2 Corinthians 6:14

[Mahai]

Lakini Dr wajua kuna mifano mingi ya watu waliopendana (na mmoja ni non-believer). After sometime, akaja kuokoka...what do you have to say about that? mere coincidence? (Kilichonishinda kabisa ni watu wanatoa mifano ya wazazi wao kabisa)..so, as in swali kuu lililobaki kichwani kwangu ni je, tunatafsiri huu mstari sahihi ama tunaucomplicate sana? ndo maana nikauweka kama heading.
Vipi swali la pili??!
Nashukuru kwa mchango wako...

Ebbynature, yes its a mere concidence.

1. Ni sawa mapenzi yapo kati yao lakini utasemaje unampenda Mungu wakati unashikamana na mtu ambaye hamuamini yeye?
2. Utakuwa na uwezo wa kuwaeleza watu makuu ambayo Mungu anafanya wakati wewe unaona sawa kuolewa/kuoa mtu ambaye hakubaliani na unachosema?
3. Ni kweli unaweza kuoa/kuolewa na mtu ambaye haamini lakini utajuaje kama atakuja badilika baadaye na kufuata imani yako au ndio hivyo kwa kuangalia mifano ambayo imeshatokea?

Nadhani Mungu anaposema watu waoe katika Bwana ni kwa sababu anajua tunahitaji wenza ambao tuna nia moja. Ambao tutaweza kupeana moyo katika kumtafuta yeye kila siku na zaidi kurejeshana pale mmoja wetu atakapopitia majaribu ambayo yatamfanya amsahau Mungu. Mke/mume ni mtu mwenye influence kubwa sana maana ndio tuko naye karibu kuliko mtu mwingine yeyote. Ni rahisi sana kwa mtu kumsahau Mungu kama watu anaokuwa nao muda mwingi hawamwamini Mungu.

 

[Mentor]

Usichanganye mambo, hii mistari inazungumzia mambo ya husband na wife lakini ww unazungumzia mambo ya dating! Hapa ufafanuzi ni kwamba kama mlikuwa hamjaamini wakati mnaoana na ikitokea mmoja akaamini ndio Biblia imeshauri mkae pamoja ila kama mmoja anataka kuondoka aondoke! Lakini kumbuka: "Usifungiwe nira na wasioamini kwa jinsi isivyo sawa sawa!" Hapa Biblia haijauma maneno na inaeleweka vizuri sana! Usije ukaanza ku-justify tamaa eti kwa kudai "nikimtenga itakuwa vibaya!"

Asante kwa huu mchango and sitakim kusikia ninayotaka kusikia, I simply want different opinions!
Back to your contribution: Huoni kwamba utakuwa unaichukulia Biblia so literally?! haimaanishi kama mtu mko in a relatioship, you can go on in the hope that they will change?

 

[Sanda Matuta]

Ebbynature, yes its a mere concidence.

1. Ni sawa mapenzi yapo kati yao lakini utasemaje unampenda Mungu wakati unashikamana na mtu ambaye hamuamini yeye?
2. Utakuwa na uwezo wa kuwaeleza watu makuu ambayo Mungu anafanya wakati wewe unaona sawa kuolewa/kuoa mtu ambaye hakubaliani na unachosema?
3. Ni kweli unaweza kuoa/kuolewa na mtu ambaye haamini lakini utajuaje kama atakuja badilika baadaye na kufuata imani yako au ndio hivyo kwa kuangalia mifano ambayo imeshatokea?

Nadhani Mungu anaposema watu waoe katika Bwana ni kwa sababu anajua tunahitaji wenza ambao tuna nia moja. Ambao tutaweza kupeana moyo katika kumtafuta yeye kila siku na zaidi kurejeshana pale mmoja wetu atakapopitia majaribu ambayo yatamfanya amsahau Mungu. Mke/mume ni mtu mwenye influence kubwa sana maana ndio tuko naye karibu kuliko mtu mwingine yeyote. Ni rahisi sana kwa mtu kumsahau Mungu kama watu anaokuwa nao muda mwingi hawamwamini Mungu.

