As a reminder, here’s where we left off:
Ah yes Bro Dave, there’s that unequally yoked thing again. What does that actually mean? Does it mean we can’t be around unbelievers? Hold that thought.
What does Paul mean in this passage?
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“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)
To hear some Christians you would think that this is the only passage in the Bible that discusses being unequally yoked. As my pastor likes to say, “Oh contraire Pierre!”
Moses warned Israel against being unequally yoked with lost people:
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“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” (Exodus 23:2a; 33)
“Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst.” (Exodus 34:12)
In fact the first three verses in Psalms declares a blessing upon the man who does not associate with evil:
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“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
Notice the progression a man can make in evil associations: first he walks with the ungodly; next he’s standing with sinners; and then the next thing you know he’s sitting around with the scornful. In other words, it’s not something you can control the progression of, that’s why you are blessed for not doing it.
King David was a little more blunt than the writer of Psalm 1:
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“I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:5)
Okay, he was a lot more blunt!
The Book of Proverbs gives great wisdom against evil associations (1:15; 4:14; 22:24; 23:6); here’s one example:
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“Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; for their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of troublemaking.” (Proverbs 24:1-2)
The Apostle John saw the effects of evil associations on the church; it brought apostasy and heresy to the flock.
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“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” (2 John 1:7-11)
Bro Pete, our minister of disciple life, this past Wednesday night preached about what false doctrine does to our church. It makes a heretic (my words) like Rob Bell who preaches there is no hell a superstar in American Christendom. It makes believers believe that the godless Hyde Amendment which allows for the taxpayer funded murder of babies conceived in rape or incest, or if a doctor proclaims the woman’s life to be in danger, is a good thing, something to be applauded. Somehow I don’t imagine Jesus applauding. It makes us believe that codifying saving some babies at the expense of others to be a good thing. I cannot for the life of me reconcile that with the Bible or in my prayer time with the Lord.
Let me share with you what Matthew Henry said about 2 Corinthians 6:14 to help us understand better:
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The fatal effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead of a suitable help, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be unequally united, without their willful fault, may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God’s word, they must expect much distress…Come out from the workers of iniquity, and separate yourselves from their vain and sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world.
When we compromise with evil; we get evil.
When we compromise with the ungodly; we get godlessness.
When we compromise with blasphemers; we get blasphemy.
This is not an easy teaching; part of me was screaming, “Do Not Write This! You’re Going to Get Lots of Hate Mail.”
Call me what you will; my soul has been pierced over this subject. I answer to no man, or woman for that matter. I answer to a Holy, Just, and Righteous God and I fear Him and not the disdain of man. I’ve imagined myself standing before The Judgment Seat of Christ using some of the explanations for the unrighteous acts we’ve committed in this land as a church. I’ve imagined myself trying to explain to King Jesus why I voted the way I did or took the positions I did.
Not once did I imagine my Lord telling me “Well done thy good and faithful servant” after having uttered my defense.
It was not a pleasant experience.
I do not claim to have had some spiritual epiphany, just me and the Lord trying to work things out.
It changed me forever.
Know that I am praying for all of you.
I pray you have a blessed weekend and please remember to go to church on Sunday.
In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4
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Copyright © 2011 David Jeffers
