Do Not Be Bound Together With Unbelievers
- agapemarriageandfa
- Mar 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 8
"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 and unbeliever?" - 2nd Corinthians 6:14-15, NASB 1995
I remember back when I was a small boy growing up in a small church in Kentucky two sweet ladies telling our Sunday School class that when we get older and want to get married we should only marry someone who is a Christian. At the time, I really couldn't understand what these ladies meant but I listened to every word of their advice. I grew up in a Christian home, and went to a Baptist church 3 times a week. I thought everyone went to church and that most people were Christians. As I got older, I realized this wasn't the case.
When I was 21, I left my small town life for a life in the Air Force. I spent my first seven years in the Air Force at a base near St. Louis. I was out of my comfort zone big time. It didn't take me long to realize that not everyone was a believer in Jesus and many of my acquantances in the Air Force were non-believers. Slowly their influence caused me to drift away from my faith in Jesus Christ and followed after the way of those who were not Christian. I did eventually come to my senses and repent of my wicked ways and return to an obedient life to Jesus Christ, and I now fully understand why Paul instructed the believers of Corinth to not associate with unbelievers. The same can be said for marriage.
Even though the text I shared in the beginning of my blog isn't specifically meant for a marriage union, his words should be well heeded. Just as it isn't good for a believer in Jesus Christ to associate with non-believers, the same can be said for a Christian with a non-Christian in marriage. Just as a non-believing friend could cause a Christian to give into the temptation to live sinfully, a non-beleiving spouse could lead the Christian spouse to a life of sin.
You, as a Christian, may think that the faith or religion of the person you may marry isn't of concern. You may even think that if you find the perfect person, even if he/she is not a Christian, that because of your witness, beause of your Christain example that that person will become a Christian. I hate to give you the bad news, this may not happen. In fact, it is more likely that you, as a Christian, will be more influenced by the un-believing spouse and you will be led astray into a life of sin.
Often we hear of the example of two animals yoked together pulling a plow in a field. Typically you have two oxes of equal size and ability yoked together. You wouldn't want to yoke an ox with a donkey to plow a field. This would most likely defeat your purpose and ultimately lead to disaster.
Paul is warning the believers in Jesus Christ to not have associations with unbelievers. He speaks of righteousness not having partnership with unrighteousness, light not having fellowship with darkness, and Christ not having harmony with Belial. The Christians in Corinth were coming out of a steep tradition of paganism, and it may have been difficult for them to cut ties with some of the sinful associations they have had. Paul is instructing them that their lives are different now and they are to be set apart for Jesus Christ to be the light in the dark world of paganism around them. Being a light in the darkness doesn't mean they are to participate in the sinful deeds of the darkness.
As Paul warned against being bound with unbelievers, I also warn agsint this too, especially in the bond of marriage. And now, nearly 40 some years after getting that advice from those sweet ladies in Sunday School, I understand why they told us to marry a Christian. Being unequally yoked in marriage could indeed lead to disaster for the marriage union.
May God bless you, through His Son Jesus Christ,
Joey
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