ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers": New Testament perspectives on how Christians should live and act in a society of diverging convictions

 

"Moenie in dieselfde juk trek as die ongelowige nie": Nuwe-Testamentiese perspektiewe op hoe Christene behoort te leef en op te tree in 'n samelewing van uiteenlopende oortuigings

 

 

P.M. Theron^I; G.A. Lotter^II

^ISchool of Ecclesiastical Sciences, Potchefstroom Campus. North-West University. Potchefstroom. E-mail: ptvila@gmail.com
^IISchool of Ecclesiastical Sciences, Potchefstroom Campus. North-West University. Potchefstroom. E-mail: george.lotter@nwu.ac.za

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The exhortation found in 2 Corinthians 6:14 "not to be yoked togetherwith unbelievers" has been interpreted and applied differently by Christians. Some Christians try to hide from the realities of everyday life in a kind of escapism and religious isolation, while others compromise by trying to accommodate the societies' demands and current trends in all kinds of worldly religious practices. These extreme positions cause Christians to be without any influence in the world. The primary aim of the article is to show how believers in New Testament times handled the situation when they were yoked together with unbelievers. In order to propose Scriptural guidelines for contemporary believers, the focus will be on the example ofthe apostles while the teaching of Paul to the slaves and of Peter to the aliens in this world will also be discussed. Some other New Testament perspectives are touched upon, inter alia the kind of authority to be obeyed and teaching on the responsibilities and attitude of believers. After the discussion of each part, pointers will be suggested. In conclusion, guidelines towards a Christian lifestyle within a secular context will be proposed.

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OPSOMMING

Die vermaning in 2 Korintiërs 6:14 om "nie in dieselfde juk as die ongelowige te trek nie" word verskillend deur Christene geïnterpreteer en toegepas. Sommige Christene probeer om die realiteite van elke dag te ontduik in 'n lewe van ontvlugting en godsdienstige afsondering, terwyl ander weer probeer om die samelewing se eise en hedendaagse strominge in wêreldse godsdienstige praktyke te akkommodeer. Hierdie uiterste standpunte veroorsaak dat Christene sonder invloed in die wéreld is. Die primére doel van hierdie artikel is om aan te toon hoe gelowiges in die Nuwe-Testamentiese tyd die situasie hanteer het waar hulle met ongelowiges in een juk moes trek. Ten einde Skriftuurlike riglyne vir hedendaagse gelowiges te bied, sal daar op die voorbeeld van die apostels gefokus word, terwyl die onderrig van Paulus aan die slawe en Petrus aan die vreemdelinge in hierdie wéreld ook aandag sal kry. Enkele ander Nuwe-Testamentiese perspektiewe word aangeraak, onder andere die soort gesag wat gehoorsaam moet word en onderrig oor die verantwoordelikhede en houding van gelowiges. Na die bespreking van elke gedeelte, word merkers aangedui. Ten slotte word riglyne gebied wat vir 'n Christelike lewenstyl binne 'n sekulére konteks kan geld.

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