Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
The Children of God are specifically warned to not be “entangled” with three things: “the yoke of bondage”, “the affairs of this life” (II Timothy 2:4), and “the pollutions of the world” (II Peter 2:20). To be “entangled” is to be so severely trapped that we cannot effectively worship and serve our Lord. Those who become “entangled” often become bitter and cold and will eventually drive folks away from them. We are not to be isolationist, but we must avoid ruinous entanglement. The first entanglement that we must avoid is “the yoke of bondage”; that is, the “bondage” of a theological system that requires its followers to submit to rigorous ceremonial acts and oaths and commitments in order to obtain or secure their Eternal Salvation. The second entanglement that we must avoid (especially Preachers/Pastors) is “the affairs of this life” (II Timothy 2:4); that is, politics, social whelms, endless debates, occupations that hinder our worshipful service to the Lord, and the myriad of causes that come and go with each generation. Preachers are specifically charged to exclusively “Preach the word” (II Timothy 4:2), failure to do so is poison to their ministry! The third entanglement that we must avoid is “the pollutions of the world” (II Peter 2:20); that is, such sins of this world as immorality, dishonesty, deception, selfishness, and hardheartedness. Today’s world is like a huge vacuum system that the devil is using to draw the Children of God away from true and faithful worship into various systems of bondage that robs them of true joy, peace, and happiness in the world. Real joy comes with “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).