A Call to Separation # 1

A Call to Separation # 1

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and the devil? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).

This passage gives utterance to a Divine exhortation for those belonging to Christ - to hold aloof from all intimate associations with the ungodly. It expressly forbids them entering into alliances with the unconverted. It definitely prohibits the children of God walking arm-in-arm with worldlings. it is an admonition applying to every phase and department of our lives - religious, domestic, social, commercial. And never, perhaps, was there a time when it more needed pressing on Christians, than now. The days in which we are living are marked by the spirit of compromise. On every side we behold unholy mixtures, ungodly alliances, unequal yokes. Many professing Christians appear to be trying how near to the world they may walk - and yet go to Heaven! 

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." This is a call to godly separation. In each dispensation, this Divine demand has been made. To Abraham Jehovah's peremptory word was, "Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house." To Israel He said, "So do not act like the people of Egypt, where you uses to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must NOT imitate their way of life. You must obey all My regulations and be careful to keep My laws, for I, the Lord, am your God!" (Leviticus 18:3-4). And again, "Do not live by the customs of the people whom I will expel before you. It is because they do these terrible things that I detest them so much!" (Lev. 20:23). It was for their disregard of these very prohibitions, that Israel brought down upon themselves such severe chastisements.

At the beginning of the New Testament we are shown the forerunner of Christ standing outside the organized religion of His day, calling on men to flee from the wrath to come. The Saviour announced that, "He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out." (John 10:3). On the day of Pentecost the word to believers was, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation." (Acts 2:40). Later, to the Christian Hebrews Paul wrote, "Let us go forth therefore unto Him - outside the camp." (13:13). God's call to His people in Babylon is, "Come out of her, My people! Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her!" (Revelation 18:4).

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." This is God's word unto His people today. Nor does it stand alone. In Romans 16:17 it is said, "Mark those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them." In 2 Timothy 2:20 we read, "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful, to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 Timothy 3:5 speaks of those "having a form of godliness - but denying the power thereof," then it is added, "from such turn away." What a word is that in 2 Thessalonians 3:14, "If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him." How radical is the admonition of 1 Corinthians 5:11, "I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother - but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat!"

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." We are fully persuaded, that it is disregard of this commandment, for a command it is, which is largely responsible for the low state which now prevails so generally among Christians, both individually and corporately. No wonder the spiritual pulse of many churches beats so feebly. No wonder their prayer meetings are so thinly attended; Christians who are unequally yoked, have no heart for prayer. Disobedience at this point is a certain preventative, to real and whole-hearted devotion to Christ. No one can be an unshackled follower of the Lord Jesus who is, in any way, "yoked" to his enemies. He may be a church member - but the testimony of his life, the witness of his walk, will not honor and glorify Christ.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)