不能同負一軛
哥林多後書六章14至18節
14你們和不信的原不相配,不要同負一軛。義和不義有甚麼相交呢?光明和黑暗有甚麼相通呢?
15基督和彼列(彼列就是撒但的別名)有甚麼相和呢?信主的和不信主的有甚麼相干呢?
16神的殿和偶像有甚麼相同呢?因為我們是永生神的殿,就如神曾說:我要在他們中間居住,在他們中間來往;我要作他們的神;他們要作我的子民。
17又說:你們務要從他們中間出來,與他們分別;不要沾不潔淨的物,我就收納你們。
18我要作你們的父;你們要作我的兒女。這是全能的主說的。
信息分享
但無論如何,它給我們每個基督徒一個嚴肅的提醒。只要我們用得恰當和認真服從,它可以免去許多令人傷痛和糾纏不清的困擾。這段經文雖然經常用在婚姻關係上;但其實,它還可以用在其他層面。無論甚麼時候,一個基督徒若與世界或未信者建立緊密的連繫,就肯定是自尋煩惱。
保羅用了一個簡單的例子來說明這點。「軛」是一副很重的木條,兩端各有一個大環孔,用來套著兩頭牲畜的脖子,讓牠們能並駕齊驅。申命記二十二章10節指出,神禁止人把牛與驢共負一軛來耕地,因為牠們並不相配。
保羅在這裡指出,信徒與非信徒之間建立某種緊密的關係是並不相配的。同負一軛意味著長久的關係,在神的眼中,婚姻就是一種長久的關係。因此,基督徒不應與非信徒結合,建立這恆久不渝的關係。
結婚之後,夫婦二人若有一方信主,依據保羅在哥林多前書第七章的教導,是應該繼續維持關係,不該離婚的。
保羅最後還提出一個理由,說明信徒為甚麼不應與未信者結合,那就是:「我們是永生神的殿。」(16節)聖靈住在信徒心中,為的是要帶領信徒愈來愈靠近基督。假若信徒身邊的配偶,是抗拒基督和反對信仰立場的話,試問聖靈怎能帶領他親近主呢?
請記著,順服神和分別為聖,乃是走上蒙福之途的兩塊踏腳石。
THE UNEQUAL YOKE
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“ I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore“ Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “ I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty.”
Message
Here is one of the strongest passages in the New Testament on the separation of a Christian from the world and its lifestyle. Unfortunately it has too often been misused. It has become a basis for legalism as well as un-Christlike separation between churches and individual believers. There are heart-breaking stories of its cruel misuse.
Yet it has a strong message for us. Rightly used and obeyed, it can save many heartaches and continuous problems. This passage is often taken to refer particularly to marriage. It can have other applications as well. Whenever a Christian links himself or herself with the world, or with only unconverted companions, that believer is headed for trouble.
Paul used a simple analogy to illustrate his point. A yoke is a heavy wooden bar with large loops at each end. It fits around the necks of two animals in such a way that it forces them to act as one. In Deuteronomy 22:10 God forbade the yoking of an ox and an ass. They would be entirely incompatible.
Paul was saying that certain relationships between an unbeliever and a believer will prove incompatible. A yoke tends to be permanent and in God's sight, marriage is to be a permanent relationship. Paul stated that a Christian should not enter into a union in which he or she would be permanently bound to a nonbeliever.
Where one partner becomes a Christian after marriage, Paul has already given advice in 1 Corinthians 7: "Stay with that partner as long as possible."
Paul's final word states one more reason why there should not be such a union. Verse 16 says, "We are the temple of the living God." The Holy Spirit is living within the believer and is seeking to lead that believer closer and closer to Christ. Can He do that if the believer is fellowshipping with those opposed to Christ and all that He stands for?
Remember, obedience and separations are stepping stones on the pathway to God's blessing.

