Yo Yo Yo Yoked!

Is it biblical to work for an unbeliever?
Is it biblical to marry an unbeliever?
Is it biblical to own property with an unbeliever?
Is it biblical to work alongside an unbeliever?
Is it biblical to be close friends with an unbeliever?
Is it biblical to have an unbelieving real estate agent?
Is it biblical to have an unbelieving automotive mechanic?
Is it biblical to have an unbelieving attorney?

Why?

What does 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1 say? Take a look.

What about verse 14?

Avoid unbelievers altogether?
Avoid the practices of unbelievers?
Avoid the luxuries/enjoyments of unbelievers?
Become monastic?
What?????

We can rule out not associating at all with unbelievers. Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 and specifically says that the only way to avoid unbelievers is to leave this world (die). That can’t be the answer.

Paul addresses what he means in verse 14 when he says not to be “yoked” with unbelievers.

What is Paul referring to when he says “unequally yoked”?

To find out, we need to go to Deuteronomy 22:10. Verses 9 and 11 also add to our understanding of the reason for why yoking is so important.

It’s obvious that verse 22:10 doesn’t speak directly to our human relationships but it illustrates the principle upon which we should view our human partnerships.

So what should our relationships look like with unbelievers? Where’s the line?

Well, before we can establish the line (if there is one), we need to understand why there is an instruction to be separate.

It starts in 2 Corinthians 5:17, we are a new creation, the old has passed and the new has come. When a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it can’t go back to being a caterpillar.

Paul continues in verses 14-18 to demonstrate the incompatibility of believers and unbelievers by asking rhetorical questions.

1. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?

Here Paul emphasizes that we are recipients of God’s righteousness through Jesus and are to live righteously here on earth. In contrast, unbelievers do not pay attention to God’s law and are dedicated to wickedness (lawlessness). There is nothing in common.

2. Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Light referring to God’s truth, the gospel to penetrate a world of (4:4-5). John describes Jesus as the light of the world (John 1:4-7, 3:19-21). Darkness is chaos and evil. The two have no fellowship (koinonia).

3. What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil (Belail)?

Our connection and reverence to Christ means we can have no unity/agreement with the Devil and his deceptions. Here, the devil is called Belail, which is an OT Hebrew name. It means worthless. As believers, we have worth, but our worth is not found in ourselves, but in Christ. In our sin nature we are children of the Devil and worthless. But we as believers have been redeemed and are adopted (Eph 1:5; Romans 8:1-16) as children of God. In this adoption we are given worth.

4. How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

Reiterating that there is no partnership (yoking) with unbelievers. (Deut 22:10) We have different goals and purposes.

5. What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?

Paul tells the Corinthians (and us) earlier in 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19 that our bodies are the temple of God. Not only does our spirit connect with the Holy Spirit, but our bodies are the temple of God and our bodies should not be used to worship our idols. Oh, you don’t worship baal or ashteroth??? What about food, alcohol, sex, drugs, vanity?

It’s obvious we are not the same as unbelievers and as a result there should be some degree of separation between us, but what is that separation??? We certainly shouldn’t abstain from all unbelievers (Luke 15:2), otherwise we can’t evangelize and evangelism is mandated (Matt 28:19-20).

Let’s revisit the idea of being unequally yoked, since this illustration sets the example. “Heterozugeo” is the word meaning unequally yoked, being “bound together”, but the lesson here is not in the language itself, but in how it is used. For that, we must return to Deuteronomy 22 and examine the prescriptions made to the Israelites.

1. We notice that being unequally yoked refers to having two different animals paired together. Why should we not pair two different animals?
a. Two different natures/instincts
b. Different steps
c. Different dispositions
d. Different strengths

2. What do these differences result in?
a. Crooked planting rows
b. Weakening of the stronger animal (slowing them down, weakening by carrying the extra burden)
c. Move in different speeds and direction
d. Misleading the stronger animal

3. Looking beyond this one prescription, why did God give these commands to the Israelites (Beginning in chapter 7)?
a. To separate their practices from the surrounding pagan nations.
b. To preserve them and move them towards purity, for Himself.

