Unequally yoked.
That phrase has been bandied around in the church forever. I have heard sermons on it about pertaining to marriage, combining cultures, race, inter-church relationships, and I'm sure stuff I've forgotten.
Here's the deal. It's not about marriage. It's not race. It's not about cultural beliefs.
But it is all of those.
As I'm always touting, "Ya gotta read the whooooole thing."
We are warned by Scripture that connecting yourself with unbelievers is a major mistake.
"Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has an believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God;..."
II Corinthians 6:15,16
Yeah, so what, you say?
Here's so what.
There a spirits everywhere. You can't see them, or smell them, or hear them. Well. Most of the time.
But, they're there. And here. Thet're here and there.
There are what we call unclean spirits (or demons, for short) and there is the Holy Spirit.
End of story.
A follower of Christ is free of demons. They are indwelled (christianese alert! means someone lives inside of me.) by The Holy Spirit of God. There is no room for anyone else.
An unbeliever is not safe from demons. In fact, demons will have their way with you if you're not a Follower.
Demons, or unclean spirits if it makes you feel better, drag around stuff to add to your life.
Fear, anxiety, mental illness, arguing, violence, lying, misery, cheating, overbearingness, lack of compassion, too much compassion, wavering, paranoia, murder, greed......and this list is just starting.
The Holy Spirit adds stuff too.
Trust, compassion, love, joy, anticipation, freedom, restful nights, humor, and you get the idea.
I can hear it already!
"I know puh-lenty of Christians who lie and cheat and steal and........."
Yes. Yes you do.
When a follower JOINS their self with a non-follower, the demons don't disappear.
They begin insinuating themselves into the believer's life. They create a Union of Compromise.
"We agreed I could go to church as long as I didn't ask him/her/them to go, or talk about it."
"We agreed to expose the children to both out beliefs and let them make their own choices about religion."
"I just KNOW I'll win them to the Lord after we're married!'
"I think inviting people with other beliefs to work with out youth group will be great for everyone. We'll win them over."
"Of course it's okay if you mix your superstitions in with Christianity. It's EASIER to get them to join your Church that way."
"We've agreed to disagree."
Are you hearing this?
Once you agree with the unclean that they are 'clean enough', you're in a mess.
An unclean spirit (a DEMON! Okay!?!) needs your permission to exist in your life. And you can send it away. But if you leave it a room, it will come back with reinforcements.
That's scriptural, by the way.
As long as you are yoked/joined/connected/united with an unbeliever-unfollower, you are subject to demon oppression. (christianese alert! That means the demonic has an opening to make your life hell if it can.)
Many years ago, a girl who wanted to marry one of my sons asked me to sit down and talk with her. She said "I don't think you want me to date him."
I said "yes. I don't want the two of you to even have coffee together, to be honest."
Here's what I told her, and my son.
"He is a Christian, albeit, a backslidden one. But the fact is, he has Jesus Christ living inside of him. It doesn't matter how fast he runs, or how far he goes, he will never outrun the love of his Father. He is indwelled with the Holy Spirit of the Most High God. You on the other hand, are open to unclean spirits. I have seen your life and know you are perfectly content with the ruler of this world in your life. You carry an unclean spirit. The world is really about the things we cannot see. If you and he marry, you will never, ever be happy. You will begin to fight against your union. The Spirit in him, and the spirits in you, cannot co-exist. You will be at war. Unless you confess Christ, and follow Him, this can only end in tragedy."
I wish I could say she did. But she didn't. And it was a tragedy.
But he survived, took a look at his life and started a new one with a believing girl.
One of our blessed daughters-in-love
Just one example.
The chances of you marrying, or creating any partnership with an unbeliever, and having it go well is not happening.
You can stay strong and have the joy of the Lord every day, but eventually, there will be such a rift between your spirits, it can't survive. Even then, the Believer is admonished to stay. If the unbeliever wants to leave, they can.
How happy were your unbeliever friends when you shared your salvation experience? Did they join your enthusiasm?
Nope.
You became a drag on the fun.
SO! All of this to say this....
Don't join yourself with an unsaved person. It is NOT your calling. It is NOT something you can work out later. It IS a way to weaken your walk. It IS a recipe for lost dreams.
(I'm going to get references to Hosea for that statement! But, you get the big picture!)
Okay. Enough heavy hitting.
Shalom!
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