Mkuu naomba soma hi quote alafu jibu hilo swali hapo..

' "So all things,though appearing opposite in relation to their opposites,in relation to the wise man are all perfoming the same work and are not opposed.Show me the evil thing in this world wherein no good is contained and good thing wherein no evil is contained"


for instance,a man was inttent to a murder,then busied himself with fornication,so that he shed no blood.Inas much it was fornication,it was evil;but in as much at it prevented murder,it was good.'

 

[Mentor]

Mkuu naomba soma hi quote alafu jibu hilo swali hapo..

' "So all things,though appearing opposite in relation to their opposites,in relation to the wise man are all perfoming the same work and are not opposed.Show me the evil thing in this world wherein no good is contained and good thing wherein no evil is contained"


for instance,a man was inttent to a murder,then busied himself with fornication,so that he shed no blood.Inas much it was fornication,it was evil;but in as much at it prevented murder,it was good.'

Hapo sasa..I remember being chalenged with this question. Kwamba sote ni wenye dhambi. Iweje leo umtenge mtu ambaye unampenda for the reason kwamba ni sinner?? Au kwa sababu yeye anazini na wewe unatamani tu!???

 

[Dani]

Personally, sioni kama ni sahihi a believer kudate a non-believer! (Nadhani mmeona sitaki kujijustify!)
But shida ni je, is that really what the Bible tells us inaposema tusifungiwe nira?
Na je: Nina msichana tuliyependana sana, tuseme miaka 5 hivi. Na wakati tunakutana, sote hatukuwa waamini. Ila miezi mitatu kabla ya ndoa, mimi nikaokoka. Je, ni sawa kumwacha??!

Hi Brother, niko busy na shughuli mmoja hapa, lakini on the side nikawa naangalia thread hii ya kwako. Ni suala gumu sana kwa sababu hisia zinahusika. Siyo kawaida yangu, lakini naomba kwa leo tu ni copy-paste article moja from "The Watchtower, 1 July 2004" ambayo ilikuwa na section "Questions From Readers". Natumaini itakusaidia kimawazo. Be blessed!

At 2 Corinthians 6:14, to whom is Paul referring when he uses the term “unbelievers”?

At 2 Corinthians 6:14, we read: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers.” If we look at the context, it is evident that Paul is speaking of individuals who are clearly no part of the Christian congregation. This understanding is supported by other Bible verses that record Paul’s use of the term “unbeliever” or “unbelievers.”

For example, Paul reprimands Christians for going to court “before unbelievers.” (1 Corinthians 6:6) Here, the unbelievers are judges serving in the court system of Corinth. In his second letter, Paul states that Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.” The eyes of such unbelievers are ‘veiled’ from the good news. These unbelievers have made no move toward serving Jehovah [God], since Paul earlier explained: “When there is a turning to Jehovah, the veil is taken away.”—2 Corinthians 3:16; 4:4.

Some unbelievers are involved in lawlessness or idolatry. (2 Corinthians 6:15, 16) However, not all are opposed to Jehovah’s servants. Some show an interest in the truth. Many have Christian mates and are happy to stay with them. (1 Corinthians 7:12-14; 10:27; 14:22-25; 1 Peter 3:1, 2) However, Paul consistently applies the term “unbeliever” to individuals who, as mentioned above, are no part of the Christian congregation, which is made up of “believers in the Lord.”—Acts 2:41; 5:14; 8:12, 13.

The principle found at 2 Corinthians 6:14 is a valuable guide for Christians in all areas of life and has often been quoted as providing wise counsel for Christians seeking a marriage mate. (Matthew 19:4-6) A dedicated, baptized Christian wisely does not seek a marriage mate among those who are unbelievers, since the values, goals, and beliefs of unbelievers are so different from those of a true Christian.

What, though, of individuals who study the Bible and associate with the Christian congregation? What of those who are unbaptized publishers? Are they unbelievers? No. Individuals who have accepted the truth of the good news and are progressing steadily toward baptism should not be called unbelievers. (Romans 10:10; 2 Corinthians 4:13) Before his baptism Cornelius was called “a devout man and one fearing God.”—Acts 10:2.

