The Weekly Perspective
by Burke Shade, Associate Pastor
In the book of Ezra, Ezra the Priest is quite appalled to hear that the exiles had intermarried with Canaanites, one of the very sins that sent them into exile in the first place. They had broken faith by taking wives of the Canaanites, so that they mixed the holy race with the peoples of the lands (Ezra 9:1-2). They vowed then to put away their wives and the children of these unlawful marriages.
The people had jeopardized the seed line of the coming Messiah, for these were the remnants of Judah (and Benjamin) involved.
But is there any present day application for the church? For us as Christian couples and our children? At least two obvious ones.
First, Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 7:39 is a reflection of Ezra: “free to be married…only in the Lord.” As Christians, we can only marry Christians. Couples need to keep this in mind, as death or divorce may break up an existing marriage, and Jesus gives his word on how to rectify that, should the remaining spouse desire to do so. That’s wisdom for us, our children, other believers, and believing relatives. We need to give a sure word to those who find themselves single again.
Secondly, Christians ought not to date non-Christians. That’s strong language, but why date someone you can’t marry? That’s only setting up a very strong temptation to disobey Jesus. Yet Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 is strong! Paul directly says, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” A dating/courtship relationship with an unbeliever is an unequal yoke, and setting oneself, or our children, up for an unequal yoke: marriage to an unbeliever.
Paul is not hard to interpret here. He goes on: “what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” He strongly states the principle in verse 17: “be separate from them.” At least in marriage. In short, don’t jeopardize yourself or your faithful line.