Ladies (and gents), how many times have you been in church and you have heard…
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ~ 2 Corinthians 6:14
Most of the time we hear this verse in the context of dating relationships. However it does not say that specifically. In fact this verse and those that follow are a warning against idolatry. I don’t think this verse is saying to physically separate ourselves for those who aren’t believers. I mean, why would the Bible be saying this when it has also instructed us to befriend those who are lost and to fulfill the great commission!? I believe this verse it pointing to a spiritual separation. We should make sure that we clearly set our hearts and lives on Christ. We should not entertain the thoughts and beliefs of unbelievers.
So, I don’t think that we should always connect this verse with dating relationships. Of course, it is wise to be in a romantic relationship with those who have the same beliefs however this verse is more than that.
Now, there is a verse that seems to have been forgotten. Have any of you been told this verse?...
1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ~ 1 Peter 3: 1-2
What does this say? Unlike the 2 Corinthians verse, this verse is saying that a believer can be married to an unbeliever but she (in this verse) should make sure that she is an example of Christ so her husband can witness it and he could be “won over”. PLEASE NOTE THE ‘MAY BE’ that is put before this!! The Bible is not giving you a guarantee that your behavior will be enough to change him! NEVER EXPECT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CHANGE HIM!
In all honesty, I think this verse should be used to describe a situation in which both husband and wife we not believers when they were first married but the wife ended up accepting Christ within the marriage. In this instance, she is not to leave her husband but she is to be an example of Christ so her husband can witness that.
Ultimately, if you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you should not commit yourself in the bonds of marriage to someone who does not have the same belief.
