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Bible Studies/Be ye not unequally yoked

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Expert: - 10/20/2004


Question
Clifford,

Does the command to not be unequally yoked found in 2 Corinthians 6:14 apply to a business partnership where one is Christian and the other is not?   

Thanks

Answer
Dear Mark,

Thank you for your question.

I happen to be out of state right now, and thought I had notified AllExperts.com that I was not available to answer questions. However, I have a few minutes online right now, and will give you a brief answer.

The principle behind the injunction applies in all relationships which bind people together. Thus, I would say it definitely applies to business partnerships.

There is another principle in Scripture which applies to business partnerships, as well:
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Over the course of years I have seen this one proven true. Equal partnerships are to be avoided. Neither the employees nor the whole of the business can serve two masters. Equal partnerships always come to conflict in some way or another. How can the problem be avoided? Add an unbiased third person, to whom you give a 1%, unpaid, but voting interest in the company. Each of the other two partners each may have 49.5% interest. That way, if a conflict or disagreement occurs, there is always a tie breaking vote. Naturally, the 1% vote would only be valid in case of a disagreement or conflict.

The heart of both principles seems to be the need to share the most intimate goals with the partner, and to also share the loads of responsibility equally.

I hope this very quick response helps you. Feel free to communicate with me further through the email address listed in my profile page. I will be gone for another few weeks.

Yours for Truth,

CR

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Clifford H. Readout, Jr.

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Expertise: Preferred subject areas: Biblical doctrine, problem texts, and application of Bible teachings in daily life. Willing to consider questions concerning other aspects of Christianity, as well. Experience and qualifications: Converted to Christianity in 1970 while a student at Indiana University; active in Christian ministry since 1971; President, 1971 - 1973, then Chaplain, 1973 - 1975 of a campus ministry at Indiana University; Director of Campus Ministry for North Central Region of the U.S.A. and Canada, 1975 - 1976; director, dean, and teacher for a Bible College in Kaiserslautern, Germany, 1977; Pastor of the same church since 1978; founder and director of The Foundations Forum (Christian think tank), 1991 to present; District Foreign Missionary Director, 1981-2000; District Superintendent, 2000-2009; Founding Coordinator of Friendship International, a ministry to college and university students around the world, 1997 - 2001; Special Advisor to Friendship International, 2001 to present; Secretary and member of the Board of Trustees for a Graduate School of Theology, 1999 to present; Chairman of the Board of Directors and faculty member at the Apostolic Leadership Institute, 2000 to present; internationally known and requested Bible teacher, ministering by missionary and other official invitations in more than forty nations, and at least thirty-three of the United States; and other minor functions. Husband to the same wonderful lady since 1970, father of three college graduates, and one delightful Down Syndrome son born in 1994.

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