What does being "unequally yoked" mean to YOU?

[Markum1972]

Do you think someone who is a believer with a strong calling can be completely swayed in the opposite direction and go back into deception if they continue to remain unequally yoked and stay with that person because the relationship is an idol? Will God eventually pull them apart? Just curious. Has anyone seen this?

If they make the person an idol, like Adam did, then they will fall.

However, I tell you the absolute truth that it can work the exact opposite as well.

I can really appreciate Jeremiah's relationship with his wife. I can see how he was motivated by his own relationship to do the work of God in dealing with the relationship that God had with Israel. His relationship with his wife was an exact mirror of God's relationship with Israel. I can see how this motivated Jeremiah and helped him to understand God's position.

I experience this now. It's a long story and I won't get into it, but my compassion towards a woman that I have known for MANY years manifests as a compassion to God's people because I understand the brokenness. I hope that makes sense to you.

 

[Oreobarbie]

I think It only applies to non-christians. Because, The Bible goes on to say "What does the wicked have in common with the righteous?" We have to look at it not only in a Biblical way but in a common sense way. The Lord gives us rules so that we dom't hurt ourselves or others. They aren't to restrict us from fun or disable us from something good it's the opposite. A christian and a non-christan could almost never work! We are different than unbelievers in so many ways. It would be like putting a poodle with a shark. They just don't mix! Remember Jezabell and The King? If you form relationships with Non-Christians your relationship with God will most likely suffer. That's what happened to the Israelites when they lived among the gentiles. They started worshipping idols. Not only that, you'll get hurt. Unbelievers don't act like us. They're slave to sin. Do you think they could truly love you like you could love them? No. It's lust. Look at samson and delilah!!!

 

[Jullianna]

Right. Just like you to go and put wisdom to use.

My apologies

As far as "yoked" goes. I did not mean believe married to another believer. Paul also addresses a believer that is yoked to an an unbeliever. He specifically says to stay with them.

It also says in scripture to not get yoked with an unbeliever.

I think many people easily confuse and combine the two.

One says, if you are... then stay.
The other says, if you are not... then don't.

The dangerous thing I see today is many Christian's leaving their unbelieving partners and feeling justified to do so when scripture specifically says not to do that. I have met many broken-spirited people that have been wounded so deeply by this that it is hard to share the gospel with them.

How do I tell them that it is good to serve a God that caused someone to disregard them and their feelings? Why should they want to turn to a God that left them broken-hearted? It is easier, and also more truth-bearing, to tell them that their partner was misinformed and disobeyed God's will.

Sorry bout the rant. Not meaning to derail. It is just something that weighs heavily on my heart often.

It weighs heavily on my heart too. Truly. When I read some of the struggles singles here have endured, the tragedies set out in the family forum, the pain I see people at work/church going through, it breaks my heart. Especially having come from a broken home myself.

And that's just a fraction of the pain that is out there... For every person who speaks up there is the other spouse and likely a child or two...or more. Hurting. There are no "winners" when a family dies.

Seeing so much pain overwhelms me sometimes. (an INFJ thing) I think that's why I tend to overshare or create too many threads. I'm talking with God about all of this stuff: God...what can WE do to help them? What can WE say? What can WE share with the world from YOUR heart to pass on wisdom and healing?

 

[Charcoal]

Right. Just like you to go and put wisdom to use.

As far as "yoked" goes. I did not mean believe married to another believer. Paul also addresses a believer that is yoked to an an unbeliever. He specifically says to stay with them.

It also says in scripture to not get yoked with an unbeliever.

I think many people easily confuse and combine the two.

One says, if you are... then stay.
The other says, if you are not... then don't.

The dangerous thing I see today is many Christian's leaving their unbelieving partners and feeling justified to do so ...

All too often, those with prideful sin in their heart turn to misquoting scripture to justify their iniquities. Many will say that they were casting off the yoke that held them to an unbeliever, but few will submit to Christ and follow 1 Corinthians 7:12&13. Perhaps they had placed the yoke there, themselves. Perhaps God placed it there that they might save their spouse, in marriage or even in divorce as shown in verse 16.

7:12-17 (NIV)
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

 

[OnThisRock]

If they make the person an idol, like Adam did, then they will fall.

However, I tell you the absolute truth that it can work the exact opposite as well.

I can really appreciate Jeremiah's relationship with his wife. I can see how he was motivated by his own relationship to do the work of God in dealing with the relationship that God had with Israel. His relationship with his wife was an exact mirror of God's relationship with Israel. I can see how this motivated Jeremiah and helped him to understand God's position.

