I rediscovered this verse a few weeks before I wrote about the Opening Principle:
“We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open… Now in return for the same… you also be open.” -2 Corinthians 6:11, 13
That’s encouraging transparency, but it continues:
“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? -2 Corinthians 6:14-15
That’s when a big question hit me for anytime I’m opening up to someone:
“Am I sharing this with a Christian or not?”
And the followup questions to that…
“What difference does it make?”
“What difference should it make?”
(Photo: jimg944)
The whole Opening Principle thing got me thinking about transparency. And based on the comments in that post, some of you are thinking about it too.
I’d always assumed my interaction with Christians would be different from my interaction with anyone else. It has to be – we know something amazing that others don’t.
But I’d not considered the full implications of verses like this on authenticity and transparency. According to those verses, doesn’t it seem like transparency shouldn’t happen with non-Christians?
That’s pretty strong.
I have a post coming about when saying too much becomes saying too much. In fact, this was part of it, but I thought I’d break off the discussion about our non-Christian interaction because it seems important enough to consider on its own. So for now…
What do you think about this?
Serving Suggestions:
(1) Is the passage really saying we’re not supposed to be as open with non-Christians? I think the answer to this question makes a big difference in our overall strategy for ministering to others.
(2) If yes to that first question, in what ways? All ways? With non-Christians, how much are we supposed to open up? I’ll jump into the comments with you in a bit, but I’d like your opinion first.
Twitter Updates
Hmmm, I hadn’t thought about that verse in that way before. I always consider the “yoke” with respect to a bonding relationship. Yet at the same time, being vulnerable bonds you to that person in a unique way.
However, I wouldn’t think ministering to someone would be a yoke. If I’m relating my addiction to another addict, I don’t consider myself yoked to them. I’m not going to go wherever they go.
Paul sometimes gets disjointed in his thoughts. This might be one of those cases where he completely changes subjects mid-thought. I dunno. Curious to see other responses.
Frank\’s latest: Infinite Sadness
Yes, I hadn’t realized that both of those sections, the one about opening and then the one of being unequally yoked, were jammed right next to each other, so I’d never taken the context too seriously.
I like your point about sharing not necessarily meaning that we’re now yoked to that person. I’m curious, though, about how far we can go before we DO become yoked.
Looking forward to what others will add…
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian\’s latest: On feeling compassion
By not being transparent with them, are we being deceptive or even just flat out lying? If we are trying to prevent someone from knowing or learning the truth, is that a lie?
My responses for now:
1. Maybe – maybe not. I think it could go both ways, which is probably why it’s tricky. That’s a good test, though.
2. Not usually. I know what you’re saying with that, like the example with Abraham saying Sarah was his sister. That was true, but the whole truth of course was that she was also his wife. In that case, I still don’t think he lied. That said, it was still wrong.
:>)
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian\’s latest: How transparent should we be with non-Christians?
great post with deep question, hav´nt look at that bible passage like you,but much like frank.thank for the Post.God bless
It’s something to think about. Thanks for commenting.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian\’s latest: How transparent should we be with non-Christians?
If we look at the context of the passage Paul is speaking to the Corinthian people who had just recently given up on pagan worship and had started worshiping Christ. Because of their past culture, they were goin back into pagan idolatry, thinking it is ok. They were attempting to live in both the worlds, to which Paul says in verse 14 “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?”
Now knowing the context what we can gather is that Paul does not mean to completely sever all relations with unbelievers, coz we are called to spread the gospel and be a light in this wicked generation.
But we cannot be extremely open with unbelievers as their advice is ungodly. I can share a particular situation with them, to make them know that we all struggle with the same things, or have common problems. But I would try and choose the opportunity to show them how God has used it for good,and thus have a doorway to share the gospel.
We need to keep one truth in mind, that we do not having anything common with unbelievers; we are in light and they are in darkness.
Hoping this was helpful
Caroline\’s latest: Sin
I personally tend to see that we have MUCH in common with unbelievers.
That’s an interesting question in itself, Bernard.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian\’s latest: Whose info are you sharing?
Yes, thank you for sharing. I’m certainly in the “stay connected but not tied to non-Christians” camp. Now I’m just trying to sort out what that means in daily life.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian\’s latest: Whose info are you sharing?
I’m not sure that wisdom or advice is hopelessly tainted by being uttered by a non-believer. I’ve heard it said that true wisdom is of God, so someone who is not a Christian can never be wise. The problem is that many seem to think that being a Christian guarantees that we are wise. That’s just not true.
Just because we are a Christian doesn’t mean we have all the right answers. It doesn’t give us the right to claim a “one way flow” of information with our unbelieving friends (“You need to listen to me but I’m going to ignore you”). This mentality leads to the extremely erroneous teaching that “if you’ll just come to Jesus, you’ll know how to solve all your problems.” That, too, is just wrong.
Yes, I agree with you that truth can come from non-Christians too. The problem is that the most dangerous information isn’t the obvious lies but the half-truths. Of course, that goes for what Christians might share too.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian\’s latest: Whose info are you sharing?
The truth is a hard thing to find.
I’m not so sure it’s hard to find – it’s just hard to understand, pinpoint, and put in a box the way we like.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian\’s latest: Whose info are you sharing?
It’s hard to find. It’s often even harder to accept.
Yes, you’re right, Bernard. The hard part is accepting.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian\’s latest: People pleasing vs people pleasing- What-8217s the difference