Light and Darkness do not mix

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?”

I have read that this is about believers and false teachers or apostles, and if so that's a good message.  One of our young pastors referred to them in a sermon last week, saying many pastors were cruise directors where you received subpar food, entertainment, and things you did not want or need without ever being told the ship had a virus that was highly contagious.  Now those were not his words but my take away from the message.

I’m a long way from a scholar in Biblical Studies, and I’m sure what I’m about to say does not play well in this present darkness in which we find ourselves living.  Every follower of Christ must address this issue.  “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.”  My first thought is, it’s dishonest; you are going to not be faithful in words or deeds to the one you are marrying.  From day one you are going to want them to know Christ, you are going to pray that they go to church with you, that he/she will raise your future children under the authority of Christ and that you share a similar faith.  Now I believe it was Andy Stanley that said "if you’re an unbeliever the last thing you want is someone from day one who plans to drag you to church but is not honest about what is in their heart.  Now if you say, I would never do that, I do not care if he/she comes into a relationship with Christ.  I do not care if our children are raised in the church; you go on and marry the non-believer.  But I can tell you on the authority of Scripture you have a title without any meaning.

Paul goes on to make a strong case for not entering into a union with a non-believer as your life partner, or your business partner.  These are the reasons; “For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?”  If you are entering into a relationship that you hope to last, it sure helps to have transparency, respect, love, honor, and the ability to share your heart with one another, righteousness is going to be a real issue in a relationship with a partner that has no desire for being righteous.  Light and darkness do not mix, nor does Christ ever compromise with wicked people or corrupt people, that is what is meant by the word Belial.  A non-believer will have little gods, it may be you their mate, but at some point, your Father in heaven will put an end to your godship and all kinds of hell will take place in your relationship.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice