The term “unholy alliance” may sound new, but it’s been around for a long time. From the 15th century onwards, there was talk of an unlikely agreement to build up military power between Western Europe and the Ottoman Empire. In the United States, Theodore Roosevelt called this a partnership between corporations and politicians in corruption. In recent years, interfaith leaders have been able to come together to bridge religious divides and increase tolerance.
Perhaps this much talked about unholy alliance should serve as a divine warning that things are still rolling and the world is headed for spiritual collapse. Take a look at the lineup of events happening on April 22, 2026 at Baylor University, a Baptist university located in Waco, Texas. In line with the university’s commitment to intellectual diversity, Turning Point USA and All Our Neighbors will hold simultaneous gatherings on campus. While TPUSA was a previously approved tour, the latter is a progressive faculty and student response to TPUSA.
What kind of people are followers of Jesus called to be?
being set apart for God
God gave the first commandment to the Israelites while they were in the wilderness, being prepared by God to occupy their gift to the Promised Land. “You shall have no other god besides me” (Exodus 20:3). Knowing that interaction with other nations was likely to occur, God gave more specific instructions regarding this, saying, “My angel will go before you, calling you the Amorites, the Hittites, and the Perizzites.” , and I will bring them into the land of the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I will wipe them out; you shall not bow down before their gods, nor worship them, nor follow their customs.” (23:23-24)
But how easy it would be for Israel to forget to bow to other gods when they asked Aaron to make them idols while Moses left the camp to be with God. A golden calf was cast in gold, an altar was erected in front of it, and the so-called festival “to the Lord” was proclaimed. Offerings to idols were made, and a joyful event that God called the Fall occurred (32:1-8).
After this situation, God again prompted Moses to tell the people: “Keep what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Be careful not to make any agreements with the people who live in the land into which you are going, or they will become a snare among you” (34:11-12).
The bringing of the Israelites out of Egypt and their subsequent 40-year stay in the wilderness was part of God’s cleansing process. God commanded this. “You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy, and I set you apart from the nations and made you mine” (Leviticus 20:26). Therefore, when God expelled or wiped out certain groups of people from the Promised Land, it meant that in order for Israel to be free from the influence of pagan customs and remain pure and undefiled according to God’s statutes and laws, it was better not to live with anyone.
Peter said the exact same thing about Jesus’ followers. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special possession of God, that you may proclaim praise to him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). Paul then wrote a letter to the Corinthian believers, emphasizing their new identity as “those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people.” He also acknowledged the depth of his fellowship with other believers, letting them know that he was “with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ wherever they are” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
To bear the yoke equally.
King Solomon asked God for wisdom and was given it, but in the end he was not wise. He “besides Pharaoh’s daughters, he loved many foreign women, including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites, who were from the nations of which the Lord said to the Israelites, ‘Do not marry them, for they will surely turn your hearts to your God'” (1 Kings 11:1-2). There came a time when God was no longer his first priority, but his 700 wives and 300 concubines became his top priority because “(God) held them fast in love” (vv. 2-3).
Solomon built the First Temple in Jerusalem according to God’s command. This was a great privilege for Solomon because the Ark of the Covenant found a permanent place and the people had a great place of worship. However, Solomon’s unholy alliance with a foreign woman leads him to build high places for the Moabite goddess Chemosh and the Ammonite god Molech, all of which are an abomination to God. Solomon also offered sacrifices and burned incense to these false gods. The Bible records that Solomon “did evil in the sight of the Lord and disobeyed Him completely” (verse 6).
Paul warned believers not to “be yoke with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14). In a modern context, we might call this “missionary dating.” Believers believe they can win someone to Christ through relationships. As it stands, potential challenges already exist when two independent individuals come together in marriage and have to understand each other’s differences, mesh together, and patiently learn how to live in harmony with each other. There is nothing more stressful than when a discrepancy in their beliefs and values highlights a discrepancy in their spiritual lives. It will be very difficult for them to unite on moral and ethical choices. Parenting decisions and even putting up a united front will become more difficult.
To be a light that illuminates a dark world.
When a person does not walk in obedience to God, he will live in darkness. However, “he that calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13), and will be “a light in the Lord,” and from now on he must “live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth)” (Ephesians 5:8-9).
Jesus is the light of the world, bringing hope to our despair and salvation from eternal death. Jesus said that those who profess faith in Him are “the light of the world.” Because He Himself is Light (John 8:12). This light cannot and should not be hidden, but it must shine on this suffering and suffering world that continues to glorify evil. Jesus calls each believer to let the bright light of Jesus that lives within us shine through the good works that are the product of faith in Jesus. Our mission as God’s messengers of salvation is to bring people back to Christ and bring glory to the Father.
There is always the danger of an unholy alliance, a friendship between believers and the world. As we tolerate the changing cultural landscape, we often talk about showing compassion and love to the lost when we have been tricked into gradually undermining our faith. Instead of confronting sin in our lives or approaching our fellow believers in sin, we blithely hide under the umbrella of God’s grace without accountability or repentance. Even unbelievers receive the gospel of salvation primarily through the terrifying Heaven or Hell approach, rather than through a solid spiritual foundation with Christ and the daily process of building a life.
The world hates Jesus Christ. He himself said so. And he warned about friendship with the world. “No one can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). Look at what happened to King Solomon when he traded his love for a foreign woman for obedience to God, and his heart drifted away from the truth he already knew.
Paul still reminds believers that deception continues because of our rebellion. Instead of relying on Jesus at a crossroads, enjoying the dismantling of faith leads to abandoning Jesus and his teachings. False teachers feast on their listeners because no one digs deeper into the Word to recognize false teachings. When we believe the lies of this world, it becomes easy to fall away from our faith and return to evil.
Many are navigating the slippery slope of unholy alliances, considering how they can help bridge the great divide. It’s not about making agreements, building partnerships, or working together. That’s what Daniel said: “… shine like the brightness of heaven… and… lead many to righteousness” (12:3). So wake up to the unchecked influence of the world before our faith and freedom in Christ completely disappears.
What does love have to do with disagreements in core beliefs and values? A lot!
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Alexandra_pp
Louisa Collopy is an author, speaker, and women’s Bible study teacher. She also produced “Mula sa Puso (From the Heart)” in Tagalog (the language of her heart), which was released on the FEBC Philippine station. Luisa loves spending time with her family, eating and doing karaoke.
