In 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, Paul underscored why Christians and non-Christians cannot be partners in God’s work. He pointed out that Christians and non-Christians are worlds apart by giving five areas of contrast:
There must be no fellowship with unholy practices. “…what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” A Christian has no business involving himself with unscriptural practices that are displeasing to the Lord, whether it be speeding, income tax evasion or some other unethical practice in the home, the church or the world.
There must be no fellowship with unholy pleasures. “…what communion has light with darkness?” (cf. John 3:19; Ephesians 5:11). If pleasure cannot be enjoyed in the light of God’s Word and with His approval, then it is unclean, and we must avoid it!
There must be no fellowship with unholy preachers. “…what accord has Christ with Belial?” Belial refers to Satan, but it also refers to Satan’s false preachers or prophets. The true proclaimer of God’s Word has no place compromising with those that preach and perform the works of Satan.
There must be no fellowship with unholy people. “…what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” While we live in the world and try to win the lost, we are not to be of the world, subscribing to its false philosophies and practices of infidelity. We live in the world without the world living in us!
There must be no fellowship with unholy places. “…what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” An idol is a substitute for God, and when anything takes the place that God should have in our lives, it is time to separate ourselves from it.
Anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult is wrong for me, and as a Christian I must turn away from such!
Christians are so far removed from non-Christians in spiritual matters that they have no common ground, no basis for a partnership in spiritual ministry. A Christian who is yoked together with an unbeliever in the work of God is like a fox and a chicken going into the egg business together—doomed!
