“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV
Growing up in church, specifically in youth groups, I got the distinct impression that this verse had a very specific application: Don’t date an unbeliever! I was repeatedly informed that evangelistic dating doesn’t work, but is that the only proper application of this passage?
I’m convinced this verse (and the following 4 verses) has wider application. For example, yoking yourself to an unbeliever in a business deal which would necessarily tie your Christian name/reputation to the unbeliever may violate this command. What if your business partner proved to be dishonest and in doing so dragged your name (and thereby Christ’s) name through the mud? That isn’t to say that all business dealings with unbelievers are wrong; we simply must consider our actions in light of the biblical command not to be joined with unbelievers.
With election season in full gear, I can’t help but wonder if there are some similarities. If this verse has bearing on the way believers ought to conduct themselves in dating and business, then it likely applies to the political arena as well. If Christians actively promote a political candidate whose fruit is not in keeping with repentance, what does that communicate? Many believers, rightly, will not support a candidate who does not hold a pro-life position. But what about dishonesty? Crass talk? Vitriol? Intentionally overlooking the failings of “our” party while castigating the unrighteousness of the other is like refusing to date an unbeliever which we find unattractive only to go to prom with a different unbeliever who just so happens to be the homecoming queen.
We must consider how our political support and activism will reflect on Christ. If we yoke our name with that of a particular candidate there will be consequences to this. If he/she is elected into office by the support and promotion of Christians what will it communicate about Christ when “our” candidate enacts policy which is the polar opposite of our Christian conviction?
2 Corinthians 6:17 goes on to say, “Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,”. While I’m not one to claim that Christians should be utterly disinterested and uninvolved in politics, we should take these verses seriously. Perhaps if we were to practice a little biblical separation, we would notice that it does our souls some good. Perhaps it would improve the reputation of the Church and her Groom. Perhaps following Scriptural commands might just change the world. It is long past time for Christians to unyoke from the world in many spheres, may we seek God’s help in consistently applying this Scripture to our lives.
