God can certainly use an unequal yoke to win the lost person, I was saved out of an unequal yoke actually. But it's not God's will for Christians to be in that position. I don't think there's really such a thing as an unequal yoke between Christians. And its unfortunate that the second issue happened.
And Sharp, you're question is definitely random lol. ;-)
And Sharp, you're question is definitely random lol. ;-)
Part of the reason I wrote this thread is because of:
1. the couple I wrote about in my original post who WERE a believer and unbeliever when they met, but God worked it out and they have become a powerful union for God's work;
and in contrast,
2. several weeks ago I ran into someone I greatly admire who DID "follow all the rules"--married an "equally yoked Christian" (as equal as possible, at least), has been married longer than I've been alive, raised a large household of children together, worked side-by-side in the church and built a ministry together... and in this case, one spouse is leaving... FOR ANOTHER PERSON IN THEIR CHURCH.
So here we have two examples--in one, all the "good Christian advice" about equal yoking was thrown out the window and yet God knitted them together in a beautiful way... in the other, "all the rules were followed" to the best of their abilities, but it still all collapsed.
I run into so much Christian thinking that seems to proclaim: "If you just follow all of God's rules, if you just keep God at the center of it all, it will all be ok." But this very much depends on one's definition of "ok."
When I was younger, I used to think having a strong faith meant asking God to keep me from falling into the major harms and pitfalls of this life--now I know that even if you follow every rule as best you can (not that I do, but we all, as Christians, try), everything may still burst up in flames. I suppose the wiser prayer is, "God, whatever happens, I know you're in control, I know you have a reason, so please give me the strength and grace to get through."
After all, Jesus followed all the rules to a T--but in the end, it didn't matter--he was blamed and punished all the same, but through it all, He trusted that God was putting Him through it all, no matter how unfairly, for a greater purpose.
Sorry, a little off of my own topic, but I just had to vent!!
I'm also glad to see that y'all have a great sense of humor (reference to poll), although it's with a heavy heart that I will have to inform the aforementioned twins that they can no longer go to the movies together, seeing as they are OBVIOUSLY unequally yoked.
I'm kidding, everyone!!!
1. the couple I wrote about in my original post who WERE a believer and unbeliever when they met, but God worked it out and they have become a powerful union for God's work;
and in contrast,
2. several weeks ago I ran into someone I greatly admire who DID "follow all the rules"--married an "equally yoked Christian" (as equal as possible, at least), has been married longer than I've been alive, raised a large household of children together, worked side-by-side in the church and built a ministry together... and in this case, one spouse is leaving... FOR ANOTHER PERSON IN THEIR CHURCH.
So here we have two examples--in one, all the "good Christian advice" about equal yoking was thrown out the window and yet God knitted them together in a beautiful way... in the other, "all the rules were followed" to the best of their abilities, but it still all collapsed.
I run into so much Christian thinking that seems to proclaim: "If you just follow all of God's rules, if you just keep God at the center of it all, it will all be ok." But this very much depends on one's definition of "ok."
When I was younger, I used to think having a strong faith meant asking God to keep me from falling into the major harms and pitfalls of this life--now I know that even if you follow every rule as best you can (not that I do, but we all, as Christians, try), everything may still burst up in flames. I suppose the wiser prayer is, "God, whatever happens, I know you're in control, I know you have a reason, so please give me the strength and grace to get through."
After all, Jesus followed all the rules to a T--but in the end, it didn't matter--he was blamed and punished all the same, but through it all, He trusted that God was putting Him through it all, no matter how unfairly, for a greater purpose.
Sorry, a little off of my own topic, but I just had to vent!!
I'm also glad to see that y'all have a great sense of humor (reference to poll), although it's with a heavy heart that I will have to inform the aforementioned twins that they can no longer go to the movies together, seeing as they are OBVIOUSLY unequally yoked.
I'm kidding, everyone!!!
