Comments on: Question: What Does It Mean to Be Unequally Yoked to the World?

By: Francisco Montero

Francisco Montero — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:40:21 +0000

I am currently in a relationship with a young adult woman. we are both Christians and believe that Jesus is the one and only way. She has grown up in church all her life and regularly attends. I recently got saved three years ago and love God with all of my heart. It seems that she doesn’t have the same zeal and love for God as i have in the relationship. Some of my older counselors say that our relationship is unequally yoked because, while we are both Christians, we aren’t both pursuing God in the same intensity. And she isn’t as “spiritual” as I am. I disagree but im bothered by what they said now. So is it accurate to think of unequally yoked in this kind of context?

By: Eric

Eric — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:37:36 +0000

~Gloria is your son hanging out with the wrong crowd and taking part in their lawlessness (drinking, drugs, etc) or just hanging out with unbelievers because he enjoys their company more? If Jesus never hung out with 12 ragtag Unbelievers and Jewish guys, we would not know Him today. Please consider the fact that God has a hand in establishing friendships, and often those with unbelievers are more important than with believers. We are currently ambassadors of God’s kingdom trying to make Him known to the world. So I would say as someone who grew up in public school with all unbelieving friends, let him be so long as he isn’t engaging in harmful sinful activities.

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 08 May 2011 07:01:23 +0000

@Richard Johnston

When you enter into marriage you make an oath before God and that other person that you are binding yourself to them for the rest of your lives no matter what happens. Just because you didnt take a few moments to think about what it really means to get married doesnt give you an excuse to say you are not unequally yoked! Do not get Divorced (“Let not what God has put together be seperated”) but remember that your Marriage partner also swore the same thing before God and if your partner does not believe and you truly do believe in the Son of god than you must persuade her by living your life in a way that she can see Christ has changed you.

By: gloria roberts

gloria roberts — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:18:46 +0000

can you be specific about being unequally yoked with unbelievers concerning friendship. My son is angry with me because I showed him in God’s word that he shouldnt be hanging out with kids who are unsaved. He says he doesnt care and he doesnt care what the bible says. He claims to be saved he says he would rather hang with them than with christians. He doesnt want to know them better(other christians)

By: Richard Johnston

Richard Johnston — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:08:34 +0000

good article. you describe above two concepts, ‘in the world’ (not yoked) and ‘of the world’ (yoked). My question is if an unbelieving couple married, and after a few years only one became a believer, are they ‘of the world’ (yoked) according to your definition above? Are they ‘unequally yoked’ and is this permissible?

Another interesting point – since ‘unequal yokes’ are not allowed then Paul should have told believers to divorce their unbelieving spouses because this represents an ‘unequal yoke’. However, he did not suggest divorce, he said the opposite – do not get divorced. This means that an ‘unequal yoke’ is not the fact that one is married to an unbeliever. An ‘unequal yoke’ only occurs if the relationship causes the believer to fall away from God.

I agree with your other examples of being unequally yoked (Money, Sex, Time, Goals). For example, your goals example was correct, “you could be unequally yoked to a worldly goal that causes your Christian walk to suffer or keeps you from growing spiritually”. Similarly, I believe the marriage example should have been, “you could be unequally yoked to an unbelieving spouse if it causes your Christian walk to suffer or keeps you from growing spiritually”.

By: brentriggs

brentriggs — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:48:34 +0000

Sometimes called ‘missionary dating’, I don’t think it is a good idea. I can’t count the number of people, especially women, that marry men who have temporarily become serious about Christianity, or PROMISED to become serious… and then don’t. You should date those who are already serious or at least give enough time to make sure its real (years?).

By: roel villanueva

roel villanueva — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:09:18 +0000

in short, the usual understanding that it pertains to marrying an unbeliever is correct except that it has a lot to do more than that. meaning, if a non-believer would refuse to accept the christian faith before marriage, then he/she must end their relationship. how about if he/she is somewhat neutral or there is a chance to accept the faith?