All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
The Company We Keep (Christians and Non)
(This is regarding the "Homosexuality" post "can we be friends with...." Post by Nikki B. link is on the main page and a person named Charles Burell responded and had this scripture in his post response)
I would like input from a biblical standpoint and understanding from others regarding this scripture.... =] (thanks ahead of time!)
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Also Paul addresses this clearly in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 ;
" I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
Yet I did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous,
or with extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need go out of the world.
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat with such a person."
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Ok here's my thoughts:
Your scripture reference also mentions a brother who is a drunkard, covetous, etc and it states to not even eat with them (or associate). Any thoughts from people who have studied scripture in reference to the time periods that this was stated in and exactly what situation it is referring to? Also how it would apply to us presently?
As far as being friends with people who do not know Christ, the Lord tells us not to be friends with the world (meaning participate in their sin practices and become intimately involved so much as to where we are acting & looking like them) But we are definately to reach out, care, associate, etc with all kinds of people. How would we ourselves have gotten saved if no-one reached out to us? Sin is sin in. No matter what it is.
Scripture to read regarding friends and friendship etc.. : Proverbs 12:26, Luke 14:12, John 15:13-14, 1 John 4:11
I know there are many many more, I didn't go in to depth here.
I would like input from a biblical standpoint and understanding from others regarding this scripture.... =] (thanks ahead of time!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also Paul addresses this clearly in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 ;
" I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
Yet I did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous,
or with extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need go out of the world.
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat with such a person."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok here's my thoughts:
Your scripture reference also mentions a brother who is a drunkard, covetous, etc and it states to not even eat with them (or associate). Any thoughts from people who have studied scripture in reference to the time periods that this was stated in and exactly what situation it is referring to? Also how it would apply to us presently?
As far as being friends with people who do not know Christ, the Lord tells us not to be friends with the world (meaning participate in their sin practices and become intimately involved so much as to where we are acting & looking like them) But we are definately to reach out, care, associate, etc with all kinds of people. How would we ourselves have gotten saved if no-one reached out to us? Sin is sin in. No matter what it is.
Scripture to read regarding friends and friendship etc.. : Proverbs 12:26, Luke 14:12, John 15:13-14, 1 John 4:11
I know there are many many more, I didn't go in to depth here.
Views: 302
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by sunsetstormx on
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no responses yet..... sniff...
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I feel the same way as far as having been forgiven and I could not shun someone........I really appreciate your input! Very interesting! Thank you!!
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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Hi sunsetstormx,
This topic has great potential to become clouded and confused. We line in a world of a 'New Age' movement.....which tries to touch on biblical principles, but is constantly 'missing the mark.' Many Christians now are being confused by the world and told to 'accept all people, no matter what'.....which is confusing! Because the bible tells us to Love others and treat others as we want to be treated, BUT, we are also called to judge others with a careful discernment (John 7:24). When Jesus told us not to judge (Matthew 7:1), he was referring to us being hypocritical. In Matthew 18:15-17 we are told to respectfully and lovingly confront the person with the sin....to possibly bring repentence (James 5:20). Speak the truth in Love (Eph 4:25). 2 Timothy4:2 says 'Preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke amd encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.' This is a big responsibility and not to be taken lightly... How often do we as the body of Christ fail at this? 1 Corinthians 13---God's Love, not our own.
anyhow...here is a great answer.. I have tried to answer it myself, but this is written by someone who is far more equipped at giving you a biblical response then I am.. Check out www.gotquestions.org
Question: "Is it good to have close friendships with unbelievers?"
Answer: As Christians, we have to constantly face temptations and the attacks of the world around us. Everything we see, read, do, hear, put in our bodies, etc., affects us somehow. That's why, to maintain a close relationship with God, we have to put aside our old ways of doing things—the things we watch on TV, old bad habits (excessive drinking, smoking, etc.), the activities we participate in, and the people we spend our time with. People are divided into only two categories, those who belong to the world and its ruler, Satan, and those who belong to God (Acts 26:18). These two groups of people are described in terms of opposites all through the Bible; e.g., those in darkness/those in the light; those with eternal life/those with eternal death; those who have peace with God/those who are at war with Him; those who believe the truth/those who believe the lies; those on the narrow path to salvation/those on the broad road to destruction, and many more. Clearly, the message of Scripture is that believers are completely different from nonbelievers, and it is from this perspective that we must discern what kind of friendships we can really have with unbelievers.
The book of Proverbs has a few wise verses on believers befriending non-believers: "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray" (12:26). We should stay away from foolish people (13:20, 14:7), from people who lose their temper easily (22:24), and from the rebellious (24:21). All these things represent those who have not been saved. "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14). First Corinthians 15:33 tells us that bad company corrupts good character. Unbelievers are slaves to sin (John 8:34), and Christians are slaves to God (1 Corinthians 7:22). If we become deeply involved (either by friendship or a romantic relationship) with non-Christians, we are setting ourselves up for turmoil. It can (and does often) cause the Christian to stumble in his walk, fall back into a sinful life, and also turn others away from God (by misrepresenting God and Christianity). Another detrimental effect of closeness with unbelievers is our tendency to water down the truths of Scripture so as to not offend them. There are difficult truths in the Word of God, truths such as judgment and hell. When we minimize or ignore these doctrines or try to “soft pedal” them, in essence we are calling God a liar for the sake of those already in the grasp of Satan. This is not evangelism.
Although these close relationships are not recommended, it does not mean we turn our noses up and ignore unbelievers, either. Second Timothy 2:24-26 tells us that as servants of the Lord, we are to be kind to and not quarrel with anyone. We should gently teach those who oppose the truth, and be patient with difficult people. Matthew 5:16 tells us, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.” We should serve unbelievers so that they may see God through us and turn to Him in praise. James 5:16 says that there is great power in the prayer of a righteous person, so bring your concerns for unbelievers before God, and He will listen.
Many people have been saved because of the prayers and service of Christians, so don't turn your back on unbelievers, but having any kind of intimate relationship with an unbeliever can quickly and easily turn into something that is a hindrance to your walk with Christ. We are called to evangelize the lost, not be intimate with them. There is nothing wrong with building quality friendships with unbelievers – but the primary focus of such a relationship should be to win them to Christ by sharing the Gospel with them and demonstrating God’s saving power in our own lives.
Blessings, Carla
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That was EXCELLENT! Much much thanks for the time you took to search this out and share! I will share this information as well! Hugs!!
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