Would it be wise, then, for a dedicated Christian to pursue courtship and marriage with someone who has been accepted as an unbaptized publisher, since, strictly speaking, Paul’s counsel recorded at 2 Corinthians 6:14 could not apply in that case? No, that is not wise. Why not? Because of the direct counsel Paul gave regarding Christian widows. Paul wrote: “She is free to be married to whom she wants, only in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:39) In harmony with that counsel, dedicated Christians are urged to seek marriage mates only among those who are “in the Lord.”

What is the meaning of the expression “in the Lord” and the related expression “in Christ”? Paul speaks of individuals who were “in Christ” or “in the Lord” at Romans 16:8-10 and Colossians 4:7. If you read those verses, you will see that such ones are ‘fellow workers,’ ‘approved ones,’ ‘beloved brothers,’ ‘faithful ministers,’ and ‘fellow slaves.’

When does one become a “slave in the Lord”? That happens when he willingly does what a slave has to do and disowns himself. Jesus explains: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake (some translations render this as "cross") and continually follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) A person begins to follow Christ and fully subject himself to the will of God when he dedicates himself to God. Thereafter, he offers himself for baptism and becomes an ordained minister with an approved standing before Jehovah God. So, then, to ‘marry in the Lord’ means to marry someone who has demonstrated that he is truly a believer, a dedicated “slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”—James 1:1.

A person who is studying the Bible seriously and who is making fine spiritual progress is to be commended. However, he has not yet dedicated himself to Jehovah and committed himself to a life of service and sacrifice. He is still making necessary changes. He needs to complete the major changes involved in becoming a dedicated, baptized Christian before contemplating another major life change, such as marriage.

Would it be advisable for a Christian to pursue courtship with someone who seems to be making good progress in his Bible study—perhaps with the intention of waiting until he gets baptized before marrying him? No. The motives of a Bible student could well become confused if he is aware that a dedicated Christian wants to marry him but will not do so until he is baptized.

For the most part, an individual is an unbaptized publisher only for a limited period of time, until he progresses to the point of baptism. So the above counsel to marry only in the Lord is not unreasonable. What, though, if someone is of marriageable age, has been brought up in a Christian family, has been active in the congregation for a number of years, and serves as an unbaptized publisher? Well, what has held him back from giving his life to Jehovah in dedication? Why does he hesitate? Does he have doubts? While he is not an unbeliever, he cannot be spoken of as being “in the Lord.”

Paul’s counsel on marriage is for our benefit. (Isaiah 48:17) When both prospective mates have dedicated themselves to Jehovah, their commitment to each other in marriage has a solid, spiritual foundation. They share the same values and the same goals. This greatly contributes to a happy union. Moreover, by ‘marrying in the Lord,’ one shows loyalty to Jehovah, and that leads to enduring blessings, for “with someone loyal [Jehovah] will act in loyalty.”—Psalm 18:25.

Dear brother, I hope this has helped you. When looking up this scripture, I came across something like 5 or 6 other articles. Can send them to you too, if you wish. I'll be looking out for this thread.

 

[Waberoya]

Good explanation Dani, Godi bless you

The meaning of what is written in the bible should be approved and directed by the Holy Spirit, he is our helper in time of need.

The problem is when non-believer thinks that he is believer and take action course to another non believer.

Paul's writing are real difficult without Holy Spirit we will end up contradicting our self

hakuna urafiki kati ya giza na nuru, the other place Paul anasema nilienda kwa wasioamini nikajifanya kama siamini! sehemu nyingine anasema watengeni, gumu zaidi mpende jirani yako (hata kama haamini), ukitasiri kichwa kichwa haya mambo si unaingia porini, ndiyo leo kila mtu ana kanisa lake! halafu woote eti wana Roho Matakatifu!!!

Holy Spirit Rocks!

 

[DrMosha]

would it be correct to equate unbelivers with Atheists? How many Atheists - open and proclaimed - have you met? What is the probability of a believer ( Jew, Christian, Moslem, Bahai, Hindu, ...)to meet and mate an Atheist? Did I hear Dogma and Tolerance?

