不能同负一轭
哥林多后书六章14至18节
14你们和不信的原不相配,不要同负一轭。义和不义有甚么相交呢?光明和黑暗有甚么相通呢?
15基督和彼列(彼列就是撒但的别名)有甚么相和呢?信主的和不信主的有甚么相干呢?
16神的殿和偶像有甚么相同呢?因为我们是永生神的殿,就如神曾说:我要在他们中间居住,在他们中间来往;我要作他们的神;他们要作我的子民。
17又说:你们务要从他们中间出来,与他们分别;不要沾不洁净的物,我就收纳你们。
18我要作你们的父;你们要作我的儿女。这是全能的主说的。
信息分享
但无论如何,它给我们每个基督徒一个严肃的提醒。只要我们用得恰当和认真服从,它可以免去许多令人伤痛和纠缠不清的困扰。这段经文虽然经常用在婚姻关系上;但其实,它还可以用在其他层面。无论甚么时候,一个基督徒若与世界或未信者建立紧密的连系,就肯定是自寻烦恼。
保罗用了一个简单的例子来说明这点。「轭」是一副很重的木条,两端各有一个大环孔,用来套着两头牲畜的脖子,让牠们能并驾齐驱。申命记二十二章10节指出,神禁止人把牛与驴共负一轭来耕地,因为牠们并不相配。
保罗在这里指出,信徒与非信徒之间建立某种紧密的关系是并不相配的。同负一轭意味着长久的关系,在神的眼中,婚姻就是一种长久的关系。因此,基督徒不应与非信徒结合,建立这恒久不渝的关系。
结婚之后,夫妇二人若有一方信主,依据保罗在哥林多前书第七章的教导,是应该继续维持关系,不该离婚的。
保罗最后还提出一个理由,说明信徒为甚么不应与未信者结合,那就是:「我们是永生神的殿。」(16节)圣灵住在信徒心中,为的是要带领信徒愈来愈靠近基督。假若信徒身边的配偶,是抗拒基督和反对信仰立场的话,试问圣灵怎能带领他亲近主呢?
请记着,顺服神和分别为圣,乃是走上蒙福之途的两块踏脚石。
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.

