"Be ye not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath
light with darkness?"
II Corinthians 6:14.
This is one of the definitive statements in
Scripture on the doctrine of Christian separation. Not only should
believers refrain from practicing evil teaching and error, they
should not join in any formal association with those who do such
things, nor should they enter into a binding relationship of any
kind with non-Christians.
There may be a question regarding the full
scope of this prohibition, though it probably would not apply to
civic clubs, professional societies and such like, with no religious
connotations. The context of this verse implies an association of
Christians with pagan idolaters, compromising God's word with the
immoral pantheism of the Greek religions.
The "unequal yoke" seems, therefore, to be one
involving an actual "fellowship" and "communion" in some kind of
religious or quasi-spiritual union with unbelievers, and this is
forbidden, for how "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
Amos 3:3.
In the modern scene, ancient Greek pantheism
has now become one form or another of evolutionary humanism. Thus
the prohibition would at least apply to membership in secret lodges
or fraternities with a pseudo-religious structure and purpose, as
well as membership in liberal churches or cults in the so-called
"New Age" orbit.
It clearly must also include marriage or
partnership or other formal unions with individuals who, as
unbelievers in Christ, are either knowingly or unknowingly affected
by such pagan beliefs or practices. Instead of such an unequal yoke,
we should be joined only to Christ and His followers, "For," said
He, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light"
Matthew 11:30.
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