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Unequally Yoked
Many young people have asked me over the years, and that question is this, “Is it okay for a young person who is a Christian to date a non-Christian?”
I personally believe that it is not okay for a Believer to date a non-Believer simply because they are unequally yoked. The Bible tells us in II Corinthians 6:14, “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath Righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?”
First of all, there are two types of people in the world: Believers and unbelievers. They cannot be a part of both camps, for you either belong to one or the other. These fellowships are in opposition to one another, for one is in fellowship with the Lord, and the other is in fellowship with the world.
Christians are those who have been Redeemed by the Precious Blood of Christ and are now companions or friends with God. God now dwells within them and walks among them. And because of this, they must have no fellowship with the world, and only on this one condition will God recognize them as His Sons and Daughters. It must be understood that God will not have those who are a part of this world system, i.e., unbelievers, in His Family, for He will not recognize those who are devoted to the world. And whoever is not a friend of God is an enemy of God.
Now, being unequally yoked sets forth a very important principle of Christian practice and behavior, and is in reality, boundaries that we as Believers should never cross. If we do cross that boundary, it could spell disaster. There are two different fields of life: one is based in Christ and the other is based out of Christ. The Christian who belongs to the first field is, according to Scripture, “. . . a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17), and is to live in that field of new things. In other words, do not shuttle back and forth between the two fields, because if one does that they are, in essence, destroying their experience and influence. There must be a clean-cut separation from the “old field,” and the “new beginning,” which is now in Christ. Yet, while the Bible definitely teaches separation, it does not teach isolation.
TWO DISTINCT OPERATIONS
Secondly, the world system and the Christian system are altogether different and are separate operations. One is from a material realm and the other is from a Spiritual Realm. Satan controls one and the other is controlled by God. For this reason and this reason alone we are warned to not be unequally yoked. For if so yoked, it would link the new and the old, which must not be done. Faith and unbelief can never be yoked together. We as Believers are to be separated from all that is unclean and we are to live our lives characterized by Righteousness.
RELATIONSHIPS
Now, when it comes to relationships, many Believers are under the impression that if they enter into a dating relationship with someone who is an unbeliever, they can win them to the Lord, if given the right opportunity. Anything can happen with the Lord, but I do not personally believe that the Lord will lead us into a relationship with someone who is not like us, in regards to being a Believer. It is believed that we can bring them up to our standard of living, but in reality, it is easier for the unbeliever to pull down the Believer to their standard of living.
I use this illustration in Crossfire. Imagine someone standing on top of a desk or table, and someone else standing on the floor. What is easier to do? Pull someone up on top of the desk, or pull someone down to the floor? It is easier for the one standing on the floor to pull down the one who is standing on top of the desk. Why is that? Gravity for one reason, but most of all, it takes less energy to pull someone down than it does to pull someone up.
COMPROMISE
We must be very careful and earnestly seek the Lord when it comes to relationships, for we must not put ourselves into a position to compromise our Stand and our Faith, for someone who will not be around forever. Satan will try to do anything to get our eyes off of Christ and the Cross to something else, and what better way to do that than with the appeal of the opposite sex. He is looking for any reason, or anything for us to compromise our stance, for once we do compromise, what affect will we be to our peers?
We must present ourselves as Paul said, as a “Living Sacrifice (the word ‘Sacrifice’ speaks of the Sacrifice of Christ, and means that we cannot do this which the Holy Spirit demands unless our Faith is placed strictly in Christ and the Cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit latitude to carry out this great work within our hearts and lives), holy (that which the Holy Spirit Alone can do), acceptable unto God (actually means that a holy physical body, i.e., ‘temple,’ is all that He will accept), which is your reasonable service (reasonable if we look to Christ and the Cross; otherwise impossible!). And be not conformed to this world (the ways of the world): but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (we must start thinking spiritually which refers to the fact that everything is furnished to us through the Cross, and is obtained by Faith and not works), that you may prove what is that good (is put to the test and finds that the things tested meets the specifications laid down), and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God (presents that which the Holy Spirit is attempting to bring about within our lives, and can only be obtained by ever making the Cross the Object of our Faith)” (Rom. 12:1-2).
In Him, Pastor Gabe Swaggart