As a jail chaplain I was often confronted by inmates asking, “Hey, Rev, How many God’s are there?” To answer I’d often hold up one finger pointing toward heaven.
“If there is only one God why are there so many different religions?”
My answer always got the questioners un-divided attention. “I don’t talk about religion.”
This was met first by silence followed quickly with the a dual question, “Aren’t you the Chaplain? If you don’t talk about religion what do you talk about.”
“I’m glad you asked, but before I answer let me tell you why, as a minister, I don’t talk about religion.”
Religion, I would explain, is man reaching up to God, which he does in many different ways – some ways please God but most ways don’t.
“I talk about Grace which is God reaching down to man which He does the say way all the time to everyone.”
Second Corinthians 6:14 spells out a broader application: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?”
This verse actually has a double admonition when applying unequally yoked in the Greek language because both words have the same definition: to associate discordantly.
Discordant relationships, especially marriages do not – cannot work.
Next time: Family Background – A Prerequisite for Marriage and Friendships