I experience this now. It's a long story and I won't get into it, but my compassion towards a woman that I have known for MANY years manifests as a compassion to God's people because I understand the brokenness. I hope that makes sense to you.

Yes, I have experience living scripture like this. Mine was to leave a dead life behind (lose my life) to gain my life. Going to a new land and place. I gained more family and friends than to staying behind like many wanted me to.

 

[AbbeyJoy]

It means to not act like a Christian at church and at like the world in public meaning we need to step out as Christians and Love the people around us and not join in gossips and be rude to those that are different from us

 

[Lynx]

Markam I'm a bit confused. Jeremiah is the one God told don't take a wife. Maybe you're thinking of Hosea and Gomer?

 

[secularhermit]

Two examples, i guess:

 

[Markum1972]

Markam I'm a bit confused. Jeremiah is the one God told don't take a wife. Maybe you're thinking of Hosea and Gomer?

Yes Lynx. Hosea. Thank you.

 

[Charcoal]

Yes Lynx. Hosea. Thank you.

I was confused when I read this... on another site, while going through problems two years before divorce, I used the s/n Hosea. I thought you were speaking to Lynx and myself for a smidge there.

and we all share a laugh and move on.

 

[Wormwood]

I'm glad this was raised. I've been with someone that was a believer, but had all the qualities and tendencies of a non-believer. On the same token, I've been with non-believers that hold themselves to more upright standards than believers.

In the most basic and conventional context, most people seem to define "equally/unequally yolked" as spiritual status between people ─ particularly in affairs of the heart. I would agree in part, but argue that it goes deeper than that.

 

[secularhermit]

Two examples, i guess:

View attachment 91450

View attachment 91451

1st picture is Olt Testament, 2nd is the New Testament.

 

[OnThisRock]

Two examples, i guess:

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View attachment 91451

Hahahahaha YES! lol

 

[secularhermit]

Thanks!

I´m honored by the compliment of your laugh.

 

[Kaycie]

A 'yolk' is the yellow part of an egg. A 'yoke' is a device for joining together two animals. 1 Corinthians 13:33 says bad company corrupts good character. And 2 Corinthians 6:14 says light cannot have fellowship with darkness. A righteous person should not be best friends with an unrighteous person. Being yoked together does not mean physically- but from the heart. For example, a righteous person may see more of their coworkers than church members, but just because they spend more time with them does not mean the coworkers are closer to their heart than their brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

View attachment 91555 A 'yolk' is the yellow part of an egg. A 'yoke' is a device for joining together two animals. 1 Corinthians 13:33 says bad company corrupts good character. And 2 Corinthians 6:14 says light cannot have fellowship with darkness. A righteous person should not be best friends with an unrighteous person. Being yoked together does not mean physically- but from the heart. For example, a righteous person may see more of their coworkers than church members, but just because they spend more time with them does not mean the coworkers are closer to their heart than their brothers and sisters in Christ.

I like this visual. Two oxen who are yoked together must travel in the same direction. They MUST. If one wants to travel toward God and the other wants to travel toward the world, neither of them are going to get anywhere. Someone will have to compromise.

 

[Bride]

I was unequally yoked more than once in my life, I'm single now. The only time I'll ever again be unequally yoked maybe is if I have a chicken egg together with a goose egg

 

[ELECT]

View attachment 91261​

We hear it all the time. But what does it mean to YOU?

The scripture says not to be with an unbeliever, but is there more to it than this?

Can believers also be unequally yoked with one another with regard to spiritual maturity?

Have you experienced this? Dated a non-believer? Dated someone less spiritually mature?

What is the impact?

What happened?

View attachment 91262​

Rememeber Lots wife

rememeber Joseph wife

remember Ruth

it has to do with the heart

 

[ELECT]

View attachment 91555 A 'yolk' is the yellow part of an egg. A 'yoke' is a device for joining together two animals. 1 Corinthians 13:33 says bad company corrupts good character. And 2 Corinthians 6:14 says light cannot have fellowship with darkness. A righteous person should not be best friends with an unrighteous person. Being yoked together does not mean physically- but from the heart. For example, a righteous person may see more of their coworkers than church members, but just because they spend more time with them does not mean the coworkers are closer to their heart than their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let the wheat and the tare grow together

 

[Calmador]

I'm reminded of this being used to justify not marrying a non-believer. So, this reminds me of a much stronger solid verse that shows us that we shouldn't marry a non-believer.


1 Corinthians 7:39

A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.

Well, this one seals it very well. And I know some of you are thinking "no duh" we shouldn't be marry non-believers, but trust me I've met Christians who don't think the unequally yoked verse is good enough.

RAWR!