Unequal Yokes—Unsaved Christians
“Unsaved Christians, simply stated are “unbelievers” calling themselves Christians! This is contradictory and has an opposing meaning! They do not manifest devotion to the God of the bible or His word, yet makes themselves the authority of the scriptures, based on being in the “clubhouse” and listening to what is said, then forming their own opinions.
They simply go into a building to be part of the church club, and to be inspired (with a public-speaking presentation), perhaps to have a feel-good moment; then continue on with their life, without manifesting the power of God to enable them to be a witness!
They are considered as an unbeliever throughout the entire scriptures!
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Lets define an “unbeliever, biblically:
An unbeliever devalues and dismisses the authority of the Word of God and follows the direction of worldly impulses and desires.
An unbeliever lives under the authority of Satan. There are only two possible authorities for one's life — one is either in submission to Christ or in submission to Satan. Unbelieving believers are more likely to pledge allegiance to a church rather than Jesus Christ. They have flexible beliefs that are easily changed and a “god,” fashioned after their own ideas.
These are people who say they are Christians but their “lifestyle” proves they are not!
Now lets discuss what being unequally yoked means because one can be yoked together with many other things—besides marriage!
A yoke is a wooden bar that joins two oxen to each other and to the burden they pull. (wasn’t this used during slavery too?) An “unequally yoked” team has one stronger ox and one weaker. The weaker ox would walk more slowly than the taller, stronger one, causing the load to go around in circles!
When oxen are unequally yoked, they cannot perform the task set before them. Instead of working together, they are at odds with one another.
Apostle Paul discouraged the Corinthian church from being in an unequal partnership with unbelievers because believers and unbelievers are opposites, just as light and darkness are opposites. They simply have nothing in common, just as Christ has nothing in common with Satan.
The idea is that the pagan, wicked, unbelieving world is governed by the principles of Satan and that Christians should be separate from the methods of that world, just as Christ was separate from all the methods, purposes, and plans of Satan. He had no participation in them; He formed no union with them, and so should it be likewise, with followers of Christ. (remember that’s why we’re called “Christians?”) We follow His view, His methods, purposes and plans!
Attempting to live a Christian life with a non-Christian as our close friends and ally, will only cause us to go around in circles, until you are totally defeated, sick and headed to that other place.
One productive—One lazy!
This “unequally yoke” can also be applied to business relationships. For a Christian to enter into a partnership with an unbeliever is to court disaster.
Unbelievers have opposite worldviews and morals, and business decisions made daily will reflect the worldview of one partner or the other.
For the relationship to work, one or the other must abandon his moral center and move toward that of the other. More often than not, it is the believer who finds himself pressured to leave his Christian principles behind for the sake of profit and the growth of the business. Using this imagery, Christians cannot be partnered with unbelievers or they will not be able to live out the Christian life that God wants for them. The weaker unbeliever who lives according to the flesh, will slow down and hinder the Believer.
“Equal Yokes,” will balance the burden and makes it easier to manage.
Our faith is not meant to be “unequally yoked,” with such bondages, but an “equal yoke” is valuable. Yoked together with Jesus is to be “enabled” in an otherwise impossible task and makes it easier. Jesus said;
“My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30)
Jesus said “If you love me keep my commandments, and those who love Him will do exactly that—to NOT be yoked together with those who are “unbelievers;” those who talk ‘Christian-ese’ but their behavior speaks otherwise!
When it comes to being “equally yoked,” which is considered a covenant relationship means first of all, being in the Kingdom of God, staying free in the Kingdom, and following Him; it will come at a price! The price will be that of unhooking and getting loosed from those unequal yokes!
Equal Yokes look like this: each individual growing, learning, educating themselves, renewing their mind, loving (agape'), and being obedient to the one whom they say the love! Remember, Jesus said if you love me….walk it out, advance and mature.
STOP FORMING INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS, YOKES, AND HOOK-UPS WITH UNBELIEVERS!
If they won’t adjust their ways for God—they won’t adjust their ways for you!
The almighty all-powerful, omniscience God of the entire universe has…just for you—
Equally yoked together, appropriate, assignments and relationships that He has already prepared, for His plan and your purpose!