 

[Koba]

mnapoteza muda tuu na hizi hadithi za wakoloni na hazitawasaidia chochote katika maisha yenu,hata wakoloni wenyewe wameacha kuamini hizo hadithi za kina Buricheka na paulo nyie bado mnashikilia tuu...eti beleiver and non believer? Bible ndio kitabu kikubwa cha KKK mabaguzi na yamejaa chuki kuliko mtu yeyote,nyie watu naona mnaishi enzi za fundi seremala.

 

[Masikini_Jeuri]

Koba ushindwe na ulegee! Kwa Jina la Yesu!

 

[Mentor]

Brother, this is so lovely! though i know its gonna hurt some hearts!!!

But anyway, ebu nijibu hili swali: So, suppose you have been in a relationship with someone for some good years and you were both unsaved. Then, sometime before your wedding, you got saved. Are you going to leave your fiancee because they are not saved!??

(I am asking this, so that i know how to answer the question. In all wisdom and not just say it is written!!! We are having our final discussion this wednesday and I want when i am giving my answers they know that yes, this guy has read!!!)

Natanguliza shukrani..

 

[Sanda Matuta]

would it be correct to equate unbelivers with Atheists? How many Atheists - open and proclaimed - have you met? What is the probability of a believer ( Jew, Christian, Moslem, Bahai, Hindu, ...)to meet and mate an Atheist? Did I hear Dogma and Tolerance?

Mkulu,
Kwa ruhusa yako napenda kuongezea bandiko lako kwa hii Quote ya Erkan Turkmen (whom i have grown found of);

"As a matter of fact,God is one reality and religions are different kinds of interpritations of the same Fact.Water is the same,but it is the taps that differ.it is,therefore,useless to fight over the qualities of the taps when you are thirsty.Just open the tap and drink the water!"

 

[Waberoya]

would it be correct to equate unbelivers with Atheists? How many Atheists - open and proclaimed - have you met? What is the probability of a believer ( Jew, Christian, Moslem, Bahai, Hindu, ...)to meet and mate an Atheist? Did I hear Dogma and Tolerance?

Before God, unbeliever and atheists are the same, even if you call yourself believer but not meeting God's standard you will be the same as those ones! God has no compromise we are. Also there is not any relations between christianity and those religions that you have listed.

Mkulu,
Kwa ruhusa yako napenda kuongezea bandiko lako kwa hii Quote ya Erkan Turkmen (whom i have grown found of);

"As a matter of fact,God is one reality and religions are different kinds of interpritations of the same Fact.Water is the same,but it is the taps that differ.it is,therefore,useless to fight over the qualities of the taps when you are thirsty.Just open the tap and drink the water!"

Some taps you can choose between hot water and cold water!

 

[Kaa la Moto]

Wadau naomba msome hiyo verse then mnipe mchango wenu!

Na kwa kuipa kichwa (motion of discussion) swali ni:

Is it right for a believer to date a non-believer?
Nawasilisha...
Inapatikana hapa:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%206:14&version=NIV

Quoted:"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

Ebby uliwahi kusoma na 1 Wakorintho 5: 9-13?
Biblia inasema "Msifungiwe nira pamoja na wasioamini kwa jinsi isivyo sawasawa"
Naomba unambie ni imani ipi ili jinsi ya sawasawa? Kwako believer and non believer wakoje? au niseme wana sifa zipi?
Hapa nitapata kianzio cha comments zaidi ukijibu maswali yangu.
Yawezekana nikawa upande wako au la! Jibu twende mbele.

 

[Dani]

Mkulu,
Kwa ruhusa yako napenda kuongezea bandiko lako kwa hii Quote ya Erkan Turkmen (whom i have grown found of);

"As a matter of fact,God is one reality and religions are different kinds of interpritations of the same Fact.Water is the same,but it is the taps that differ.it is,therefore,useless to fight over the qualities of the taps when you are thirsty.Just open the tap and drink the water!"

