Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture

Tag: 2 Corinthians 6:14

  • Are Christians permitted to be Unequally Yoked?

    This posting is bound to stir controversy. However, as we have been guided by God’s Word and come to the realization that we may have been mistaken in our belief, shaped by long‑standing traditions and practices, having recognized the error, shouldn’t we reconsider our stance?

    Only those touched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ possess the fervent boldness to express their faith. However, any heated matter will cool down if not constantly maintained. Our faith in Jesus Christ must be continually challenged to ensure that our passion for Christ remains unwavering. The primary adversary of all Christians is the deceptive wolves in sheep’s clothing.

    Have you encountered any of these individuals? The Bible states:

    “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, go out from their midst and be separate from them, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing; then 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 6:14-18)

    In Paul’s context, the unbelievers he mentioned are not those outside the Christian faith. Instead, they are the wolves in sheep’s clothing within the church. A deeper understanding of this point can be gained by reading Paul’s letter, as least beginning at 2 Corinthians 2:17-7:1; 10:1-12:21.

    The identity of the true church can become blurred when a venue where Christians gather also includes those who are ungodly or unrepentant. Scripture speaking about the church states:

    “Do you not know that Christians are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in His church? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

    No wonder, Paul called on the church to “purge the evil from within them” (1 Corinthians 5:13). It raises the question: how can we distinguish who truly belongs to the church? Only God knows who truly belongs to Him (2 Timothy 2:19). Confusion arises when human-made buildings or organizations—formed outside the pattern of Scripture—are still called churches. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18,

    “On this Rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

    Paul’s perspective on marriages between believers and unbelievers differs from the stance of much of contemporary Christianity. Rather than opposing such unions outright, he presents them as opportunities for the believing spouse to influence and possibly lead the other towards faith. This idea is captured in 1 Corinthians 7:16: “For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”

    The Rock is Christ Himself (1 Corinthians 10:4), and Peter’s confession—“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”—confirms this foundation.

    Weekly Sunday gatherings are best understood as occasions for Christians to meet, sometimes accompanied by family and friends who may not yet share their faith, to listen to God’s Word.

    The Apostle Paul demonstrated this practice by addressing a variety of audiences: he spoke to people in the marketplace and at the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17:16-34), taught in the Hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus (Acts 19:8-10), and preached in the synagogues of Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4), Berea (Acts 17:10-12), and Antioch (Acts 13:14-16). None of these locations were ever described as churches.

    Instead, Scripture points out that early Christians gathered in their own homes, forming house churches, as seen in Romans 16:3-5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15, and Philemon 1:1-2. This does not imply that believers never assembled in larger spaces for fellowship among themselves, but no building was ever called a church in the biblical sense. Jesus Christ, when teaching about matters of the church, said:

    “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20)

    The essence of the church is not tied to a specific building or location, but to the fellowship of believers who gather in the name of Christ. This truth is affirmed in John 4:21-24, where worship is shown to transcend physical spaces, focusing instead on spirit and truth.

    “Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:21-24)

    Paul urges Christians to dedicate their lives as a living act of spiritual worship. He instructs believers not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Through this transformation, we gain the ability to discern and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

    Christians frequently invoke 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers,” to dissuade marriages between different denominations, like a Roman Catholic and an evangelical Christian. Yet, they seem to overlook the threat posed by wolves in sheep’s clothing among their own congregations. This creates an irony: the very misuse of 2 Corinthians 6:14 pressures believers to marry solely within their circle, even if some within that circle may, in fact, be spiritual pretenders.

    I posed this question online: Are Christians allowed to be unequally yoked? Here’s the response:

    Christians are not permitted to be unequally yoked, according to the teachings of the Bible. The phrase “unequally yoked” comes from 2 Corinthians 6:14, which advises believers not to form binding partnerships with non-believers. This guidance applies to marriage, close friendships, and business relationships where values and life directions might conflict.

    Being yoked together implies moving in the same direction and sharing a purpose. If one partner does not share the same faith, it can lead to spiritual struggles, conflicts in values, and difficulty in walking in God’s will. Therefore, Christians are encouraged to seek relationships that strengthen their faith and align with biblical principles.

    I fully agree with the second part of the response. However, it appears excessive to completely avoid business relationships or close friendships with unbelievers. This is easily refuted by Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

    “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you.’” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

    Moreover, Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 7 offer a different perspective on marriage. The principle of “garbage in, garbage out” is evident in the AI’s response. We must exercise caution and discernment with information from the internet.

    Christianity generally holds that 2 Corinthians 6:14 applies to marriage. However, its intended context and application are for the church, similar to Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

    Here are the key points on marriage from Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 7:

    “To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.” (1Co 7:12-17)

    It’s easy to select, quote verses, and make judgments. However, every verse in Scripture has its context, and each context addresses a specific concern. Let’s avoid misinterpretation and misapplication of God’s Word.

    Let us share our faith with our unbelieving loved ones, including those with unbelieving partners. We should share our faith without enforcing it. Faith is best demonstrated through our actions and lifestyle.

