Is Unequal Yoke in Marriage Acceptable for Christians?

This is a very sensitive topic, especially at a time when many Christians have chosen to ignore God’s written word in the Holy Bible. Instances abound of believers contracting marriages with unbelievers, contrary to the instruction of Almighty God in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Amos 3:3 also questioned the futility of two people with different aspirations and goals having a successful relationship – “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

 In recent times, I have heard stories of Christian women in particular, that threw caution to the wind and contracted marriages outside the faith. The results are always the same – broken hearts and premature deaths in some cases.

This begs the question, why anyone would put marriage above God or his or her safety. While I empathise with single women who are desirous of having their own home, I believe it is wrong for Christians to idolise anything, including marriage.

When you show so much desperation in this direction, satan and his demons take advantage of the situation by arranging someone to meet your needs. I can assure you that any man the devil arranges to be your husband can never bring you peace.

Proverbs 10:22 is emphatic that only the blessing that comes from God makes us richer and does not add sorrow to our lives. Do yourself a favour, drop your concerns about marriage on your Father’s table and trust Him to sort it out in His own time.

Dear brother or sister, if you have “given your life to Christ” or “surrendered your life to Him” as you claim, what part of it is still yours? If your life now belongs to God, who should worry about your marital status?

Why are you allowing the enemy to becloud your mind on this matter and cause you to doubt God’s love for you? Always remember that nothing in this world can take His place in your life. If marriage can give you more satisfaction and peace than what you receive from the LORD, go ahead and sell your soul to satan for pittance!

Now, we will address the case of people who as unbelievers, became “yoked” to other unbelievers in marriage, before they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This matter is actually addressed in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16. God does not require you to divorce your spouse if you were already married before you became born again.

God expects you to live in a way that your conduct would attract your wife or husband to Him. In essence, you are the evangelist in that home, and Mathew 5:6 was written with you in mind, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

         More importantly, always remember, “You were saved by grace through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-10). What this Scripture says in effect is that you have no right to look down on unbelievers, including your spouse. You are obligated to pray that God would remove the veil that satan has placed on their hearts and minds, so that they can believe in the atoning sacrifice of Christ and be saved as well.