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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: Rick H]
#187352
08/24/18 02:19 AM
08/24/18 02:19 AM
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Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
5500+ Member
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,436
Canada
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"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers"
First, what does it mean to be "yoked together"?
If you have a field in which a herd of oxen are grazing. Some big, some small, some young, some old all mingling in the same field. They ARE NOT YOKED TOGETHER yet they are mingling together.
Yoking two oxen together, is a different matter. There is some kind of harness there that holds them together, and they need to operate together to do what ever they are yoked together to do.
So what would the text mean? Basically, don't get into the harness (some binding contract that obligates one to accommodate oneself in large measure to another) with an unbeliever, in which you need to "pull together" in one and the same direction.
Mingling, or fellowshiping with unbelievers, etc. is not the same as "yoking oneself together".
Marriage is probably the most all encompassing "yoking together" in a lifetime commitment. When a person decides to spend their life with someone, it's imperative to their happiness that they are on the same page about what's possibly the biggest and most important aspect in their life. And for a follower of Christ, that encompasses their whole lifestyle. Faith is not just one aspect of their life; it's something that cannot be compartmentalized for the sake of a relationship. It determines how they spend their time, what they enjoy for leisure and entertainment, what they eat, how they dress, how they raise their children, and so many other things! To be yoked with someone who has taken a lifestyle road that is highly different, as to what is important and what are the goals of life, simply results in a highly stressful relationship not conducive to happiness. Marriage only works when compromise is practiced, but when compromise means giving up that which is the most important (our faith walk with Christ) it is dangerous!!!
Now -- if one finds themselves in an unequal marriage, the Bible recommends staying with the unbelieving spouse, but NOT giving up one's (faith walk with Christ).
So the Biblical recommendation is - do not get into an unequal yoked relationship, avoid it, don't marry thinking you can change the other person and make them more like yourself. More often than not, it's the believer that compromises and slips into apostasy. But if you find yourself in an unequal relationship, make God first, and in God's strength be a loving spouse to your mate.
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: kland]
#187356
08/24/18 08:55 AM
08/24/18 08:55 AM
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OP
Group: Admin Team
3000+ Member
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,123
Florida, USA
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Rick, would or could the answer be different if someone is not a Christian vs. not an Adventist Christian? What if they do not go to any church at all, like most people now a days, is that a non Christian? Membership on a piece of paper does not a Christian make. True, but at least you have a place to start...
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: dedication]
#187357
08/24/18 09:00 AM
08/24/18 09:00 AM
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OP
Group: Admin Team
3000+ Member
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,123
Florida, USA
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"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers"
First, what does it mean to be "yoked together"?
If you have a field in which a herd of oxen are grazing. Some big, some small, some young, some old all mingling in the same field. They ARE NOT YOKED TOGETHER yet they are mingling together.
Yoking two oxen together, is a different matter. There is some kind of harness there that holds them together, and they need to operate together to do what ever they are yoked together to do.
So what would the text mean? Basically, don't get into the harness (some binding contract that obligates one to accommodate oneself in large measure to another) with an unbeliever, in which you need to "pull together" in one and the same direction.
Mingling, or fellowshiping with unbelievers, etc. is not the same as "yoking oneself together".
Marriage is probably the most all encompassing "yoking together" in a lifetime commitment. When a person decides to spend their life with someone, it's imperative to their happiness that they are on the same page about what's possibly the biggest and most important aspect in their life. And for a follower of Christ, that encompasses their whole lifestyle. Faith is not just one aspect of their life; it's something that cannot be compartmentalized for the sake of a relationship. It determines how they spend their time, what they enjoy for leisure and entertainment, what they eat, how they dress, how they raise their children, and so many other things! To be yoked with someone who has taken a lifestyle road that is highly different, as to what is important and what are the goals of life, simply results in a highly stressful relationship not conducive to happiness. Marriage only works when compromise is practiced, but when compromise means giving up that which is the most important (our faith walk with Christ) it is dangerous!!!
Now -- if one finds themselves in an unequal marriage, the Bible recommends staying with the unbelieving spouse, but NOT giving up one's (faith walk with Christ).
So the Biblical recommendation is - do not get into an unequal yoked relationship, avoid it, don't marry thinking you can change the other person and make them more like yourself. More often than not, it's the believer that compromises and slips into apostasy. But if you find yourself in an unequal relationship, make God first, and in God's strength be a loving spouse to your mate. Well, the young ladies (and young men) are finding it difficult to find someone as most people don't go to church any more. What would you say then to them, don't marry and stay single. That's a hard road especially with all the traps that Satan sets up for young people.
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: Rick H]
#187358
08/24/18 04:56 PM
08/24/18 04:56 PM
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SDA Active Member 2020
5500+ Member
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,368
Western, USA
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That is part of the problem. The church is not a building we go to, it is the people. I rarely find any value in sermons. Sabbath School where there is exchange of ideas is the most rewarding. But in our formalism of today, when the bell rings, we have to stop. That is not how it should be.