So what does this mean for us? Being yoked means that we are bound together with another in such a way that we are bound to their actions. This is the reason we should be carful who we bind ourselves to. How are believer’s relationships bound together?

In the body of Christ, the church. False teachers (unbelievers) had infiltrated the Corinthian church, and the first separation needs to happen in the church. We should separate ourselves from the world. As a church, we should not fellowship with unbelievers (we can’t have real fellowship [koinonia]). This may seem like a no-brainer, but many Christians today are bonding with the culture rather than distinguishing themselves from the culture. The main responsibility falls on the leaders of the church, but each of us is responsible for protecting the body. We should be changing the culture, rather than allowing the culture to change us.

We need to separate ourselves from the world as we live in the commandments of God and we he has established. Government, Marriage, Liberty. For example, we should submit to the Government (Romans 13) just as unbelievers should, but we should not participate in immoral behaviors even if they are legal. In marriage, we should not marry an unbeliever, but if we have, we should NOT divorce them because they are an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7), where the world will divorce for any reason. We should enjoy the liberties we have in Christ, but we should not participate in behaviors that may cause a believer to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:9) even if those behaviors are not prohibited in Scripture. The world doesn’t consider other people’s weaknesses when making decisions (i.e. public profanity, consuming alcohol, etc.)

Lastly, in our relationships outside the church, or some specific command, we should not bind ourselves to unbelievers in practice. For example, if we enter into land ownership or business partnership with an unbeliever, our goals and practices may be different than theirs. Our goals should not be dominated by status, financial success, manipulation, or material accumulation. There is no hard and fast line since each relationship is unique, but there is a line and we should evaluate our relationships with unbelievers, in partnering relationships, and protect the church, our reputation in the Lord, our families, and ourselves.

So, how do I know if I am separate from the world?

Can unbelievers tell I’m different or know not to ask me to do certain things?

Are unbelievers a little uncomfortable in a church service? (Not put off, but uncomfortable, feel different)

Do I work differently than my unbelieving co-workers?

Do I have different financial goals than the world?

Do I spend my time differently than the world? Doing what?

This is captured most completely in Deut 7:1-5 and 1 Cor 15:33

What does this separation lead to?

7:1 – “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Fortunately for us, Paul is not talking about perfectionism. Otherwise, we’re all in big trouble. What he is talking about is becoming mature or complete. Not that we should be perfect in our faith, but growing and maturing in our faith, moving towards perfection. God has given us power in the Spirit and freedom in Christ to conquer a life a sin. As Paul said to the Corinthians, our imperfection should encourage us to press on towards Christ, not become discouraged and spiritually apathetic. We won’t see perfection until we see Christ, but separating ourselves from the practices of the unbelieving world help us in pressing on to be like Christ. Praise the Lord that we can look forward to that day. Praise the Lord for His Spirit that gives us the strength to cleanse our mind and body (flesh and spirit). Amen.

Struggling

For nine years, I have taught at Annandale High School. I have, and do, enjoy what I do, but over the last year and a half, I have become very apathetic about my work. It has nothing to do with the kids or the people I work with, but what it is I do . . . teaching. I love to teach, but my passion about teaching has changed. The passion to teach secular information is waning. My passion to teach the Bible is waxing. I find it hard to see the eternal value in what I do. This makes it very hard to wake up at 4:30 every morning to go to school. My prayer is that God would lead me to a job where I teach the Bible and serve him vocationally. I also pray that He gives me contentment where I am so I will faithfully serve Him where I am, regardless of what I want. I know God's plan and timing may be different than mine, okay, it is. My struggle is honoring God where I am, serving my earthly masters as though I am serving Christ.

And . . . We're Off!

“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 5:1-2

These two verses are like waving the green flag at the Daytona 500. In my mind, I think, “and they’re off!”. Here, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He begins the first of five discourses in the Gospel according to Matthew. In this discourse, Jesus expounds on the law, teaching about the spirit of the law. This serves, not only to demonstrate His authority (as you’ll see at the end), but also to wage an assault against legalism. Remember that Matthew writes this Gospel to target the Jews. In this case, he is attacking the legalistic teaching of the Pharisee’s by teaching about the spirit, rather than the letter of the law. Before you go any further, read Matthew 5:1-7:29.