I disagree, people describe God very differently. The father-like, interactive God in the Bible is very different from the legalistic God in the Qur'an. How about questions like, "Why do we grow old and die?" "What is sin?" "Do evil-doers burn eternally?", "Why does God allow suffering?" "What does God expect of us?" "Is there life after death?" There are as many answers to these questions as there are religions, but only one reality. These are questions whose answers have immense implications on our lives. What water are you going to drink? The real? The placebo? There's even some straight-out poison out there!!

If you equate the keeping of order in society to the drinking of water - i.e. all religions preach love and peace, and are therefore equal in spiritual value, I again have to object. All religions are either false, or one is true and all others false. They cannot all be true, as some are on a direct collision course with each other and are mutually exclusive. From that follows that humans, to a large extent, invent gods and myths, among other reasons, to keep order in society. Possibly a noble motive, but I think humans should do better than that! Such practices are obsolete in a world in which information and philosophical thought - one of the pre-requisites of morality, are so accessible. We can keep order without lies - just by sticking to principals we know to be true.

I would almost sound like an atheist by saying the above, if it weren't for the fact that complexity, design, what I interpret to be fulfilled prophecy and personal experiences drive me to believe in a God. Now, if I accept the existence of a God, and the pen, which is said to be mightier than the sword, is a tool too powerful to be ignored by our Designer, I find it unlikely that such a potential source of information as literature - the written word, should not be used by Him to convey ideas, set things straight, teach, remind, change hearts and minds over the generations of humans inhabiting this our home.

I would, therefore, without being vain of conceited, consider myself unevenly yoked with someone who is not in search for answers, whose inquisitiveness is insufficient to allow him to reach even the most likely answer to some of the above. I will feel like a horse pulling hard, striving to improve my awareness, judgment, fight selfish traits, adapt a giving mentality, become more people-conscious, etc, while the donkey next to me barely realizes there is a load to be pulled. This is about more than just religion, which may be little more than something written in our passports; it's about spirituality.

 

[Mentor]

Ebby uliwahi kusoma na 1 Wakorintho 5: 9-13?
Biblia inasema "Msifungiwe nira pamoja na wasioamini kwa jinsi isivyo sawasawa"
Naomba unambie ni imani ipi ili jinsi ya sawasawa? Kwako believer and non believer wakoje? au niseme wana sifa zipi?
Hapa nitapata kianzio cha comments zaidi ukijibu maswali yangu.
Yawezekana nikawa upande wako au la! Jibu twende mbele.

1. Imani ninayoongelea ni ya Kikristo kwani nimequote from the Bible not other sources.
2. Believer kwangu ni mtu yule aliyempokea Yesu kuwa Bwana na Mwokozi wa maisha yake. Siku zote anatafuta kuwa na amani na watu wote na UTAKATFU ambao pasipo hatuwezi kumuona Mungu.
Nadhani nimekujibu...naomba mchango wako!

 

[Mentor]

I would, therefore, without being vain of conceited, consider myself unevenly yoked with someone who is not in search for answers, whose inquisitiveness is insufficient to allow him to reach even the most likely answer to some of the above. I will feel like a horse pulling hard, striving to improve my awareness, judgment, fight selfish traits, adapt a giving mentality, become more people-conscious, etc, while the donkey next to me barely realizes there is a load to be pulled. This is about more than just religion, which may be little more than something written in our passports; it's about spirituality.

Nadhani hapo ndo kuna conclusion yako. And correct me if I am wrong..mtazamo wako ni kuwa u r against a believer to date a non-believer! U have compared it with someone pulling a donkey. But brother, don't you think that is the same way our God loves us and still is in a relationship with us regardless of our donkey life?!! Wont you be judging when you say you cant walk with such a person while God Himself is being patient with you!??

 

[Waberoya]

Nadhani hapo ndo kuna conclusion yako. And correct me if I am wrong..mtazamo wako ni kuwa u r against a believer to date a non-believer! U have compared it with someone pulling a donkey. But brother, don't you think that is the same way our God loves us and still is in a relationship with us regardless of our donkey life?!! Wont you be judging when you say you cant walk with such a person while God Himself is being patient with you!??