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: dedication]
#187360
08/24/18 09:52 PM
08/24/18 09:52 PM
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SDA Active Member 2024
5500+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,425
Midland
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Marriage is probably the most all encompassing "yoking together" in a lifetime commitment. When a person decides to spend their life with someone, it's imperative to their happiness that they are on the same page about what's possibly the biggest and most important aspect in their life. Is it ethical to be happy? Mt 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: Rick H]
#187361
08/24/18 09:57 PM
08/24/18 09:57 PM
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SDA Active Member 2024
5500+ Member
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,425
Midland
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Well, the young ladies (and young men) are finding it difficult to find someone as most people don't go to church any more.
What would you say then to them, don't marry and stay single. That's a hard road especially with all the traps that Satan sets up for young people. But do you recommend they marry anyway someone who doesn't believe the way they do and be unhappy the rest of their lives? That is, so it's bad thing to do, but do it anyway because they are 'the only one left'.
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: kland]
#187362
08/25/18 02:18 AM
08/25/18 02:18 AM
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Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
5500+ Member
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,436
Canada
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Marriage is probably the most all encompassing "yoking together" in a lifetime commitment. When a person decides to spend their life with someone, it's imperative to their happiness that they are on the same page about what's possibly the biggest and most important aspect in their life. Is it ethical to be happy? Mt 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. We'll meet enough "swords" without binding ourselves to someone antagonistic to our beliefs and planting the sword habitually into the home. What a blessing when the two marriage partners support and encourage each other in the walk of faith! It is indeed important!
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: kland]
#187363
08/25/18 02:57 AM
08/25/18 02:57 AM
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Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
5500+ Member
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,436
Canada
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Well, the young ladies (and young men) are finding it difficult to find someone as most people don't go to church any more.
What would you say then to them, don't marry and stay single. That's a hard road especially with all the traps that Satan sets up for young people. Send them where they are more likely to meet someone suitable. Our colleges have been humorously called "marriage markets", and yes, basically it's one of the best places to find someone! (Though, as always when choosing a life partner, great care must be taken for not all who attend our colleges are believers, or suitable marriage partners) Other places to meet more possible partners are -- camp meetings, youth rallies, maranatha projects, mission projects; anywhere where active believers come together. It is true that finding someone to whom one is attracted, who is also genuinely committed to Christ, is not an easy task. But it is not impossible. The person looking, also needs to cultivate and display the characteristics in his/her own life, which they hope to find in another. If you read chapter nine in "Adventist Home" I don't think you could, in good conscience, tell them to marry an unbeliever. It does seem better to remain single, rather than, in full knowledge, place a lifetime yoke upon themselves with an unbeliever --
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: kland]
#187386
09/01/18 10:33 AM
09/01/18 10:33 AM
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OP
Group: Admin Team
3000+ Member
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,123
Florida, USA
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Marriage is probably the most all encompassing "yoking together" in a lifetime commitment. When a person decides to spend their life with someone, it's imperative to their happiness that they are on the same page about what's possibly the biggest and most important aspect in their life. Is it ethical to be happy? Mt 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. Yes, but there is also this: Ecclesiastes 9:9 "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun."
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Re: Be ye not unequally yoked together.....What does that mean?
[Re: dedication]
#187387
09/01/18 10:40 AM
09/01/18 10:40 AM
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OP
Group: Admin Team
3000+ Member
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,123
Florida, USA
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|
Well, the young ladies (and young men) are finding it difficult to find someone as most people don't go to church any more.
What would you say then to them, don't marry and stay single. That's a hard road especially with all the traps that Satan sets up for young people. Send them where they are more likely to meet someone suitable. Our colleges have been humorously called "marriage markets", and yes, basically it's one of the best places to find someone! (Though, as always when choosing a life partner, great care must be taken for not all who attend our colleges are believers, or suitable marriage partners) Other places to meet more possible partners are -- camp meetings, youth rallies, maranatha projects, mission projects; anywhere where active believers come together. It is true that finding someone to whom one is attracted, who is also genuinely committed to Christ, is not an easy task. But it is not impossible. The person looking, also needs to cultivate and display the characteristics in his/her own life, which they hope to find in another. If you read chapter nine in "Adventist Home" I don't think you could, in good conscience, tell them to marry an unbeliever. It does seem better to remain single, rather than, in full knowledge, place a lifetime yoke upon themselves with an unbeliever -- Yes, if we were all rich and could afford the tutition... "Southern Adventist University/Undergraduate tuition and fees 20,650 USD 2015–16" I am sure it has not gone down since then, and that is more than what most people make at minimum wage. Florida/Minimum wage 8.25 USD per hour Jan 1, 2018 "The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour and the Florida state minimum wage is $8.25 per hour. The law states that whichever is the higher applies to employers in that state. Florida is one of the states that has a minimum wage rule and ensures that their employers pay it. There are five states that do not. Tennessee, South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi do not. The minimum wage in Florida means that a full-time worker can expect to earn the following sums as a minimum before tax. These assume a 40-hour working week: $330.00 per working week $1,430.00 per month $17,160.00 per annum" https://goodcalculators.com/us-minimum-wage-calculator/florida/© 2015-2018 goodcalculators.com
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Here is the link to this week's Sabbath School Lesson Study and Discussion Material: Click Here
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