Saturday, March 20, 2010

YOLKED WITH WHO?


II Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV) 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 Belial? 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. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

This scripture is often used as referring to marriage and while indeed it certainly can apply there as well, there is much more involved. It is an intense warning to not mix other religions with that of the Christian faith. It tells us to be separate. Bluntly, it asks what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? This isn't talking about liking the same football team, this is talking about spiritual matters.
It tells us that as Christians we are the temple of the living God. That doesn't mean that you can't invite the lost to church to hear about salvation, but it does mean that you don't bring their things into your minds and hearts, for you are where the Holy Spirit of God resides and to do so would be an abomination.
As sons and daughters of God through our faith in Jesus Christ we have an obligation to make disciples in the world but in the truth and knowledge of the Holy Word of God, not in making it acceptable together with what is already their world view and beliefs.
When my sons were small, we often discussed the term, 'junk in, junk out'. It means that what you feed your mind is what will come out of your heart, mouth and life.

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