We are salt and light
The following passage from 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 lays out how we mixture our purity (as salt) and dim the light of Christ in our life. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Many times we quote the idea of “yoked together” to young adults about who they date and who they marry, but it is directed towards all Christians in regard to our relationships. A yoke ties two or more together to accomplish work, i.e., in farming. It would have been a familiar image for the first century, but not so much today. When we tie ourselves closely to another to accomplish a purpose or work, it requires cooperation and sometimes compromise. The stronger of the two or more will usually be the one that takes the lead in establishing direction. Christ is who we are to be yoked with as He is the One who should establish our direction and purpose in all areas of life. And let’s be honest; when we are tied to another or others in work, we find it difficult or even undesirable to confront issues of ungodliness or sin because it will stymie or halt the work due to conflict. I don’t know of anyone who is following Christ who simply wants and looks for conflict.
The image given is that we are “the temple of the living God”. When we look back to the time when this was written, the people would understand this differently than we do, as there was a holiness and separateness to the Temple of God in Jerusalem. The proper conduct, behavior and attitude when being on the Temple grounds. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is reminding the people that God resides IN us, which should transform our attitudes and behavior that glorifies God. Yoking ourselves to those that have no care or concern for the things of God puts us at odds and diminishes or halts our influence as the citizens of heaven. (Salt and light.)
Now this in no way is this passage urging us to be isolationists (as some have and continue to do). Salt and light require involvement in the world, in its culture and among the lost. But yoking ourselves to those apart from God leads us to negate the saltiness of our lives and brightness of the life of Christ when those relationships dominate and overshadow our calling as the citizens of heaven. Our involvement tends to silence our witness at the least, and compromise it most usually as we find ourselves fitting in with the unrighteous rather than stand for the holiness and separateness of God.
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
