Are soul ties biblical?
When we come to Christ our spirits are renewed instantly but our soul takes a lifetime to get sanctified.
That’s why a new and even not-so-new Christian can be saved but still feel bound up.
This term of being “bound up” has been given a name. It’s called a soul tie.
A soul tie is used to describe the way in which two souls are ‘knit together’ spiritually.
This can happen in cases of pre-marital sex, unforgiveness, lust, and a variety of other emotional attachments.
It’s often referred to as forming a bond through sexual relationships outside of marriage and it is believed to have destructive consequences on the person’s emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
It makes sense. We sure can feel bound up and tied to another person. But are soul ties biblical?
After extensive study, I’ve come to realize that they are not. And I personally want to thank the young lady who had the courage to gently challenge me on my soul tie teaching series.
And I usually get my share of nit-picking Christians but this one caused me to say “What if she’s right?”
A little extra study never turned me off, so I dove in, and low and behold, soul ties are not found in the Bible.
Nor is the concept that I’ve lost a piece of myself or that I am somehow cosmically tied to another person.
So I’m here to dispel the myth that soul ties are your problem, but first I want to repent and say that I never should have been so quick to put out teachings on something that I didn’t thoroughly examine. That’s not typically like me, so I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.
Don’t get me wrong, There’s no mistake that we often suffer from ‘soul’ issues. Our soul consists of our mind, our will, and our emotions. What we think, what we feel, and how we behave can lead us to life or destruction.
But the concept of being “tied” to someone simply isn’t biblical. We all are free to make our own choices – sinful or spirit-led and there are consequences to those decisions.
Gal 6:7 reminds us that we reap what we sow.
When it comes to the foundation of soul ties, Many will refer to 1 Samuel 18:1
“The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” This scripture is referring to a close friendship. It was simply a way of expressing Jonathan’s total commitment to, and deep friendship with, David.
When referring to soul ties, many will reference 1 Corinthians 6:16
“Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.”
This is a clear warning against sex outside of marriage, yes, but notice that it refers to the flesh which is part of the body, not the soul. There is no reference to a person’s soul now being joined together with another.
If you have attached yourself to another in an unhealthy way, if you have engaged in sex outside of marriage, then yes, this can create brokenness within you that needs healing but it does NOT mean that now your soul is fragmented or that you lost part of your soul to another.
This is a new age concept that teaches you are now bound to each soul of anyone you’ve had sexual intimacy with by cords and the only way to break this bond or tie is through incantations.
And isn’t that what the church is doing. In essence, it’s preaching that you need to say these words to break the tie of past sexual partners. This isn’t spiritual, it’s witchcraft.
Many well-meaning Bible teachers are preaching popular messages on this topic. I’m not saying that you stop listening to them, but I am saying stop listening to them on THIS topic
Could you be caught up in your heart, yes.
Could you be messed up in your mind, absolutely.
Could you be distorted in your expectations, sure.
But this does not mean that you have some mystical, cosmic connection with someone.
Stop trying to give a spiritual justification for soulish decisions.
Ok, Kris, I’m tracking with you. But if it’s not a soul tie, how did I end up all bound up.
We’re going to get into that specifically next week when we talk about the reasons you THINK you’re in a soul tie.
But for today, what I would like for you to understand is this.
You must be careful who you let in. into your body, into your mind, into your heart.
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Yes, you open demonic doors when you love someone or something else with anyone more than Jesus.
Yes, you allow your heart to be broken when you keep putting your hope in toxic people.
Yes, you give satan access when you open the door through bitterness.
No one in your life should take priority over your relationship with Jesus. NO ONE.
Many of the soul issues we suffer in life are as a result of us giving greater allegiance to someone else over Jesus.
Jesus died a brutal death on the cross to take on ALL of your sins so that anyone who calls on his name will be forgiven.
Nowhere does Jesus say, Ok, I’ll forgive you but since you’re in a soul tie, say these words so I can do what I can to help you” as if Jesus is somehow limited.
No, he says, “Behold I make all things new.”
So my friend, if you are struggling with issues of the soul, there are 3 simple steps you can take.
- Guard your heart– stop letting toxic, selfish people into your heart.
- Repent of your wrongdoing– just because soul ties aren’t real doesn’t mean we don’t have a soul that needs to be sanctified.
- Turn to Jesus for healing. -What you’re suffering from is brokenness in your soul that Jesus died on the cross for you to be healed of.
The enemy will gladly take credit for something you did. Because if you think It’s his fault, you will not turn to Jesus to change.
Want to be free from soul issues and demonic strongholds? Make Jesus your number one priority.
