Does the term unequally yoked apply only to unbelievers?

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Alvertsky

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In all of the above uses, "yoked" is figurative.

Jesus said,
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
Takin' the Easy Way, 2nd Chapter of Acts (1983)
However yoked is also quite real and not figurative and the term is ugly to me.

So are you yoked?

I am married
 

Jane_Doe22

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Yokes are not always analogies, all too often they are or were real. Because of that it is an ugly term
Again: it's an analogy to highlight two partners sharing the load. Not literal.
Do you believe that a husband and wife should support each other?
 
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DuckieLady

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Really interesting responses. :) I appreciate everyone's input.

I am going to interrupt now.

I think it would be best if we got off the subject of what yoking is/isn't. It is only causing division and we might as well not bother arguing semantics.

I will fix it right now with the concordance. We cannot go back in time and and ask Paul to rewrite it to something else. None of us can afford a time machine right now. We can only accept and rejoice in what God has graciously given us and appreciate how it was intended.

unequally yoked
ἑτεροζυγοῦντες (heterozygountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's Greek 2086: To be yoked up differently, to be unequally yoked. From a compound of heteros and zugos; to yoke up differently, i.e. to associate discordantly.
 

Nancy

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Chained and yoked slaves on the march to the trading station, 1965. A... News Photo - Getty Images

Again no human should ever be yoked, nor should any marriage be referred to as this

"His yoke is easy, His burden is light"
Why would a Christian want to marry outside of their faith? Seems the balance would be awkward and the burden heavy...but if two people are of the Christian faith, there will be balance if they are both seeking the things of God at the same time.
 

Sabertooth

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(Slavery is off-topic.)
 

DuckieLady

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Fluffy,

Do you attend an Anabaptist church? Or, would you be classed as Baptist in your beliefs today? Is your theology too far removed from the theology of the Southern Baptists or General Baptists?

While I'm an Aussie, I attended and graduated from an Anabaptist Seminary, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland OH (Arminian). It was sponsored by The Brethren Church, an Anabaptist denomination. If you want a more Calvinistic, Anabaptist denomination, there is the Grace Brethren denomination.

There was an Old Order Amish community also in Ashland.

Oz


Sorry, I missed this, Oz. I do not attend any church presently because of Covid restrictions. (The restrictions in my state are weird.) Normally I wear a covering (not in my avatar, obviously, because ... I don't know. It felt like boasting or something.) But I will still go to any church. Baptist would be fine. It isn't so much about having trouble accepting other denominations. It's just that I feel like the odd one out.

Really cool that you graduated from ATS! That's awesome.
 
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TLHKAJ

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I was thinking about this earlier -- and it doesn't apply to me right now because I am not married, but still thinking about it.

We know that we can't marry unbelievers or agnostics. Okay. I did that once before. Mistakes. But do you think it applies also to different denominations? Ideally, I believe it denominations should not exist at all. (Let there be no division among you...) But by definition, I know that I would be considered an Anabaptist and as much as I resent the idea of it not just being "Christian" it still exists.

In other words, is a Baptist Christian is forbidden from marrying a Catholic, for instance? Or an Apostolic from a Lutheran? How does that work? What do you think?
Just as a matter of advice, I would suggest all women who are prayerfully looking for a husband, and dating ...to have a lot of open discussions. Is he comfortable and freely able to discuss topics that are deeply important? Do you share the same convictions on faith, how to run a home, raising children, approaching health and even childbirth, finances, or even politics? Do you share similar interests? If you enjoy gardening, how does he feel about having a garden? Is he against it? Is he supportive? To what degree is he supportive ...would he just let you have a garden and taken no interest in sharing on that endeavor with you? This may seem trivial ...but in reality, it isn't. Husbands and wives should be walking in the same direction, sharing the same goals ...and if he's a workaholic who just comes home and watches some TV, eats supper, says a few words, then goes to bed ....he may be a believer, and even share a few Biblical discussions ....but your heart may be geared more toward having a more unified relationship, communicate more, do things together that will move you both toward a shared goal. A marriage like that isn't a very happy one...it can be good at times, but it doesn't flow well. It's a lot more work than it would be if the two shared the same hopes and desires in lifestyle.

I've rambled...lol ....but bottom line, take note in how well communication happens and how conflicts or misunderstandings are handled. That says a lot!
 
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DuckieLady

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Just as a matter of advice, I would suggest all women who are prayerfully looking for a husband, and dating ...to have a lot of open discussions. Is he comfortable and freely able to discuss topics that are deeply important? Do you share the same convictions on faith, how to run a home, finances, or even politics? Do you share similar interests? If you enjoy gardening, how does he feel about having a garden? Is he against it? Is he supportive? To what degree is he supportive ...would he just let you have a garden and taken no interest in sharing on that endeavor with you? This may seem trivial ...but in reality, it isn't. Husbands and wives should be walking in the same direction, sharing the same goals ...and if he's a workaholic who just comes home and watches some TV, eats supper, says a few words, then goes to bed ....he may be a believer, and even share a few Biblical discussions ....but your heart may be geared more toward having a more unified relationship, communicate more, do things together that will move you both toward a shared goal. A marriage like that isn't a very happy one...it can be good at times, but it doesn't flow well. It's a lot more work than it would be if the two shared the same hopes and desires in lifestyle.

I've rambled...lol ....but bottom line, take note in how well communication happens and how conflicts or misunderstandings are handled. That says a lot!


This is SO true and really good advice. Sounds like a dream relationship. On the flipside, I'd like a person to have SOME different interests/hobbies from mine and things that I don't really care about. I have things people don't care about and that gives me time to do those things. I like to be left alone sometimes. I need *my* time. lol
 
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TLHKAJ

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This is SO true and really good advice. Sounds like a dream relationship. On the flipside, I'd like a person to have SOME different interests/hobbies from mine and things that I don't really care about. I have things people don't care about and that gives me times to do those things. I like to be left alone sometimes. I need *my* time. lol
Yes, different interests and hobbies are healthy. :) For instance, a couple may share the same interest in living a life on a farm, raising their own food, sharing in labors and the fruits of their labors ...maybe they could talk for hours on things that pertain to homesteading and improving the property, etc. Maybe they share several other interests and have very similar hopes and desires related to faith, children and finances. But he may like to spend some time in the evening looking at world news, catching up on world events ...and maybe that's not your cup of tea. (lol) Maybe you're content with him having that down time while you sit nearby crocheting or making soap ...or reading a book. But you're not clashing. And later, he can give you a short synopsis of what he learned, while you listen. And he can show a bit of interest in what you have done... "Aww, that soap smells nice. Great job, honey!" lol
See.... lol ....good flow, different interests ....but together. :)
 
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