¹⁴Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ¹⁷Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. ¹⁸And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty.

However one interprets this passage, Paul uses the phrase “bound together” in reference to relationships that Christians should absolutely not have with non-believers—relationships that should be reserved only for other Christians. He elucidates this with the terms “partnership,” “fellowship,” “in harmony,” “in common,” “agreement,” and sharing “temples” with unbelievers. He likens such relationships with non-believers to being in a relationship with Satan (“Belial”). This is no eccentric hyperbole; it is serious business.

Some apply this sparingly to worst-case scenarios, like avoiding cults. But Paul’s distinction focuses clearly on relationships between Christians and non-Christians, even if those non-Christians don’t “look so bad” or appear to be fine, upstanding citizens; law-abiding, religious-acting people. Yet how can we avoid relationships with non-believers? We work side by side with them; we are fellow citizens with them. How do we apply Paul’s teaching?

The phrase “bound together” literally means “unequally yoked.” To be sure, we may be “equally yoked” with unbelievers in some common things, like being co-workers or fellow citizens of the same country, sharing common responsibilities and commitments. But an unequal yoke is like a wolf being in the harness with a rabbit. We believe this teaching applies to any voluntary association whose responsibilities and commitments inhibit a Christian from fulfilling his or her responsibilities and commitments to Christ and His body of believers. How many Christians have been hampered in their participation with other Christians because of an unbelieving spouse or a dating relationship with a non-believer? How many believers are limited in giving God the glory in their business practices because of an unbelieving business partner? God wants His people to be distinct from the world, just as He did in the OT times, because He sees us as His family.

Lord, open my eyes to any yokes that are hindering my walk with You.