Okay, now that you’ve done that, you get a basic overview of the teachings of this sermon. Notice how Jesus starts addressing the law, by saying that he didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill the law, and that it will not pass away till all is fulfilled (v.17-18). Notice too that we should do and teach them in verse 19. Why? Because it is the law that shows us our sin (Romans 7:7). This again is pointing to the need of the Messiah, Himself. Jesus then begins his exposition which is most convicting for this Christian (me). I don’t want to jump into specific parts, since that the whole point of the study, so I’ll do this verse by verse. At that rate, I should finish the sermon in a couple years.

“for He taught them as one having authority, not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:29) By what authority did He teach? . . . His own. When the scribes would teach, they would teach with the authority given them through the writings of others. They relied on quoting the writings of others as their authority. They did not speak on their own. Here, Jesus explained the law on His own authority. This is a powerful message sent to the Jews. For how could a “man” do such a thing?

What's Important?

Today, I led my government students in a discussion about what kind of leader this country needs. I asked them to write a job description and requirements for the Office of President of the United States. We started by working through what they believe is important in a leader. I had planned to integrate into the discussion the principles of leadership we are going to discuss on the retreat since those are the proper (biblical) principles for leadership. An interesting thing occurred. As I fielded characteristics from students and listed them on the board, and we began discussing each and fleshing out what each looks like in practice, they all expressed a desire to have someone posses biblical principles. While maintaining composure, I was shocked! I really expected to hear things like, “strong ambition”, “go-getter”, “persuasive”, “successful as indicated by wealth or affluence”, but rather, I heard things like, “humble”, “balance authority”, “good reputation”, “lives what they say”. As they explained there rationale, I was even more in awe since their motivation was manifested in a genuine concern for others, even outside their personal perspective on issues. For a moment, my head was in a whirlwind. I actually was encouraged by the discussion and please to hear these young students express these desires since they will be going to vote in the February 12^th primary, even if our perspective on issues is different.

As I sit and reflect, I am perplexed; even confused. At what point do these youth who express wholesome desires (even if not biblically based) for leadership succumb to the practice of ill-conceived leadership? There must be a point in their life when these “good” desires give way to the “realistic” principles we see in leaders today. College? The work force? When does it happen? I know where it happens; in the world. Certainly we see what a worldly leader is from the world. We have TV shows devoted to it and it’s covered in most magazines. I guess I want to know at what point people convert. I have way more questions than I do answers.

A City on a Hill

As Jesus sat with his disciples, He delivered to them a masterful exposition of the law. I am going to begin studying Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-7:29. I imagine that this will take some time since I will be going verse by verse, but it should be exciting and heart changing. I want to comment, before beginning in Chapter 5, verse 1, about verse 14. Here, Jesus is seated on a mountain in a valley along the Sea of Galilee. As we get to verse 14, the Similitudes, He says,

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

From where Jesus was believed to be seated, one could see the city of Safed. See the picture below.

Today, Safed is considered one of the four holiest cities in Judaism, along with Jerusalem, Hebron, and Tiberias. It is also Israel’s highest city at 2790 feet. At night, the lights from Safed are visible from miles around, and the city can even be seen through the fog that would settle along the Sea of Galilee.

So what right? Are you a city for Christ? How visible are you? Even through the fog of life? Jesus continues in 5:16 saying,

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I often need to remind myself, that Jesus has called me to be that city and to let my light shine that the Father may be glorified. It’s too easy to let the stresses of life, the fear of man, and the struggle with the flesh, dim that light. Thankfully, God has given me His Spirit through which I get my strength. I pray that you also seek the Holy Spirit as your source of strength and let your life shine vibrantly for His glory.

Kick it Off

I've managed a couple of blogs, all related to a specific purpose beyond myself. So, I thought it was time to start one in which I can simply post my thoughts on God, Scripture, ministry and my life. Enjoy . . . or don't, it's up to you.