“I an a menber of a discount organization for seniors. Is this being unequally yoked?”

May 2025 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: I am a member of a discount organization for seniors. Is this being unequally yoked?

ANSWER: A yoke is a device that is used to join two animals together in such a way that they are unable to separate from each other or go in different ways. They are obligated to go on together. A yoke in itself is not bad. We are encouraged by the Lord to “take My yoke upon you” (Mt. 11:29 KJV ). Furthermore, Paul spoke of a brother as a “yokefellow” (Phil. 4:3), and a Christian marriage is a yoke in which two are to go on together in honoring the Lord (Mk. 10:6-9).

The instruction given to us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 is that we are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” The reason is that there is no fellowship, no true sharing between light and darkness, a believer and an unbeliever. My understanding is that we are not to be tied together with that which is contrary to the word and mind of God. If the tie is restrictive and we are obligated to go on with or support anything we know to be wrong, without having the freedom to not support it, this would be an unequal yoke.

Considering your inquiry, if there is no restriction, tie or obligation imposed on you to do something you know to be contrary to Scripture, this would not be an unequal yoke, for you have liberty from what is wrong. If a place of business had a practice which you felt was wrong and you had total freedom to no longer use this service or support this business, there is no yoke.

If however you join a club, an organization or a service and pay dues, and part of these dues are used to support ungodly purposes, therein lies the problem. Because you understand them to be contrary to the Word of God, you do not approve of these causes, activities or lifestyle; but through your dues you are supporting them and you cannot opt out of support for them; this then is an unequal yoke. You do not want to be part of an ungodly activity.

—Answered by Albert Blok