Skipping the java today. But if I were to imbibe it would be a cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee. I hope today is a day without surprises for me. I will write about this subject later this week.
I am taking off from writing for a few days while I recover from knee replacements. A rest is in order. I will get back to it as soon as possible.
This subject might not be too popular for some folks but it needs to be talked about and I never shy away from a rough subject.
I believe in all sixty six books of the Bible and believe the Bible is God's Word in written form. The Word is to be taken as a whole, not to be picked apart and then applied as a human sees fit. So when I hear of someone deciding to get married against God's instructions I wonder just how much they believe in the God of the Bible.
God's instructions for settling on a mate are very clear.
2 Corinthians 6:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:14 is the most quoted verse calling believers to be “equally yoked”. But many believers fail to see why this command from God, written by the Apostle Paul is so important. Others disregard it completely. This is not written to stop people from dating, but it is meant to stop people from dating the wrong person and eventually being yoked in marriage.
In Deuteronomy 7 Moses is instructing the Israelites in their responsibilities as God's people. They have been freed from slavery and are now free men, about to enter the Promised Land. But Moses gives a warning:
“You shall make no covenant with [the people of the land] and show no favor to them. Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them… for they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods…” (Deuteronomy 7:3-4
I compare this total disobedience to a parachute. People put on a parachute when told that the plane they are riding in might crash. They put that puppy on and cling to the cord. But then the plane lands safely and off comes the chute. People do they same thing with God. They often claim to have a relationship of love with Him while they have a need. People run to Jesus as a Savior only to reject Him by being disobedient to God's Word.They used Him as a parachute and now the desire to date outside of Biblical context causes them to toss the "Chute" and serve their own desires.
If Christ is truly King of our lives, our most intimate selves should be submitted to His influence. How then can we unite a Spirit-led soul to one in rebellion against God?
This irritates people in a big way, because no matter how respectful, sweet, or “loving” an unbelieving partner is, he or she is at odds with Christ – he or she is in rebellion. But if we call ourselves Christians, we’re saying we believe the Bible is our final authority. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that without Christ we are “[unresponsive] in our transgressions”, conformed to the world, “living by the cravings of our flesh” and “by nature, children of wrath”. This is who we are without Jesus. This is who everyone is apart from Christ.
Therefore, those of us in Christ cannot be in a harmonious, God-pleasing relationship with an unbeliever. There is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Cor. 7:14)!
Being unequally yoked is total disobedience and is more dangerous than you think. We see this dangerous act in Scripture, we see this theme repeated. One is Samson, who continually sought out unbelieving women, a choice which in the end destroyed him (Judges 14), The other is Solomon, the wisest man in the world – until his many wives led him to worship other gods (1 Kings 11).
Is God a parachute that is only worn when you need Him? Or is He the Lord and final authority of your life?
Marty
Thanks Marty. Godspeed recovery!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul!
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