    Let me repeat Paul’s message:

    “For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.” (1Co 7:16-17)

    Apparently, the problem isn’t having an unbelieving partner, but rather when the believing person compromises their faith. Instead of living a life of faith to influence their unbelieving partners, they submit to their ways. This is where the issue lies.

    Of course, the ideal marriages should be between fellow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, it’s also important to recognize that we only truly get to know the person we’ve married when we’ve lived together under one roof. In such a scenario, the ideal setting may not always be as perfect as we imagine. So, perhaps there goes Paul’s teaching for all churches. (1 Corinthians 7)

    Important to note, however, was Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 7:15. He emphasized, “But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases, the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.” This teaching reminds Christians not to compromise their faith within a marriage with an unbeliever. If the unbelieving spouse refuses to accept or live peacefully with your faith, you are called to let them go, so that you may live in the peace God intends and freely practice your faith.

    Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 7:17 is striking: he emphasises that his instructions are not mere suggestions, but a rule for all the churches. This shows the weight and authority of his words, meant to guide the believers collectively, not just optional advice for individual interpretation.

    In my 26 years of being a Christian, I’ve encountered numerous non-Christians who live according to some teachings of Jesus. For instance, they follow Jesus’ teachings,

    “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

    They are aware of what is harmful to them and refrain from doing it to others, and vice versa. They do what is good to them to others. On the other hand, I’ve also come across a significant number of professing Christians who are actually devilish and engage in actions contrary to the Bible. Some of these actions are openly displayed, while others are kept secret or done in the dark. In such cases, it becomes challenging to discern who is truly far from God’s kingdom.

    The Bible told of a story of a man who approached Jesus with a question. After Jesus responded, another person remarked,

    “To love God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far greater than all the sacrifices and offerings.”

    Jesus then stated, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34) This story is found in Mark 12:28-34. The only missing element was a confession of faith in Jesus Christ. 

    Let me be clear: Salvation is not something that can be passed on to others. Not even to our partners in life, sons or daughters. It is a personal journey that involves a sincere confession of faith in Christ Jesus. This confession acknowledges that without Jesus, no one can earn eternal life. A true confession of faith in Jesus Christ demands a profound transformation in one’s believes, character and values.

    The responsibility of living for Jesus rests on us who believe, and we are tasked not only to live our faith but teach it to our husbands or wives, and most especially to our children. Now, after faithfully doing our Christian duty, the rest is upon God’s grace. Paul states,

    “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1Co 3:6-7)

    Christians are called to live in accordance with the teachings of the Bible, allowing God’s Word to shape and transform their lives for His glory. Regarding marriage, Paul recognized its inherent complexities. In 1 Corinthians 7:12, he begins with, “To the rest I say (I, not the Lord),” expressing pastoral counsel that carefully considers the nuances of the situation. This phrasing reflects his unique role as a divinely inspired writer of Scripture, as affirmed in 2 Peter 1:20-21. In contrast, modern pastors, though able to offer wise guidance, cannot claim the same level of authority as Paul did in his inspired writings.

    Servants of God’s Word, we are called to present ourselves as approved before Him: diligent workers, unashamed, and rightly handling the Word of truth, as written in 2 Timothy 2:15. This command was given to Timothy and speaks to us today, we who profess to be called by Jesus to teach and share His Word. As we seek to guide others, let us avoid unnecessary complications. In matters of marriage, let us faithfully lean on God’s instructions found in 1 Corinthians 7, using His Word as our clear and unwavering guide.

    May this article shed light on the topic of mixed marriages. Pray, read the Bible, and always be guided by Scripture. May the grace of God be upon everyone who reads this article. 

    P.S. I’m open to reconsider my stance if someone can provide a more effective teaching on this subject. However, these are the teachings I’ve encountered in Scripture.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessings!

  • Do it Rightly

    One of the remarkable prophecies in the Bible pertains to the arrival of the Son of God. Scripture proclaims, “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. From the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

    Christ, the incarnate Jesus, was born and lived a life much like ours—fully human yet free from sin, and, unlike us, fully divine. He shared wisdom inspired by God the Father, accomplished His mission, and willingly went to the cross for the redemption of our sins. He died and stayed in the tomb for three days and three nights, as He had prophesied (Matthew 12:40) and as foretold in Hosea 6:2. On the third day, He was resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:4). For forty days, He appeared alive (Acts 1:3) before being taken up into glory (1 Timothy 3:16)—not in a bodily form, as many had assumed. Stephen saw Him standing at the right hand of the throne of God (Acts 7:56) just before his martyrdom, indicating His reign. This fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7. Therefore, Jesus reigns now and forevermore.

    Scripture declared: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; what is the house that you would build for Me, and what is the place of My rest?’” (Isaiah 66:1) The idea of the third Jerusalem temple isn’t a Christian teaching, because God’s throne is in heaven, not earth. He reigns over all creation in heaven. Yet, God now dwells among us Christians; hence, Scripture said Jesus Christ and His Church is the New Temple (Ephesians 2:19-22). Temple  means to dwell, same with tabernacle. In other words, it means God dwells with His people, the church; hence, God’s people is the New temple. 

