“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Satan? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.”
(II Corinthians 6:14-16)
Thoughts… This is one of Christianity’s most difficult teachings. Not because we don’t understand it—Paul’s meaning is pretty obvious. This is a hard teaching because it is so challenging to actually live out in the practicality of our everyday lives. After all, though we are not of the world, we are certainly in it. Unless we are going to enter into communal living, we are pretty much required to live next to unbelievers, work for unbelievers, go to school with unbelievers, and buy, sell or trade among unbelievers.
So how do we keep separate from unbelievers when we can’t keep totally separate from them? The answer:
Very carefully!
We need to be very cautious and alert when entering into any kind of close and ongoing relationship with an unbeliever where influence will be exchanged. And we need to be very realistic about that influence factor. So many Christians believe that they will be able to influence an unbeliever to faith in these kinds of relationships, but sadly, the outcome is far too often the exact opposite.
That’s why a Christian young person should not get into a serious dating relationship with an unbeliever. I would go so far as to say they shouldn’t date one at all. For sure, a believer should never marry an unbeliever! College students ought to think twice about where they live—the “Greek” life—fraternities and sororities—has swallowed many a Christian young person. Christian business people ought to be extremely reluctant about a business partnership with anybody other than a believer. Christian people should be very cautious about social circles that don’t have Christ as the common bond.
Obviously, that is very challenging to pull off, and you even may find that what I am suggesting seems unfair, exclusive, judgmental and intolerant. I agree! It does seem that way—but it is God’s Word, not mine.
In some ways, God’s Word calls us to be narrow-minded, for our own good. Being “narrow” is now one of the worst cultural sins that you can commit in America, but narrow just might save your life and preserve your destiny. Narrow isn’t always bad. A runway is narrow, too, but it is the only way to get an airplane safely to its destination. I don’t have all the answers to the questions Paul’s teaching provoke. I can’t tell you exactly how you should apply this to each of your relationships, but I do hope you will give some serious thought to what the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say.
The narrow-mindedness God’s Word calls for will get you safely to heaven some day, so pay attention to it!
Prayer… Father, the people of faith we read about in your Word and in Christian history always felt like strangers and pilgrims on this planet. People of faith have always considered themselves to just be passing through, headed for a better home. They refused to get too earthbound. They lived with their bags packed, ready to go at a moment’s notice. My generation has lost that sojourner’s sense. Remind me through a fresh baptism of your grace that though I am in the world, I am not of it.
One More Thing… “I can tell you plainly…if you are at home in the world; if the things of time and sense are your element; if you feel one with the company of the world, the maxims of the world, the fashions of the world, the principles of the world, grace has not reached your heart—the faith of God’s elect does not dwell in your bosom.” —J.C. Philpot
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