Yes — being unequally yoked is problematic because it joins two opposite kinds of people who cannot work together in harmony.
Scripture commands believers not to be yoked with unbelievers because righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness, and light has no communion with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14). Les Feldick says it simply means "don't mix things that won't work together," and he has observed that unequal-yoke marriages often begin having problems before the ceremony. Instead, believers are to be separated from the world in a way that lets the world know where they stand.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 — The command not to be unequally yoked and the questions about light/darkness and Christ/Belial are the scriptural foundation for why the unequal yoke is problematic.
The Bible's clearest statement on unequal yoking is 2 Corinthians 6:14. In that verse the apostle Paul writes, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" The very next verse continues the thought: "And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" Scripture is showing that a believer and an unbeliever are opposites — righteousness versus unrighteousness, light versus darkness, Christ versus Belial — and those opposites do not mix. Paul also gives guidance for a marriage where one spouse becomes a believer after the union. In 1 Corinthians 7:14, he says the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; their children are holy. Verse 15 then states, "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace." This shows that even in an already-existing mixed marriage, Scripture emphasizes peace rather than conflict.
Les Feldick begins with a simple application: "Don't mix things that won't work together." He points out that most people automatically think of marriage when they hear "unequally yoked," but the principle also applies to any situation where people work together for a common cause. Putting a believer with an unbeliever in such a setting is just as unequal as an ox yoked with a donkey or a garment made of linen and wool (Clip 0). In his phone ministry, Les has heard many marital problems, and "invariably" the root was an unequal yoke. He says the problems began before the couple ever got married, telling the story of a young woman who was being abused and acknowledged she had seen that potential while dating. His question to her was, "Then why did you go ahead?" He also connects neglect of this doctrine to the broader church, saying, "We don't hear much about separation. In fact, I maintain this is exactly why Christianity has lost its power" (Clips 0, 1). Les is careful, though, to define separation correctly: believers are not to be oddballs or deliberately seek persecution, but "the world should know where we stand" (Clip 2). When he teaches 1 Corinthians 7, he emphasizes that a husband and wife are equal in marital authority, that sex should never be used as a lever, and that a marriage with the Lord in control can be a happy one (Clips 3, 5, 7). He also shows the difficulty of mixed-faith situations by using a missionary example involving converted husbands and multiple wives (Clip 4), and he applies 1 Corinthians 7:15 by noting that if an unbelieving spouse leaves, the believer is not under bondage and God calls us to peace (Clip 6).
No. Les Feldick stresses that although most people think of marriage, unequal yoking "can enter into anything where people have to work together for a common cause." He says that a believer and an unbeliever working together are just as unequally yoked as an ox with a donkey, or as making a garment with linen and wool (Clip 0). The principle is about not mixing opposites in a shared effort.
Les says the problems "began before they ever, ever got married." He tells of a young woman who was crying about a husband who had become a wife beater. When he asked whether she knew that potential existed while they were dating, she admitted, "Maybe a little bit." His response was, "Then why did you go ahead?" (Clip 0). Biblically, the reason such unions fail is that a believer and an unbeliever are opposites — righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness and light has no communion with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Scripture says the believing wife sanctifies the unbelieving husband and the believing husband sanctifies the unbelieving wife, making the children holy (1 Corinthians 7:14). But if the unbelieving partner wants to depart, Paul says, "A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace" (1 Corinthians 7:15). Les uses a missionary example to show how complicated such mixed-faith households can be in cultures where a man may have multiple wives, noting that dismissing the extra wives could push them into prostitution (Clip 4).
Les says the husband and wife relationship, if it is as God intended, "should be a happy situation 365 days of the year." In 1 Corinthians 7 he sees a 50-50 relationship where each spouse has authority over the other's body, and he warns that sex should never be used as a lever against a spouse (Clips 3, 5). He says he and his wife have been together 43 years without raising their voices because "the Lord is in control of our home" (Clip 7).
Mixing Opposites and Marriage Warnings
Les explains that unequal yoking means mixing things that won't work together, shows the principle also applies beyond marriage, and shares a story proving unequal-yoke problems often start before the wedding.
Christianity's Lost Power
Les reads 2 Corinthians 6:14 and says that because separation is no longer preached, Christianity has lost its power.
Separation Without Oddball Behavior
Les teaches that God separates believers from the world and that the world should know where we stand, without deliberately asking for persecution.
50-50 Marriage Relationship
In 1 Corinthians 7, Les highlights that husband and wife each have authority over the other's body, making marriage a 50-50 relationship.
Mixed-Faith Family Complications
Les uses a missionary example to show how complicated it is when one spouse in a mixed-faith family is converted, especially where polygamy is involved.
Never Use Sex as a Lever
Les explains Paul's warning that spouses should not withhold sex as a bargaining tool; both partners' needs matter.
Desertion by an Unbeliever
Les walks through 1 Corinthians 7:14-15, explaining that a believing spouse is not under bondage if the unbelieving partner departs, because God calls us to peace.
A Home Controlled by the Lord
Les says a marriage as God intended should be happy; he and his wife have been together 43 years because the Lord is in control of their home.
2 Corinthians 6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
This is the foundational command against unequal yoking and explains why opposites cannot mix.
2 Corinthians 6:15: And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
The question format drives home that Christ and Belial have nothing in common, so a believer and an infidel have no true partnership.
1 Corinthians 7:14: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Paul addresses an existing mixed marriage, showing the believer's faith has a sanctifying effect on the family.
1 Corinthians 7:15: But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
This shows that if an unbeliever leaves the marriage, the believer is not bound and should follow peace.
1 Corinthians 7:4: The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
Les uses this verse to describe the mutual, 50-50 nature of Christian marriage.
It means pairing things that don't work together. Scripture uses 2 Corinthians 6:14 to tell believers not to be yoked with unbelievers, and Les Feldick describes it simply as "don't mix things that won't work together" — like an ox with a donkey.
No. Les Feldick says it applies to any situation where people must work together for a common cause, including business and ministry partnerships. Marriage is only one — though very common — application.
Paul tells believing spouses not to initiate departure; the unbelieving spouse is sanctified by the believing spouse and the children are holy (1 Corinthians 7:14). If the unbelieving spouse departs, the believer is not under bondage, since God has called us to peace (1 Corinthians 7:15).
Les Feldick says believers are not to be oddballs or constantly ask for persecution by their actions, but the world should know where they stand. Separation is about being clearly on God's side, not picking fights.
Watch the Teaching: What Does 'Unequally Yoked' Really Mean? 2 Corinthians 6 Explained