牧者心聲
同負一軛
周曉暉牧師
2024 年 11 月 23 日 / 24 日
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車子一邊用巴士輪胎，一邊用私家車輪胎，開動的時候，車必會偏向一邊，無法往前直駛。「同負一軛」取自犁田的圖畫，農夫以一條木，架在兩隻動物的頸項上，用以拖動犁耙。如果把不同類的牲畜並排，就會出現一快一慢、一高一低、一力大一力小的狀況，以致無法好好犁地。申命記二十二10就規定：不可並用牛和驢來耕地。當未婚信徒要步進婚姻時，最重要的是要與「在主內」的人，在一致的信仰、人生觀與價值觀下聯合（弗五31-32）。
哥林多教會有些人以為，靈魂已得救，肉身怎樣作為都不緊要，最重要是我現在得到我想要的，於是就隨心所欲地生活，追隨社會的洪流，並沉溺其中。但信徒群體作為永生神的殿，就需有相應、更新、聖潔的身分，個人的身心靈都要分別出來，為主所用。
當保羅寫道：「你們不要和不信的人同負一軛」（林後六14，新漢語譯本）， 這句話有「不要捲入」的意思。當中並非說信徒要與世隔絕，不與不信者作任何交流。「不要捲入」乃表示現在談論的，並非稀鬆平常的事。保羅在下文接著以「合夥」的說法，強調信與不信的不相配和分野。
「和不信的人同負一軛」還意味著「錯誤配對」（mismatched）。按照保羅在哥林多後書六11至七1的講論，這段經文就算不是單單講婚姻，也將婚姻納入應用範圍之內了。因為在一眾「合夥」相配的關係（例如做生意）中，婚姻是彼此結連最深、對生命影響最大的一種。而且，「負軛」在當時的希臘文化中，也是指人的婚姻。選擇與不信者相配對，二人緊密結連，卻各自朝著不一致的生命方向，實在極難前行。
聖經並沒有要信徒與不信主的配偶離異。至於那些婚後才信主、但另一半仍未信的弟兄或姊妹，大都盡上了一切努力帶另一半歸主，因為他們都期盼另一半能與自己在終極重要、永遠生命的事上走同一方向。求神加力給你們！
對於信了主、卻仍選擇如此步入婚姻的人，牧者和領袖固然會說明聖經原則，指出並運用教會紀律之道。但同樣重要的，是我們當以屬靈父親的心懷（林後六13），去幫助、陪伴這些感困惑、失落、受傷的屬靈孩子。同時，群體中的各人不要作指指點點的旁觀者，卻要以關顧、代禱和陪行，展現這群體分別為聖、同為永生神殿的美。
Consider a vehicle that uses bus tires on one side and private car tires on the other. When it is started, it will swirl to one side and will not be able to move forward in a straight line. "Yoked together" comes from a scene in plowing, in which a farmer fits a wooden pole to the necks of two animals in order to pull the plough. If two different kinds of animals are used, one of them is likely to be faster and the other slower, one may be taller and the other shorter, or one may be stronger and the other weaker. That way, the farmland cannot be plowed properly. Deuteronomy 22:10 stipulates: "Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together." When believers enter into marriage, the most important thing is to unite with one "in Christ" who shares the same faith, outlook on life and values (Ephesians 5:31-32).
Some in the church at Corinth thought that as long as the soul is saved, it did not matter what they did with the body. All that mattered to them was to get what they wanted. As such, they lived in ways their hearts desired. They followed the flow of society and indulged in it. However, the community of believers as the temple of the living God needs a corresponding, renewed, holy identity. The body, heart and soul of each individual should be consecrated for the LORD's use.
Where Paul said, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14), there was the meaning of "do not associate." The teaching does not mean that believers should isolate themselves from the world or refrain from any exchanges with unbelievers. "Do not associate" indicates that what is discussed is not something to be taken lightly. In the text that follows, Paul talks about "fellowship," which highlights the mismatch and differences between believers and unbelievers.
"Yoked together with an unbeliever" also means "mismatched." According to what Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1, even if this portion of Scripture is not only about marriage, but it also certainly applies to marriage. Among a host of "fellowships" and partnership relationships (such as businesses), the mutual connection in marriage is the deepest, and its impact the most immense. In the Greek culture at that time, "yoking together" also referred to marriage. It will present great difficulties to move forward if a believer chooses to match up with an unbeliever and enter a binding relationship while each pursues a different course of life.
The Bible does not require married couples of a believer and an unbeliever to separate. For brothers and sisters who come to faith after getting married and whose spouses are not yet believers, I know they have made every effort to bring their spouses to Christ. I know they all want their other halves to follow the same direction in matters of ultimate importance, which is the everlasting life. May God give you strength!
For those who are in Christ and still choose to enter marriage as mentioned above, pastors and leaders will certainly advise them about biblical teachings. They will also point out and take church disciplinary actions. But equally important is that we need the heart of a spiritual father (2 Corinthians 6:13). We need to help and walk with these confused, lost and hurt spiritual children. At the same time, other brothers and sisters should not be onlookers who would only comment. They should care for, pray for and walk with these brothers and sisters to show that we all are consecrated as the temple of the living God.
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