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Post by sarah on Feb 7, 2007 22:00:58 GMT -8
11/05:
Hard stuff here, especially the yoked portion. Paul is mighty clear and not cutting much slack. I have mostly heard this used in relation to dating/marriage, but I got the sense that Paul was talking on a deeper level than that. So I have been trying to think of additional scenarios that this might apply to. I think that it is easy to take this section to far and use it to completely separate from the world(which is exactly what it says to do, I know). I know Christians who only do business with other Christians, only read Christian material, on and on and on. I think John says to be in the world but not of the world. I like that better, but suspect that there is a line to be sought.
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Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:26:34 GMT -8
11/05:
What Paul says about "yoking" seems harsh to our culture, but it is the most kind instruction he could give: it is instruction for the prevention of many woes.
Keep in mind, however, that passage earlier in 1 Cor. where Paul says we are to eat with unbelievers, etc.. and keep in mind Paul's example in Acts, where he follows Christ's example of befriending people outside the kingdom of God.
I think here we're talking about binding yourself in some way to unbelivers (in a contractual sense, perhaps: marriage, business ventures, and other more formal affiliations)
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Post by michelle on Feb 7, 2007 22:27:32 GMT -8
11/05:
I agree with you Josh, although I also think of in terms of being in constant companionship with only/mostly unbelievers. While you may not have any legal ties to them, your social ties can get you in trouble as well. Obviously we can't avoid contact with unbelievers altogether and we wouldn't ever want to, but I think we need to be cautious in who we keep around us.
Also, in Matthew 11:29, Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon ourselves to learn from him. If we are yoked to unbelievers, we may be unable to be yoked to Jesus.
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Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:27:52 GMT -8
11/05:
Good points.
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