A Call To
Separation
By Arthur Pink
"Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor.
6:14-18).
This passage gives utterance to a Divine exhortation for those
belonging to Christ to hold aloof from all intimate associations with
the ungodly. It expressly forbids them entering into alliances with
the unconverted. It definitely prohibits the children of God walking
arm-in-arm with worldlings. It is an admonition applying to every
phase and department of our lives, religious, domestic, social,
commercial. And never, perhaps, was there a time when it more needed
pressing on Christians than now. The days which we are living are
marked by the spirit of compromise. On every side we behold unholy
mixtures, ungodly alliances, unequal yokes. Many professing Christians
appear to be trying how near to the world they may walk and yet go to
heaven.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." This is a call to godly
separation. In each dispensation this Divine demand has been made. To
Abraham Jehovah's peremptory word was, "Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house." To Israel He said,
"After the doings of the land of Egypt wherein ye dwelt shall ye not
do: and after the doings of the land neither shall ye walk in their
ordinances" (Lev. 18:3). And again, "Ye shall not walk in the manners
of the nations which I cast out before you" (Lev. 20:23).
It was for their disregard of these very prohibitions that Israel
brought down upon themselves such severe chastisements. At the
beginning of the New Testament we are shown the forerunner of Christ
standing outside the organized Judaism of his day, calling on men to
flee from the wrath to come. The Saviour announced that, "He calleth
His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." (John 10:3). On the day
of Pentecost the word to believers was, "Save yourselves from this
untoward generation." (Acts 2:40) Later, to the Christian Hebrews Paul
wrote, "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp." (13:13)
God's call to His people in Babylon is, "Come out of her, My people,
that ye be not be partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of
her plagues." (Rev. 18:4)
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." This is God's word unto His
people today. Nor does it stand alone. In Rom. 16:17 it is said, "Mark
them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which
ye have learned, and avoid them." In 2 Tim 2:20 we read, "In a great
house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood
and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man
therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor,
sanctified, and meet for the Master's use." 2 Tim. 3:5 speaks of those
"having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof," then is
added, "from such turn away."
What a word is that in 2 Thess. 3:14, "If any man obey not our word by
this epistle, not that man, and have no company with him." How radical
is the admonition of 1 Cor. 5:11, "Now I have written unto you not to
keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or
covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortion:
with such an one no, not to eat."
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." We are fully persuaded that it
is disregard of this commandment it is, which is largely responsible
for the low state which now obtains so generally among Christians,
both individually and corporately. No wonder the spiritual pulse of
many churches beats so feebly. No wonder their prayer-meetings are so
thinly attended; Christians who are unequally yoked have no heart for
prayer. Disobedience at this point is a certain preventative to read
and whole-hearted devotion to Christ. No one can be an unshackled
follower of the Lord Jesus who is, in any way, "yoked" to His enemies.
He may be a truly saved person, but the testimony of his life, the
witness of his walk, will not honor and glorify Christ.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." This applies first to our
religious or ecclesiastical connections. How many Christians are
members of so-called 'churches,' where much is going on which they
know is at direct variance with the Word of God--either the teaching
from the pulpit, the worldly attractions used to draw the ungodly, and
the worldly methods employed to finance it or the constant receiving
into its memberships of those who give no evidence of having been born
again.
Believers in Christ who remain in such 'churches' are dishonoring
their Lord. Should they answer: "Practically all the churches are the
same, and were we to resign, what could we do? We must go somewhere on
Sundays," such language would show they are putting their own
interests before the glory of Christ. Better stay home and read God's
Word, than fellowship that which His Word condemns.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." This applies to membership in
Secret Orders. A yoke is that which unites. Those who belong to a
"lodge" are united in solemn oath and covenant with their "brother"
members. Many of their fellow-members give no evidence of being born
again. They may believe in a "Supreme Being", but what love have they
for God's Word? What is their relation to God's Son? "Can two walk
together except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3) Can those who owe their
all to Christ, both who "despise and reject" Him? Let any Christian
reader who is thus unequally yoked get from under it without delay.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." This applies to marriage. There
are but two families in this world: the children of God, and the
children of the devil. (1 John 3:10) If, then, a daughter of God
marries a son of the evil one, she becomes a daughter-in-law to Satan!
If a son of God marries a daughter of Satan, he becomes a son-in-law
to the devil! By such an infamous step an affinity is formed between
one belonging to the Most High and one belonging to His archenemy
"Strong language!" Yes, but not too strong. And oh the bitter reaping
from such a sowing. In every case it is the poor Christian who
suffers.
Read the inspired histories of Samson, Solomon, and Ahab, and see what
followed their unholy alliances in wedlock. As well might an athlete,
who attached to himself a heavy weight, expect to win a race, as a
Christian to progress spiritually by marrying a worldling. Oh what
watchfulness in prayer is needed in the regulation of our affections!
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." This applies to business
partnerships. Disobedience at this point has wrecked many a
Christian's testimony and pierced him through with many sorrows.
Whatever may be gained of this world by seeking it's avenues to wealth
and social prestige, will but poorly compensate for the loss of
fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Read Prov.
1:10-14. The path which the disciple of Christ is called to read is a
narrow one, and if he leaves it for a wider road, it will mean severe
chastenings, heart-breaking losses, and perhaps the forfeiting the
Savior's "Well done" at the end of the journey.
We are to hate even the "garment"--figure of our habits and
ways--spotted by the flesh (Jude 23), and are to keep ourselves
"unspotted from the world." (James 1:27) What a searching and sweeping
word is that in 2Cor. 7:1, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God." If any occupation or association is found to hinder our
communion with God or our enjoyment of spiritual things, then it must
be abandoned. Beware of "leprosy" in the garment. (Lev. 13:47)
Anything in my habits or ways which mars happy fellowship with the
brethren or robs me of power in service, is to be unsparingly judged
and made an end of--"burned." (Lev. 13:52) Whatever I cannot do for
God's glory must be avoided.
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