Forum_Member

There is one particular verse I recall that says "believers" should not associate with non-believers. I have googled this extensively, but I have been unlucky with the results.

andrewcriddle

You probably mean 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Andrew Criddle

douglas

I've also heard Mark 6:11 used in this way.

Amaleq13

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (KJV)

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (KJV)

Forum_Member

Thank you much.

John Kesler

You already have your answer, but for your future searches, when looking for a biblical reference, don't Google it--Biiible it. Using the search term "unbelievers," I get four references, and the last is the one you sought.

Gamera

There really is no such teaching. Paul teaches the opposite: that we must engage nonbeleivers and "immoral men." It's the duty of Christians to associate with them.

What he does say is that people who claim to be believers, but continue to act in loveless ways, should be banished from the church.

He specifically clears up the confusion here:

1 Cor. 5: 10-14. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; 10 not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber--not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. "Drive out the wicked person from among you."

Johnny Skeptic

But not God's duty, right? In 75 A.D., how in the would could a relative handful of Christians have engaged even 1% of the people in the world? Your arguments are patently absurd.

God is immoral, so he has no business claiming that all nonbelievers are immoral. God kills some of his most devout and faithful followers, and babies, and innocent animals. He refuses to reveal himself to some people who would accept him if they knew that he (supposedly) exists. What benefits does God derive from refusing to clearly reveal his existence and will to everyone? What benefits does mankind derive from this detestable behavior? What evidence do you have that God is moral and perfect? I assume none at all except for some speculative hearsay evidence that was written by some Bible writers.

seebs

The "unequally yoked" passage has been taken as meaning, well, just about anything. I've seen it applied as evidence that Christians shouldn't marry non-Christians, or should divorce non-Christians, or shouldn't have non-Christian friends, or shouldn't be in legal partnerships with non-Christians, and so on.

I have no idea what it means. I've read the whole passage a few times and I still have no clue. I feel comfortable ruling out the "no marriage to non-Christians" thing as flatly contradicting a passage in 1 Corinthians, and the "no non-Christian friends" as obviously contrary to what Jesus said about neighbors.

What does it mean? No clue. Maybe it means that, if we are ever enslaved with a number of non-believers and placed under a literal yoke, we should ensure that everyone we are partnered with is either Christian or the same height as we are.

Toto

Our last discussion on unequally yoked