    The church then isn’t a place, neither is it an organization or institution, but an assembly of Christians. When would Christians, especially pastors, correct that misunderstanding? I hope it’s not due to the fact that you want and need to keep Christians coming into your congregation? Don’t get me wrong. I am not against collective gatherings of the church, for as long as the integrity of the church isn’t compromised. However, the question often asked “Where do you go to church?” is a misrepresentation of the true meaning of the church. 

    Christians invite people to embrace the Gospel, so it is wrong to say we can invite anyone to the church. It’s only after they have repented and believe, then they become a part of God’s church. Contrary to popular belief, God’s church is not a hospital. Instead, it is the gathering of the redeemed, who have been healed by the grace of God. Their perfection lies not in themselves but in the blood of Christ Jesus. Hence, Paul instructing Christians said: “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

    Again, Paul declared: “Do you not know that your bodies (i.e. the individual Christian) are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

    Once more, Paul declared: “Do you not know that you (“you” Greek plural, i.e. the church) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you (“you” Greek plural, i.e. the church)? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

    Christians have overlook their responsibility to evangelize and disciple individuals before welcoming them into the church, the body of Christ. This oversight can lead to confusion and challenges when believers interact with those who do not understand the faith. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul advises the church, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” It is a serious error to allow a predator to infiltrate and prey on the flock.

    This leads to the conclusion that launching discipleship programs within the church, which include both believers and non-believers, is akin to putting the cart before the horse. Such an approach simply won’t be effective.

    Let’s be honest: do you often see familiar faces joining one discipleship program after another? There aren’t many new faces, are there? Evangelism and discipleship go hand in hand; they are intrinsically linked. One cannot truly exist without the other. However, it’s never too late to make a change. In John 6, many disciples followed Jesus, but when He began to teach the truth about Himself, the Scriptures say, “Many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him” (John 6:66). We must be willing to face the consequences of change.

    But of course, that’s unacceptable, epecially since the mindset of ROI (return of investment) has been instituted into the leadership. Therefore, the reality of the present-day churches would just persist, like a spinning carousel without stop, increasing its speed, until something gets detached, damaging its structure. 

    Like any God-fearing Christians in conventional churches, I also desire to see the church healthy and effective for evangelism and discipleship. But how can the church do her role, if Christians among yourselves are the ones receiving discipleship without end?

    I have seen Christians leaving a congregation then starting a new one. They may have successfully drawn people into their congregation, but by repeating the same mistakes – bringing people to church without first evangelism and discipleship – in time they are back to square one. They intended to do a 180 degree change but ended up with a 360, finding themselves right where they left. Frustrating and disappointing, I can relate. 

    Stop concentrating only on numbers and instead adopt the methodology of Christ Jesus. Begin small and exclude those who are not ready. As we see in Scripture, the small group—including Paul, who was specifically called for missions outside of Judea—became the catalyst that, within forty years, reached the far corners of the then-known world – Rome. Ultimately, that was where Paul ended up, as we read in the book of Acts, wasn’t it?

    Many have not noticed, but Paul had repeatedly declared the Gospel reaching the end of the world. See passages below:

    (1) “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for ‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’” (Romans 10:18)

    (2) “but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.” (Acts 26:20) The Gentiles receiving the Gospel also implied the ends of the world. No one was excluded anymore. And that’s exactly what Israel refused to do, though it should have been their mandate from the beginning of their creation as God’s people. See Genesis 12:1-3, “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”

    (3) “This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.” (Romans 15:22-24) Rome, clearly represents the ends of the then known world. 

    (4) “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” (Colossians 1:3-6)

    Again, it’s not too late to make the change, and do it properly. But sacrifices ought to be done. The first step, however, is recognizing that it’s been done wrong. 

    Jesus shared a parable saying, “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property” (Matthew 25:14). In this parable, Jesus represents the man who goes on a journey, which symbolizes His death, resurrection, and ascension. He entrusted His property—the church—to His servants.

    In the parable, each servant was given talents according to their ability (Matthew 25:15-18). These talents represent Jewish money or resources. Therefore, when the master returned and discovered that one servant had buried his single talent in the ground, he rebuked him, saying, “Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest” (Matthew 25:27).

    The command of Jesus Christ is, and has always been, to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20)—not just to construct buildings and label them as churches. Christians are given different talents for evangelism and discipleship. However, many have wasted their talents by focusing on activities unrelated to these missions.

    Concerning God’s church, Paul explained, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building (i.e., the church). According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1Co 3:6-11)

    The sole and true foundation of the church is Christ Jesus and His Word. Paul here called on Christians to be concerned and faithful to God’s Word. The ultimate goal of the church, God’s people, is to build a community of Christians. This is what Jesus mandates us to do. Unfortunately, some Christians, perhaps misled by tradition and practice, have prioritized physical structures over people.

    So, ask yourselves, according to the parable of Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30: how will you be received by Him—faithful or unfaithful?

    Note: Click on underlines and highlights for definitions or Bible references.

    Peter , in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!