Bible/church teachings encourage finding partners within believers. Believers will certainly have the same dogma, lifestyle, etc. I don't expect church goers to marry night club goers, where did they meet? Love is a process thing, if you date and fall in love with non-believers it is Ok, but it did not just happen accidentally, you may be non -believer too, without knowing that!

 

[Mentor]

Bible/church teachings encourage finding partners within believers. Believers will certainly have the same dogma, lifestyle, etc. I don’t expect church goers to marry night club goers, where did they meet? Love is a process thing, if you date and fall in love with non-believers it is Ok, but it did not just happen accidentally, you may be non -believer too, without knowing that!

We Mberoya, are you sure of what you are talking about??!
Unajua watu hawaishi kanisani, we live in the world with the people of the world. Let me give you a simple instance: college!
U meet, u study together, u share meals, u have activities together, etc...and the next thing you know is, u r in love! You start wondering am I unsaved? or what should I do!??

 

[Sanda Matuta]

We Mberoya, are you sure of what you are talking about??!
Unajua watu hawaishi kanisani, we live in the world with the people of the world. Let me give you a simple instance: college!
U meet, u study together, u share meals, u have activities together, etc...and the next thing you know is, u r in love! You start wondering am I unsaved? or what should I do!??

Nitakuambia kitu kimoja Brother,we unamtazamo wa pekee yako and tafadhali simamia hapo hapo.

 

[Sanda Matuta]

I disagree, people describe God very differently. The father-like, interactive God in the Bible is very different from the legalistic God in the Qur'an. How about questions like, "Why do we grow old and die?" "What is sin?" "Do evil-doers burn eternally?", "Why does God allow suffering?" "What does God expect of us?" "Is there life after death?" There are as many answers to these questions as there are religions, but only one reality. These are questions whose answers have immense implications on our lives. What water are you going to drink? The real? The placebo? There's even some straight-out poison out there!!

If you equate the keeping of order in society to the drinking of water - i.e. all religions preach love and peace, and are therefore equal in spiritual value, I again have to object. All religions are either false, or one is true and all others false. They cannot all be true, as some are on a direct collision course with each other and are mutually exclusive. From that follows that humans, to a large extent, invent gods and myths, among other reasons, to keep order in society. Possibly a noble motive, but I think humans should do better than that! Such practices are obsolete in a world in which information and philosophical thought - one of the pre-requisites of morality, are so accessible. We can keep order without lies - just by sticking to principals we know to be true.

I would almost sound like an atheist by saying the above, if it weren't for the fact that complexity, design, what I interpret to be fulfilled prophecy and personal experiences drive me to believe in a God. Now, if I accept the existence of a God, and the pen, which is said to be mightier than the sword, is a tool too powerful to be ignored by our Designer, I find it unlikely that such a potential source of information as literature - the written word, should not be used by Him to convey ideas, set things straight, teach, remind, change hearts and minds over the generations of humans inhabiting this our home.

I would, therefore, without being vain of conceited, consider myself unevenly yoked with someone who is not in search for answers, whose inquisitiveness is insufficient to allow him to reach even the most likely answer to some of the above. I will feel like a horse pulling hard, striving to improve my awareness, judgment, fight selfish traits, adapt a giving mentality, become more people-conscious, etc, while the donkey next to me barely realizes there is a load to be pulled. This is about more than just religion, which may be little more than something written in our passports; it's about spirituality.

1. The water there stand for DIVINE KNOWLEGDE,as every one deecscribes the unseen differently,a philosopher,too gives various kinds of explanations.A scholistic theologian tries to refuse the philosopher's sattements.Not all of them are right,be sure,nor are they all astray.He who says "All is true" is Foolish and he who says "All are false" is damned

2.
I,once had said in one of my post quoting from'The Essence of Rumi's Masnevi"(though it was deleted by mods),
"The worm that is born miserably in apiece of words can not know the form of the wood when it was a (green) twig and if it does know the state of the twig,then that is INTELLECT but in the form of the worm."