Is a non-Christian unequal to a Christian? What does that mean?

Question

In response to a question on whether it is wrong for a Christian to marry a non-Christian (the real) whynotaskdon replied:

"Yes Indeed!
Christians are not to be unequally Yoked."

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao8Uek_Rvy_Qbhw2UiSO6iPsy6IX?qid=20060818113835AA6cPE3


What does that mean?

Does that mean the obvious that I (as a non-Christian) am not the same as a Christian, or that non-Christians are inferior (as in the phrase "He is not my equal").

Answer 1

It's not a case of inferiority. Well, except perhaps for catholics, many of whom believe their faith is better than all others.

I guess they just think it'll be a) easier for you to remain under the thumb if you are married to someone with the same beliefs and b) they don't want you tempted away from the church.

Catholics for one will not marry a "mixed" couple unless the one who belongs to the wrong faith agrees to convert and agrees that all children will be raised as catholic.

Answer 2

This is found in the Bible at 2 Corinthians 6:14 and reads:
"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"

Think of it this way: if you wanted to plow a field and yoked together an ox and a donkey, they wouldn't pull the plow equally. Since the ox is much stronger than the donkey, it would end up pulling the plow and the donkey. Also, the donkey might not want to plow at all, and try to veer off in a different direction. This is what happens whenever you pair spouses or friends of different faiths. One wants to do something (or doesn't want to do something), but the other resists because it is against his or her belief system. This leads to unnecessary conflict.

Answer 3

It is talking about forms of partnership like marriage.

For ex:
A vegetarian marrying a beef loving cattle rancher.

A lazy, fat, unwashed,jobless, uneducated man marrying a woman who is slim, clean, educated and the CEO of Microsoft.

These kinds of pairing should not happen, nor can we fathom them happening. IF THEY SHOULD get together, how do you suppose their lives would be? Doesn't every partner give up a little of what they believe to make the other happy in all marriages?

Yes, they do.

So the consequence of a Christian marrying a nonchristian normally ends up with the Christian giving up some of what he/she believes in order to make the marriage work.

Faith is a difficult thing to keep if a Christian stays away from other Christians, worship and the study of the Bible. This is what happened in Genesis Ch. 6 when the godly people began marrying the ungodly. Soon the earth was filled with lawlessness (ie ungodly people) and God ended up sending the flood.

Answer 4

You have misunderstood, yes Non-Christians are equal.
To be equally yoked is to be of the same religion. It was originally for the Jewish people to only marry other Jews.
God wanted his people not to be influenced by other pagan religions and practices. The Christians also believe it is better to raise our families together in a like manor so they are stronger in their faith. Mixed religion families often end up having big problems and being of the same faith (or equal in faith) can make things much easier for the whole family.

Answer 5

EDIT:
I think my daylight answer is clearer:

Religion < God.
This is the actual inequality.

A lot of things in religion come from human fear, not from God.

And as far as my senses tell me, the advice to be together with certain kinds of people rather than others (regardless of whether you read it to mean “unbelievers” or “non-Christians”) is one of these things.

For everyone is true and real; the only difference in terms of spirituality is that we have different things in our c o n s c i o u s minds. We are all on the same path to our source, we just don't realize. Some people who think of themselves as "unbelievers" are closer to the source than some people who are proudly comfortable within the security of their scriptures (-> whynotprayfordon, just a suggestion :). Who are we to tell who is where, and how does it matter? Best "be yoked together" with someone you believe in; limitations are borne of fear, not of God.

Answer 6

Please examine each and everything: As a Protestant Christian, i could individually no longer marry a Catholic as a results of fact of being unequally yoked. it extremely is to no longer say that i do no longer believe that Catholics are Christian as a results of fact I do believe that Catholics are Christians as they too believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that no person gets to the father different than in the process the Son. My reasoning at the back of no longer desirous to marry a Catholic is using doctrinal variations. i can not baptize my little one toddlers yet i visit attend till they are the right age to choose on their very own whether or no longer they'll obey our Lord and Savior and positioned up to the waters of baptism, will my Catholic husband be pleased with this? i visit tell my toddlers that it is not very nicely to desire to the virgin Mary or to the perceived saints yet in elementary terms to the father, interior the Spirit and interior the call of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Will my Catholic husband be pleased with this? in this, you notice that even although Protestants and Catholics are the two Christian, we nonetheless have doctrinal variations which might propose that we would unavoidably be unequally yoked. could a Mormon marry a Jehovah's Witness as a results of fact they the two believe in Jesus or do you think of that their doctrinal variations are sufficient that they could nonetheless be considered unequally yoked? Catholics could marry Catholics and Protestants could marry Protestants. yet interior the tip, it is your decision.

Answer 7

the verse 2 Corinthians 6:13-15 (KJV)

13Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?


Most people accept this as meaning that you should only marry someone who holds your Moral Standards. Only the extremely puritanical infer this to mean that non-Christians are less than Christians

Answer 8

No Christians and NonChristians are both human. I think that this particular scripture is more a warning that it could be difficult than it is a proscription. But I have to say I do not find anyone less than or greater than the other. Christian or non Christian both are human beings. I think it is speaking metaphorically about marriage and that it can be hard. Back then the husband ruled and the wife could not exert her faith. It was difficult.We are all equal.

Answer 9

Well you are going to be eternally barbequed for not "believing" , and they are going to heaven, yet you think you are equal to them!

Your beliefs are satanic and lies or at the most half truths (Whatever that is supposed to mean) and your god a false still you think you are equal to the followers of the true "God".

A few months some Christian answerer objected even the use of word God for Shiva by a Hindu.

Thats what it means. Rest of it is being politically correct .

Answer 10

To be 'equally yoked' means to be with someone who shares your spiritual beliefs. Even if that person is not as 'mature' in those beliefs as you are, it's easier for a relationship to withstand persecution and grow when two people are at least in the same book, even if they're not both on the same page.