Christian Partnerships: 2 Corinthians 6

“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnerships have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness” (2 Cor. 6:14, NASB).

On the ABC award winning show, “The View” host Sonny Hostin asked guest co host Lindsey Granger if she was a Republican. Granger responded that she is a Republican. Hostin responded saying, “I feel like that’s an oxymoron, a Black Republican.” Hostin’s statement implied that no Black person or Latino person should identify themselves as a Republican. Granger pointed out that Hostin is a catholic; yet she supports abortion. This article is not about Republicans, Democrats, women, and abortion. Rather, I cited this incident because I believe that it raises a serious question for all Christians. As a Christian, how should I choose who I will form partnerships with?

In Second Corinthians, Paul the Apostle is telling the church in Corinth that the member’s relationships were formed on one common experience. All of the members are persons that have been saved by grace and all of them are reconciled to God through the death of Jesus on the cross (2 Cor. 5:14-15). Paul states that because he and his partners have been reconciled to God, they have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Paul says, “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God” (v. 20).

Having established his goal in preaching the gospel, Paul urges the church “not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Cor. 6:1, NASB). The church must be careful that it does nothing to discredit the ministry (v. 3). In order to commend themselves as servants of God they must endure many hardships (vv. 4-5), but they must maintain their integrity by living according to the fruit of the Spirit received from God (See Gal. 5:22-23). Paul tells the members of the church that they too must participate in the ministry of reconciliation. They too are ambassadors for Christ. Those that have been reconciled to God do not seek their own interest. Rather, they represent Christ, and they seek the interest of the kingdom of God ruled by the Son of God and led by the Holy Spirit. Paul offers the church these guidelines.

In verses 14-18 Paul gives instructions to the church about their forming partnerships. In verse fourteen Paul writes these familiar words. “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness” (NASB)? Now, when I first heard this verse I heard it quoted from the King James Version (KJV) of the bible. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” More often than not the person quoting this verse stopped here, not quoting the remainder of the verse. “for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness’” (KJV)? This verse was used to point out that a person who is a Christian should not marry a person who is not a Christian. While this is probably good advice for the believer considering marriage, Paul is not speaking directly to marriage. Rather, Paul is talking about believers forming partnerships with unbelievers.

Paul’s argument is not sociological, political, and economical directly. Rather, Paul is concerned that the church has a found theology. This means that their relationship with God should be the foundation for all of their relationships. It means that Christians have the light of God—the knowledge of God. Christians are first and foremost persons who believe in God. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He died on the cross to save them from their sins. Christians live by the laws of God and the teaching of Jesus Christ, His Son. Christians all together form a fellowship with one another and with Jesus Christ. Thus, Christians should be mindful of the partnerships that they enter into regardless of the nature of the partnership.

So, a Christian desires to open a business. He/she needs a partner to help finance the start of the business. A known unbeliever who has business ethics that allows them to cheat the customers offers to help finance the start of the business. Should the believer accept the offer? I think not, because cheating others does not reflect the character of God and the believer’s own righteousness. The believer knows that he/she should not compromise their knowledge of God’s ways with the one whose god is not the Christian God. If he/she should join together with the unbeliever they will jeopardize their relationship with God and other persons who are partners with Christ.

Remember, the Christian is an ambassador for Jesus Christ (5:20). This means that they represent Jesus. They tell others who Jesus is; what Jesus is like; and the government of His kingdom. Jesus does not enter into fellowship with Belial (false god); likewise ambassadors for Christ do not form a fellowship with those who worship Belial. It seems to me that Paul is basing this teaching on the words of Jesus.

In His Sermon on the Mountain (Matthew 5-7) Jesus first invites people to come into the kingdom of heaven. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matt. 4:17, NASB). Everyone is invited and everyone must repent. Repent means that they will change their minds about life as they know it. The laws for the kingdom of heaven are different from the laws that they now live by. The invitation promises blessings to those who enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:1-12). They have new life job descriptions. Jesus gives two descriptions of their new job description. They are salt and light (5:13-16).

Jesus does not abolish the law (of Moses) and the prophets. Instead, He comes to make possible the things of God that the law could not do. The law did not include all people. The law was given to the Jews exclusively. The kingdom of heaven that Jesus rules over includes all people. Those who live in the kingdom of heaven are not made righteous by the law. Their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the religious leaders of the Jews, the scribes and Pharisees. It is a righteousness not accomplished by works. Rather it is a righteousness received by grace through faith (See Eph. 2:8-9). It is a righteousness born of and maintained through allegiance and commitment to Jesus.

So, let us join together the teaching of Jesus with the words of Paul. Believers live by a different standard from the standards of those that are not believers in Jesus. Do not be deceived. Yes, there are times when Christians may believe what the non believer says that they believe. Don’t be deceived. Ultimately, those that have not been reconciled to God have beliefs and practices that run counter to the beliefs and practices of those who have been reconciled to God and live according to the fruit of the Spirit (See Galatians 5:16-25). When Paul speaks of Belial, he has in mind those who worship false gods—any god other than the God of Israel.

As we look back at the incident involving Sonny Hostin and Lindsey Granger, we can see that the two are evaluating each other based on the world’s standards. There is no evidence that either of the two women are acting as ambassadors for Christ. Their concern seems to be their partnership with their social and political groups. On the other hand, Jesus and Paul tell us that our partnership is with Jesus and other people that have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus. Believers are ambassadors for Christ. Their first priority is to make Jesus known in the world by speaking up on His behalf. We form partnerships with those who seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness with full assurance that everything that we need will be supplied to us by God.