I have had this discussion with others and the main view that was held was that the husband be the spiritually stronger Chrsitian - but I have also met newer Christians who seem to be far more mature spiritually than the "older" Christian.
I think the main ingredient is that the foundation of a relationship is common ground and for a Christian, even more so - a common faith.'
I'm not sure if I am denominationally divided though -
Most Christians believe that equally yoked are Chrstians. However, equally yoked are True believers. Someone not just believing in God, but serving Him.
If we did not have denominations we could come into unity, and be in Unity as the lord decreed, I have seen so many Christians get in trouble because they join up after different denominations, but people tend to follow denominations in lieu of the lord.
Look at what the scripture says: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, because what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness?
This passage is not only speaking about being in a boy/girl friendship as in dating or husband/wife marriage relationship, its also speaking about those with whom we associate with as in friendships, all relationships joined together.
But most importantly are those relationships that lead to marriage. Being unequally yoked to gether with an unbeliever in a relationship, means anyone who does not come into an agreemenet with each each other joined together as one in spirit, mind heart in one accord, in those things that will matter in a marriage such as: religious beliefs, money matter, children, where to live, likes and dislikes in many things that make a marriage work.
What fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness. One can't date or marry soneone who doesn't have the same religious beliefs, there will be conflict in many cases. As someone made mention, just because the person is a christian still doesn't mean you're equally yoked spiritually.
Light and darkness: Can't shine darkness into light, but you can shine light into darkness. If you believe as the bible teahcings about rasiing children and your mate does not, then there is going to be a problem. Or in finanses, big spender and saver, this may also cause a problem
So it is important that all thing be in common when considering whether you and another person are equally yoked. If a man loves his family, and a woman does not have a good working relationship with her faily especially a father figure, this is not equally yoked.
If a man does not have a good relationship with his mom or sisters, keep it moving ladies, THIS IS NOT BEING EQUALLY YOKED. Big problem! His relationship with the first women in his life, tells you how he is going to treat you as a woman in his life. Same with a woman who does not have a good relationship with her father or a father figure or the brothers or males in her life. If she has problems with the men in her life, keep it moving men, she will not be equally yoked with you in marriage... she will not know how to take care of you.:rocknroll:
For those of us who are single and dating or wanting to date or possibly engaged, there is a very important question we have to consider. Are we "equally Yoked" with the person we are dating or engaged to? The scriptures are actually very clear on this issue and we must truly submit to the will of God in this or else we are actually in disobedience to God Himself. If we are in disobedience to God, will He bless us? Not at all! Here is a passage that deals with this.
2Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
First off I want you to see that we are not to be yoked together with an UNbeliever. What is an Unbeliever? It is a person who is not truly Born Again. A person who is not saved. Many people can "claim" they are a believer and say they believe in God but that doesn't make them a true believer. A true believer is someone who has had a true conversion in their heart and a change from their former life. It is someone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and has been Baptized by full imersion in water. Acts 2:38; John 3:3-5, Mark 16:16.
Notice in the verse above how Paul contrasts a believer who is righteous and is of light as opposed to the unbeliever who is unrighteous and is of darkness. So you see, it doesn't really matter how nice a person they may be or treat you. The bottom line is that if they are an unbeliever then they are still unrighteous and of darkness. But look below in the following verse where Paul uses even stronger language.
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Paul quoted Ezekiel 37:26-27 which is a passage concerning a prophesy when God will rejoin the house of Israel and the house of Judah and make them one house again, one people and He will separate them from the Heathen. He will make a new Covenant with them. The point to this for us is that God wants us to be separate from pagans, heathens, the unsaved in the sense of marital relationships which would include dating obviously. While we have the responsibility to share the Gospel with all people otherwise how can they be saved apart from hearing the Word, we must not intermarry with them.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. KJV
God commands us to be separate from the unbelievers. Not isolationists mind you but separate with regards to marital relations.
I know there are many who think they can get a person saved while dating them. Though that would be great, it is a rare case for that to truly occur. Eventually, if you do marry an unbeliever, your walk with Christ will suffer. Your unbelieving spouse will hurt your spiritual walk. Remember that an unbeliever is NOT a child of God. Eventually, if you are truly putting the Lord first in your life and serving Him daily, your spouse will become jealous and your relationship will suffer and he or she may eventually leave you unless you compromise your devotion to God. How can you walk together unless you are both on the same path? It just cannot work and anyone who believes otherwise is only fooling themselves. How can an unbeliever truly respect Christ's commandments when they do not have a relationship with Him? How can they follow someone with whom they have not placed their total trust and faith in? How can they truly love someone with whom they do not really know? How can you expect someone to honor and respect your marriage vows when they do not love, respect, fear and trust in God and Christ who binds the marriage?
It doesn't matter how good looking they are or how well they treat you or how wealthy they are, for if that is what is motivating you then you have already compromised the integrity of your faith. Seek for those things that are eternal. Now especially for you ladies, the man you should marry is someone who is a spiritual leader. Someone who places God and Christ first in his life even above you and his family. If he is not of that caliber then he is not right for you. The question you have to ask yourselves is this. "Are you going to obey God and do HIS will or are you going to be disobedient to Him?
Concerning Paul's Epistles. 1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
John 14: 21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father�s who sent Me. NKJV
I have seen "born again children in Christ" hurt the walk with Christ of others on this very site MUCH MUCH MUCH more than any unbeliever can manage...
But I have to mention... those persons were divorced
The question is are they really born again, becauase one is born again does not mean they walk with the lord.
Am 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ro 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
There is always responsibility on man's part while on the earth to walk in fellowship or in the light while we are here on the earth.
When we do our part God always does his part.
When as is the practice on this Forum with some, they are not in agreement with the word at all.
When I say that I understood you have had issue with me, but that is not the point, there are a few on here that endeavor to get people to follow them.
You and anybody else are welcome to call me out at anytime, but the word of God is our source.
I am by no means fussing at you it is just a good time to clear the air.
One more thing when one trys to push a doctrine with a man's name to it you will find error in it, you can always go to the word. and if we will all approach the word of God as truth we can come together as one as is the will of God for mankind.
I do not call you out as I have no personal issues with you. But I think there was poorly response to our call out for suggestions and ideas to make this forum a better place to be.
It is kind of funny. Many times I do not have a clue what you are talking about and when I finally do..... I totally disagree:laugh::laugh::laugh:
I will leave your remarks on this post for what it is, if you do not mind, as I am still to study your reply to me on an earlier thread and I do not have so much time available right now as I am on a deadline to finish my theses of my own study.
