Paul issued the following warning to the church in Corinth:
“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-19).
What does it mean to be “bound together” or “unequally yoked” (KJV) with unbelievers? How does this instruction apply to us today? Let us consider a few points.
This Does NOT Mean Isolation from the World
We can conclude this from what Paul wrote in his first letter to the church in Corinth. In discussing how to handle the situation of one of their own who refused to give up a blatantly sinful lifestyle, Paul wrote this:
“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler not even to eat with such a one” (1 Corinthians 5:9-11).
He acknowledged that they could not go out of the world. Similarly, we cannot completely isolate ourselves from society, even as it moves further away from God. Instead, we are to “let [our] light shine before men in such a way that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We are to be an example to others and look for opportunities to share the gospel with those who need to hear it.
This Is NOT Just About Marriage
Often, brethren will immediately apply this passage to marriage. That is certainly one way this instruction applies, but we need to be careful about concluding that Paul was referring directly to marriage.
It is not a sin for a Christian to be married to a non-Christian. Paul told the brethren in Corinth that a Christian married to a non-Christian should work to keep that marriage together: “And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away” (1 Corinthians 7:13). Peter indicated that a Christian wife could help convert her non-Christian husband: “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior” (1 Peter 3:1-2). They were certainly not to leave their spouse because they were not a Christian.
That being said, it is much more difficult for a Christian married to a non-Christian. They do not have a common faith or a common hope. They do not have someone who will encourage them to wholeheartedly follow the Lord. The unbelieving spouse will often only tolerate the level of faith they are comfortable with their Christian mate having. Too many times, the unbelieving spouse will pull the believing spouse away from the Lord. It is also much more difficult to raise children to be Christians when only one parent is trying to pass on their faith to them.
So while it may not be a sin for a Christian to be married to a non-Christian, it is certainly not wise to enter that relationship. It could have eternally disastrous consequences for the believing spouse and any children that may be born in that home.
This Is a Warning Against Worldly Influences
If Paul was not referring to marriage specifically, what was he talking about? This is a warning about worldly influences of all types. He wrote in the first letter to this church, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The people we associate with can have an enormous influence on our behavior, thinking, and priorities. Therefore, we need to be careful that we are not too closely associated with the wrong type of people.
There should be a difference between us and the world. Peter wrote, “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you” (1 Peter 4:3-4).
Not only is there a difference, but Peter also said that the people around us should notice it. When they notice, this can provoke them to ask us about our faith, which is why we must be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks [us] to give an account for the hope that is in [us]” (1 Peter 3:15). However, they will not ask if there is no difference between us and the world or if we hide or minimize our faith when we are around them.
These are the associations we need to avoid – ones where we are being influenced to compromise, remain silent about our faith, endorse their sinful behavior or lifestyle, or turn to sin ourselves. Instead, we need to be the ones who influence those around us.
Remember the Yoke We Are to Take Up
Instead of being “unequally yoked” with unbelievers, Jesus talked about the “yoke” we are to take up:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
We cannot take up His yoke and follow Him when we are trying to be yoked together with those who have no interest in doing the same.
The instruction about not being “unequally yoked” is based upon the command in the Law of Moses about having two types of animals yoked together:
“You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together” (Deuteronomy 22:10).
Why was that command given? Theological reasons aside, it simply will not work practically. They are two different types of animals – different sizes, strengths, temperaments, etc. They cannot work together and accomplish anything worthwhile.
The same is true for us. We should avoid binding ourselves to those who do not share our faith. We need to avoid associations that hinder our service to God.
Conclusion
As Christians, we live in the world but are to be different from the world. We are to be a light that helps point people to Christ. However, we cannot do this by becoming “unequally yoked” with unbelievers. Rather than helping turn them to Christ, it will only hinder us in serving Him wholeheartedly.
We need to be an influence for good rather than allowing the world to influence us to sin.
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This article first appeared on Plain Bible Teaching for Today on Substack.
