Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?
We know this verse very well..isn't that right...??? It is very much key to having a harmonious union . And harmony is a certain sign of GOD's agreement within a relationship. GOD is not the author of confusion but of peace.
1 Cor 14:33
for God is not a God of confusion but of peace............
1 Pet 3:8
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
Let me emphasize that we are not only talking about marriage... , Anything that we do should be guided through and in compliance with this spiritual principle.
Being part of activities with unbelievers outside the dictates of our faith will work to our detriment and not to our gain.. we are in the devil's backyard and serving the dictates of the flesh.... we can not partner with unbelievers in behavior that violate the commands of our LORD.
However let us view this in context, as instructed by the Bible....GOD knows unless we are removed from this earth we will have interaction with non-Christians..... but.. we can interact without dishonoring our LORD..
I have personally been in moral conflict on business trips or whatever and suddenly finding myself participating in conversations that normally would be far from my tongue... AND, so have most of us... I should have politely removed myself from the situation.... we are separate from the world and not part of the world.. although we do indeed live in the world..
1 Cor 5:10
Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether!
Clearly we see that we are not to necessarily shun or act aloof..., since we are agents of salvation.. and the harvest is of course leading sinners to righteousness...But in the process we must not lose our testimony and delude or even destroy our witness for Jesus by again falling into behavior patterns that our LORD has saved us from.....
2 Pet 2:22
It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire
Living a discipline christian lifestyle is not optional it is a requirement...So if you did not know that... well as they say...Now you know..
Rom 12:1
I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
1 Cor 9:27
but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Lets elevate the subject... we should also be very much concerned and aware of our brother's and sister's spiritual condition... since those who confess the name of Christ will likely be viewed as a most suitable partner.. we consider them people we are safe to align ourselves with... But herein lies even a greater caution....
1 Cor 5:11
But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person
Now lets be honest ... we all have fallen on occasion.., so let's not feel condemnation when you are not continuing in the sin... BUT.. when this behavior is a lifestyle.. then we know to separate ourselves from those immoral persons who yet still call themselves christian...we shall know them by their fruit.....
1 John 3:9
No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.
Our heavenly nature produces :
Gal 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Unsaved unregenerate man's nature produces:
Gal 5:19
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21
envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Our LORD explicitly directs us... NOT to walk in agreement with the works of the unsaved...
Amos 3:3
Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed?
Hummmm... I find it truly interesting how even the numbers agreed in this scripture...smile...
