange god worshippers, or just plain sinners, you are compromising your relationship with God and bringing a curse upon yourself. That's why you can't move forward in your purpose.

Look what happened to Solomon. His heart was turned from God.

You asked a question, are all unbelievers living in lawlessness? The Bible says what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? To be declared righteous you have to had accept Christ as your Lord, if you haven't you are a lawless person. So, you practice lawlessness which is without regard for God's commands. Yes, all unbelievers are living in lawlessness.

...He who has an ear, let him hear...

 

[Silex]

Hey Silex...I wasn't just talking about marriages. Friendships as well. It happens, but God really doesn't want us to.

Yes, He doesn't want us to keep company with the evildoers. However, not all unbelievers are evildoers.

The story of Joseph's wife..history stated she was converted to Judaism before Joseph married her. After Naomi's sons died, one of Naomi',s daughter-in-law, Ruth stayed with her to continue to serve her God. When God allowed Esther to married the king, it was all apart of God's plan--to save his people from annihilation.

I haven't read anything of that sort about Joseph. It could be true, or made up. I don't know. However, Ruth is a perfect example of an unbeliever who wasn't an evildoer. When she married the first time, she was an unbeliever. But we see that she was a good person who continued to serve her old mother-in-law and chose to follow her to a foreign land (foreign for Ruth).

When we are yoked up with nonbelievers, there could be long-term consequences. If you look throughout the Bible, the consequences of God's people for yoking up with nonbelievers.

There is a curse that is birthed in us when we join ourselves with people from other beliefs or people that do not serve Christ as God. You see, when you join yourself with people of different religions, occultic organizations, strange god worshippers, or just plain sinners, you are compromising your relationship with God and bringing a curse upon yourself. That's why you can't move forward in your purpose.

I've spent many years living among people of different religions. And what I've seen is that not every non-christian is a bad person. I've come across several non-Christians who have shown kindness, goodness, faithfulness, compassion, love etc.

Look what happened to Solomon. His heart was turned from God.

That wasn't the fault of his wives and concubines. That was his own fault. Yes, they did influence him, but in the end, he made that call himself.

You asked a question, are all unbelievers living in lawlessness? The Bible says what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? To be declared righteous you have to had accept Christ as your Lord, if you haven't you are a lawless person. So, you practice lawlessness which is without regard for God's commands. Yes, all unbelievers are living in lawlessness.

Read Romans 2. Paul talks about some Gentiles who did not have the law, but by nature lived their lives according to the law.

Not all unbelievers are evildoers and lawless people. We, by nature, have the choice to either live a good life or to live an evil life. And there are many non-Christians who live the good life. They live a good life, not a perfect life. Yes, their good works will not get them to Heaven.

The point is, not every unbeliever is an evil person. There are those who live in absolute disobedience to God and His laws, and these are the people we should not mingle with.

 

[faithwarrior]

Hi Silex, you are right with what you said. But you are not understanding what I am saying. We are seeing this in different ways. Not every unbeliever is bad. I have some associates who are not believers and they are not bad people, but thier is a limit to what we do together. I like to hang around people who are positive, who doesn't curse (it does something to my spirit), who don't drink, who don't go to clubs, and like to talk about God, and among other things. I do have a couple of friends who do party and drink, but I don't hear from them often. The Jesus in me runs them away. Whenever I am around them, I don't have to say anything it just the Spirit within me convicts them of their wrongdoing.

What I am saying, believers have to be careful what we do with them. Yes, we will have friends who don't believe as we do, but don't partake in the evil that they are doing. You see, you have to understand the plan of the enemy. He doesn't want us to serve God. He will use anything to stray us away. He mostly use people. I have seen too many believers fall away because of getting too involved with unfruitful works of darkness. I am looking at this from a spiritual perspective.

 

[MahogonySnail]

It's making it unnecessarily difficult in the relationship to be with a non-believer. It's even making it difficult to be with a believer who doesn't actually believe the same as you lol.
Unfortunately the bar is much higher than even believing. There's denominations, there's beliefs about certain things etc, that might be important too.
For example I speak in tongues and if she thinks I'm possessed by a tongue-speaking devil or that tongues have ceased, no go!

 

[Silex]

Hi Faithwarrior,

It seemed to me that you believed all unbelievers to be evildoers. But you cleared the misunderstanding. Thanks.

 

[SamIam]

I have read that book by francine rivers,.. I love how god can use people who we tend to just completely cast off.

 

[ariannaaa]

Is Paul really talking about marriage in 1 Corinthians 6? Or is he instructing the believers to separate themselves from those who live a lawless life and dwell in evil and perpetual sin?

Yes, Paul is talking about marraige.

The original greek used our word 'yoked' in order to describe a significant 'bind' or 'tie,' it was meant to describe something stronger than a friendship or acquaintance; a marraige.
Even if Paul was talking about friendships.. if God doesn't want us to becomes friends with unbelievers why would he want us to marry them?

Aside from this, Dueteronomy 7:3-4 describes God instructing the Israelites not to marry uinbelievers so that they will not be corrupted.

You cannot pull out examples from the bible of people God used in order to SET examples, if you did- then you could bring down anyone of His laws.

I.E. Job. The bible says if you tithe God will give it back to you tenfold, if you seek after Him He will give you all the desires of your heart, yet Job tithed and lost everything. Job was seeking after Him and LOST all the desires of His heart. So are those verses now up for debate? Of course not. The bible is full of people God used to illustrate ideas and set standards. We need to search out the principles of these stories as well as consistencies throughout the Word.

And as far as unbelievers being moral is concerned, I agree- some are very moral. But they have no foundation for their motivation to be. They could be put under circumstances that would cause them to throw away their morals because they have no reason to stick to them. Believers have Christ constantly pulling us back. I know I wouldn't take the chance.

 

[phil36]

Hi Faithwarrior,

It seemed to me that you believed all unbelievers to be evildoers. But you cleared the misunderstanding. Thanks.

Eh?

Romans 1:18-32

Eph 2:1-3

We certainly are not as evil as we could be, but before we are saved we are not good people. Before God saved us we were under the influence of evil.

All unbelievers are not good people.


Soli Deo Gloria

Phil

 

[phil36]

Sorry forgot to add, being unequally 'yoked' is not good. its not just your sprirtual life its your whole life that it will effect.

Phil

 

[Kakashi]

Yes, Paul is talking about marraige.

The original greek used our word 'yoked' in order to describe a significant 'bind' or 'tie,' it was meant to describe something stronger than a friendship or acquaintance; a marraige.
Even if Paul was talking about friendships.. if God doesn't want us to becomes friends with unbelievers why would he want us to marry them?

Aside from this, Deuteronomy 7:3-4 describes God instructing the Israelites not to marry uinbelievers so that they will not be corrupted.

You cannot pull out examples from the bible of people God used in order to SET examples, if you did- then you could bring down anyone of His laws.

I.E. Job. The bible says if you tithe God will give it back to you tenfold, if you seek after Him He will give you all the desires of your heart, yet Job tithed and lost everything. Job was seeking after Him and LOST all the desires of His heart. So are those verses now up for debate? Of course not. The bible is full of people God used to illustrate ideas and set standards. We need to search out the principles of these stories as well as consistencies throughout the Word.

And as far as unbelievers being moral is concerned, I agree- some are very moral. But they have no foundation for their motivation to be. They could be put under circumstances that would cause them to throw away their morals because they have no reason to stick to them. Believers have Christ constantly pulling us back. I know I wouldn't take the chance.

I exactly , one hundred percent agree with this ^_^

The thing of using some people of the bible whose relationships with the opposite gender can be used to produce some sort of point or subject lesson. Hosea's ordeal was to show God's relationship with Israel on a much more personal level with his people.

To sum up: these are the exceptions to the rule, not the rule. "Do not be yoked with unbelievers" is the rule.