Union with unbelievers forbidden
Key Verses: 4, 12, 14, 18
Paul was the kind of person who chose to do the right thing at the right time in most every circumstance. As he defends his ministry to the Corinthians, he lists some of his past actions and attitudes. Oh that we were this flexible in our responses to the world and each other! I notice that we often get stuck in one or two responses. So often anger is the first response. But anger often is the easy response, protecting a much more vulnerable emotion. We are afraid, so we get angry so no one knows how vulnerable we feel. But Paul has a wide variety of responses. Maybe we could chose to become flexible in order for our consistent character to be exhibited in every circumstance like him.
I get the sense that Paul is personally hurt by their rejection. He has loved them, but they are now not returning that love. It is hard when someone you love chooses to stop returning that love. I hear spouses who simply say, “I love him/her, but I am not ‘in love’ anymore.” What that usually means is that there is someone else to whom the ‘in love’ has been shifted. It might be a real person, or a fantasy person, but the effect is the same. The little things that used to be done to show love disappear from the relationship. And it is those little things that make love love.
It looks as though one of the traps that the Corinthians fell into was making too close of associations with unbelievers. This verse is often quoted in connection with marriage, but it reaches far beyond family relationships. Anytime we are so connected to the unbeliever that they pull us away from the Lord, then we are too connected. This means we might have to leave a job if the company veers from ethical practices. Or resign our membership in an organization when they move away from Biblical principles. Or take a stance and pull the organization back, even if that means we could get fired for taking a stance. But it can be very hard to pull back against such a movement.
In regards to marriage, Paul says that if an unbelieving spouse wants to stay, then the believing spouse should stay as well. In this case the unbelieving spouse allows the believer to continue to practice without too much negative impact. When the relationship contaminates the believer, then action must take place.
There is the implicate promise of care when the believer takes a proper stance in these circumstances. But taking a stance can be very costly. Whole churches have been kicked out of denominations, losing their buildings in the process, because they took a Biblical stance. Child custody battles have ensued with spouses. Business partners have taken everything. These are tough decisions, but decisions God calls us to make. He wants us to stand when others are falling.
The Arnold Journey 