In a Bind

Read 2 Corinthians 2:14–7:16

14. Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
15. What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?
16. And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
17. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
18. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Charlie Brown and Snoopy, Lois Lane and Clark Kent, Tonto and the Lone Ranger, Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock—all these are examples of relationships that augment and thrive on differences. Opposites attract, and differences can be healthy and good.

The one major exception to this rule: differences are not healthy and good in any intimate relationship between a Christian and a non-Christian. In this passage, Paul warns against forming binding relationships with people who don’t know Christ. His warning is not merely a prejudice or preference. There is a real hazard in developing strong partnerships with people who have no vested interest in serving and glorifying God, so we need to beware.

God wants us to avoid binding relationships with nonbelievers because such bonds can weaken our integrity, standards, or commitment to Christ. A partnership between a believer and a nonbeliever mismatches the values, goals, and desires of the two people involved. This doesn’t mean that Christians should always avoid all relationships with non-Christians (see 1 Corinthians 5:9-10). We should definitely care for nonbelievers, showing them Christ’s love. Also, a Christian who is married to a nonbelieving spouse should stay with that spouse, and not leave him or her (see 1 Corinthians 7:12-14). The bottom line, however, is that God wants us to be free to live righteous lives. Locking ourselves into personal or business relationships that could cause us to make moral compromises keeps us from doing that.

Protect your freedom to serve Christ. Don’t make agreements, enter relationships, or form partnerships that could force you to do something wrong, immoral, or dishonest.