Want-a Yoke Up?

 

2 Corinthians 6:14 - 18 (RSV)

¹⁴Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?  ¹⁵What accord has Christ with Belial?^£ Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?  ¹⁶What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,     

“I will live in them and move among them,

     and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
¹⁷    Therefore come out from them,

     and be separate from them, says the Lord,

     and touch nothing unclean;

     then I will welcome you,

¹⁸    and I will be a father to you,

     and you shall be my sons and daughters,

     says the Lord Almighty.”

A yoke is an apparatus attaching two work animals together. If two animals combine their strength, the result is potentially an increase in “horsepower” or “oxen-power.” This, naturally, assumes several factors. It assumes that both animals are healthy. Suppose one horse was weakened by sickness or injury. The healthy animal was not only having to pull the other’s share of the load, but might have to pull against the resistance of the weaker partner. The yoking of animals would approve efficiency only if both were equally disciplined and trained. If one animal constantly pulls in the wrong direction, while the other pulls true, then they are pulling against one another. If they were “unevenly yoked” it would be better to unyoke the sick or undisciplined animal. 

Applying the precept of matched yokes to our Christian life . The first is relatively simply, the second will give you heartburn and a headache right quick!  Now, if someone would ask a Christian business man or woman to invest in a venture which distributes pornographic material or something that is clearly fraudulent, then the answer would be simple. You would apply the prohibition against being unevenly yoked with unbelievers. 

Where the application of this principle becomes difficult is when a yoked (covenantal) relationship changes or was gone into ignorantly. The person, whom you thought was a faithful believer, seems to have been a phony. He or she is starting to say and do things that are against the teaching of Christ. You are reluctant to break fellowship because of all the passages regarding unity and fidelity to covenantal relationships. You recall the high value our Lord places of unity – His prayer to His Father was for the Church to “become perfectly one.”  

I have never been more tempted to break fellowship with the Presbyterian Church (USA) than I am at this stage in my career. I am confident that our leadership at the presbytery, synod and General Assembly levels is pulling in a different direction. In some ways, I have already broken the yoke; little by little I trust the directions (programs and written resources) of our denomination less and less. Pitifully, I have secretly (and wickedly) hoped that the sick horse I am yoke to will die or run away. Naturally, as a follower of Jesus, I also pray that the sick horse yoked to me will be healed and enjoy the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

 

Faithfulness in little things is a big thing. Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347–407) 

If we are correct and right in our Christian life at every point, but refuse to stand for the truth at a particular point where the battle rages—then we are traitors to Christ. Martin Luther (1483–1546) 

Is your place a small place? Tend it with care!—He set you there. Is your place a large place? Guard it with care!—He set you there. Whate’er your place, it is Not yours alone, but his Who set you there. John Oxenham (1861–1941) 

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity. George Washington (1732–1799)