I personally felt very unequally yoked with my believer husband.  He abused me for many years and although things got better, we are now divorced.  I'm still working on getting over my past.

I have been dating an unbeliever, although he seems more christ like than my ex.  I'm not sure how it will end up, but I'm back and forth, wondering if I really care??  I was hurt so badly before that I took on an uncaring attitude about who I started seeing as long as they treated me well.  Not real sure about the whole thing, that's just my story.

I strongly feel that spiritual maturity needs to be comparable.  I recently came out of a relationship with a believer whom I constantly bickered with over spiritual matters.. including matters like pre-marital sex and drinking.  The relationship drained me.

[quote author=myquil  link=1108881823/0#18 date=1178158584]I strongly feel that spiritual maturity needs to be comparable.  I recently came out of a relationship with a believer whom I constantly bickered with over spiritual matters.. including matters like pre-marital sex and drinking.  The relationship drained me.   [/quote]

...you're pointing out something very significant about distraction.  The Christian consecration of the marital bond is 'a union of three'.  The couple enters into an intimate bond, 'communion' which results in children most of the time.  It is merge of two who invite the Holy Spirit into their midst that become a 'strong house' in the Lord.  'A house divided against itself can not stand'.
Turbulence and turmoil in what was intended to be the closest, tightest fortification on Earth...the home...undermines it's platform and purpose of refuge, provision and government which represent Christ, our King to the world.
Unification and sanctification of purpose is the top priority...and I have noticed as brothers and sisters in Christ we do not uphold and exhort youth enough in this critical area...

Forums Admin wrote on 02/19/05 at 23:43:43:

Have any of you read this verse in context? 2 Corinthians 6:14 is not talking specifically about marriage, which is something that most people forget or aren't even aware of. It talks about partnership in general, which could be marriage or friendship or business, & v. 15 asks if Jesus & Satan are friends, "Can people who follow the Lord have anything in common with those who don't?" (Contemporary English version)

I'm a firm believer in reading Scripture in context. Just something to keep in mind.

So, yes, this does talk about marriage - isn't that a kind of partnership? - & so it's talking about believers not being joined with unbelievers. By being joined together, it's talking about being close with someone, like in a business arrangement or marriage (I learnt this through a course I took on the 1 & 2 Corinthians & studying the cultural context of the books as well as learning what the Greek meant). It's not talking about avoiding unbelievers altogether - this really can't be helped, eh, & it's not a good way to reach the lost, either.

I do think, too, though, that some good points have been raised about making sure that you're with a like minded believer. Yes, it's very important that both people in the relationship are believers & are strong in their faith. However, problems can arise if they see things very differently. I know a couple who go to different churches because both people refuse to give up "their" church, & it's causing some huge problems in their marriage. I know that this is a bit extreme, but there's still the underlying tension of it, & that can cause problems.

However, if both people are believers, then the differences can be overcome & they can come to compromise on the non-essentials. As long as the core beliefs are there in both people, then unity is possible & will happen. Of course it takes a lot of hard work, but it's worth it because God created marriage, & it's His will that marriages not be broken up.