“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”- Ezekiel 18:4.
Soul ties are formed any time and every time there is intimacy in a relationship. Soul ties are a form of spiritual bondage that both Believers and Nonbelievers fall prey to.
The concept of a “soul tie” from certain religious and spiritual perspectives suggests a powerful, lasting spiritual bond created through sexual intimacy, which is seen as a covenant. In this view, engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners (a “high body count”) is believed to weaken these soul ties with each encounter, leaving fragments of each partner’s “soul” with the individual. This can result in a feeling of spiritual or emotional damage, as the person’s spiritual “resource” is distributed among many partners. The conversations surrounding soul ties have been ongoing. Each person has a different understanding of what soul tie is. Soul tie is the trading of souls in a sexual encounter. An unhealthy soul tie can open the door to demonic possessions which is oftentimes the situation. The oldest profession in the world prostitution provides a platform for souls to trade. There are many variations regarding soul ties as well as the impact this can have on our relationships. Whether we are believers in Christ or not information is critical for us to make good choices. Undoubtedly, there is an association between soul ties and being unequally yoked. The primary scripture for the concept of “unequally yoked” is 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, which advises believers, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” and explains this by contrasting righteousness with unrighteousness, light with darkness, and Christ with Belial. In ancient times, a yoke was a wooden beam connecting two animals, typically of the same species and size, to pull a plow or cart together. Yoking two different types of animals, like an ox and a donkey, would lead to an imbalance and inefficiency, as they would have different paces and strengths, making the task difficult. Relationships are much more complex. Unlike animals, humans have the capacity for emotional intelligence. In today’s world men and women are more interested in sex than they are concerned about soul ties. In fact, many of us are unaware of the concept of soul ties as a result we give our bodies sexually to others without much thought. What is the soul? The human soul is the non-physical part of a person that lasts eternally after death, central to personhood, and created by God. The soul is a combination of our mind, emotions, and our will. It is who we are as human beings. Importantly, the soul is also used to express God. As written in St. Luke 1:46-47, Mary’s Song, “And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”
Healthy soul ties are formed in Godly relationships like marriage, family where mutual love and respect reside. On the other hand, Unhealthy soul ties result from toxic relationships, manipulation, abuse or sexual encounters outside of the institution of marriage. Such unhealthy soul ties can hinder your spiritual growth or even lead to backsliding.
In many Western societies men are pressured not to buy ‘puss inna bag’. This aspect of the culture is extremely strong and frequently leads to premarital sex. Some women also apply pressure on men to have premarital sex. Unfortunately, men who refuse to engage in premarital sex oftentimes have their sexual orientation questioned. Too many of us give in to the expectations of the wider society. It is in this compromising state that fornication, adultery and other sexual sins take a hold on us. We must therefore strive towards sexual purity. Living a celibate and chaste life is oftentimes shunned at the expense of a sexually permissive lifestyle.
Perspectives
The sexual act is the coming together of bodies. This coming together as one flesh is both physical as it is spiritual. Troy, a colleague reminded us that, “you lie with dogs you catch fleas.” Troy adds, “during this melding of bodies, soul and mind of each person leaves with a piece of the other.” This comment is sobering and gives us much food for thought. Someone who is promiscuous will undoubtedly have a significant number of soul ties as against that person who is not sexually irresponsible. Troy recalls doing stuff that his past girlfriends did, not of his own conviction but because of soul ties. In the Jamaican “gallist” culture, men are expected to have multiple sexual partners. The culture is sexually permissive and those men who are in committed relationships are ridiculed and called ‘one burners’.
On the other hand, Deuane, reminds us that there are Godly Soul Ties or healthy bonds. In 1 Samuel 18:1, “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” The friendship between David and Jonathan is a good example of a healthy soul tie.
The institution of marriage also provides us with another good example of healthy soul ties. In Genesis 2:24, “therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Deuane, has an interesting take on soul ties, he states that soul ties can be with objects, in other words idolatry. He mentions that if one is in an environment that socializes you to normalize lust then this is problematic.
Donna, another colleague stated, “soul tie is a spiritual bond or connection between two.” She added, “It can bring you death before you can be loose. Donna stated, it’s not a good thing. God forbids human soul ties. “This is why only fasting and prayer can break them.”
Miss Ferron said, “my soul is tied to Jesus.”
Words Are Powerful
Any behaviour or thinking pattern that does not align to the word of God lends itself to a culture of soul ties. Soul ties can be formed by the words of your mouth. Words have such power over your life! Think of what it really means when you say statements such as: “I will never stop loving you.” “You will always be the only one I love.” “I will never get you out of my heart.” “You’re the only one I will ever give my love to.” “Nobody will ever take your place in my life.” Can you just imagine how much power these words yield? The Bible says that we can be “snared” by the words of our mouth: “You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2 NKJV). A snare means a trap, a hook or a plan. Your very own words could be keeping you trapped to a bad soul tie, which explains why you feel like something is pulling on you, preventing you from fully going forward and walking in your purpose that God has for you. In the dancehall space, the lyrics of “Body Specialist” by Gully Bop says:
Every gyal want a wuk off a mi
Every gyal want a wuk off a mi
Every gyal dem a mad ova mi
All of a sudden dem a dead ova mi
Every gyal waan chuck pon mi
Every gyal waan grab piece a mi.
Ways to Overcome Soul Ties
We must set standards for ourselves and not give in to everyone. All of us must come to the place in our lives where pleasing God is the most important thing to us. To overcome an ungodly soul tie, a multi-faceted approach is recommended, involving spiritual practices like prayer, repentance, and seeking forgiveness, alongside practical steps such as limiting contact, removing associated objects, and focusing on self-care and self-compassion.
Gospel artist, Tasha Cobbs, in her song, “Break Every Chain” reminds us:
There is power in the name of Jesus.
There is power in the name of Jesus.
There is power in the name of Jesus.
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.
To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.
Emotional healing, personal growth, establishing healthy boundaries, and finding support from a faith community are also crucial for breaking unhealthy attachments and moving towards spiritual and emotional wholeness. Having or maintaining unhealthy soul ties can lead us to hell. We must be mindful that unhealthy soul ties are not only sexual in nature. Having unhealthy and toxic relationships whether familial, social or at the workplace can also be detrimental to our well-being. It is imperative that we separate ourselves from unhealthy soul ties. It is clear that one has to be intentional in placing God at the center of all relationships. Once this is done and we live true to what is demanded from us as Christians then the journey to overcoming unhealthy soul ties will be easier to complete. Who or what is your soul tied to?
In the words of Dr. Daniel Amen, whenever a person is sexually involved with another person, neurochemical changes occur in both their brains that encourage limbic, emotional bonding.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
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