Should A Christian Never Associate With Unbelievers?

[Guest]

 

better way to put it, who did Jesus hang out with?

But we are not Jesus.Jesus could do many things that we can not.

 

Yet, are we not supposed to be like Him, imitate Him? Can we not do all things through Christ, who strengthens us? Are we not able to do greater things than we would think?

 

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

 

Sure we have limitations, but we need not put limitations on Christ in us. If a Christian cannot resist the peer pressure etc, then that Christian needs to mature and act like they know that the Holy Spirit indwells them. If they are not seeing fruit (Gal 5) 

and these in ever increasing measure, maybe something is wrong?

[missmuffet]

 

 

better way to put it, who did Jesus hang out with?

But we are not Jesus.Jesus could do many things that we can not.

 

Yet, are we not supposed to be like Him, imitate Him? Can we not do all things through Christ, who strengthens us? Are we not able to do greater things than we would think?

 

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

 

Sure we have limitations, but we need not put limitations on Christ in us. If a Christian cannot resist the peer pressure etc, then that Christian needs to mature and act like they know that the Holy Spirit indwells them. If they are not seeing fruit (Gal 5) 

and these in ever increasing measure, maybe something is wrong?

 

Right,but still we are not Jesus.I did not agree with the saying WWJD(What Would Jesus Do?) We are not Jesus we can not do what He does he is perfect we are not.

[Guest]

Right,but still we are not Jesus.I did not agree with the saying WWJD(What Would Jesus Do?) We are not Jesus we can not do what He does he is perfect we are not.

 

~

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

[nikki1]

 

 

 

 

 1 Corinthians 15:33

³³ Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

 

Proverbs 1:10-19

My son, if sinners entice you,

Do not consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us,

Let us lie in wait to shed blood;

Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

¹² Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,^[a]

And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

¹³ We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,

We shall fill our houses with spoil;

¹⁴ Cast in your lot among us,

Let us all have one purse”—

¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them,

Keep your foot from their path;

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil,

And they make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ Surely, in vain the net is spread

In the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ But they lie in wait for their own blood,

They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;

It takes away the life of its owners.

 

Proverbs 4:14-19

 

Do not enter the path of the wicked,

And do not walk in the way of evil.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;

Turn away from it and pass on.

¹⁶ For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;

And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness,

And drink the wine of violence.

Good guidelines to follow. However, it does not say to NOT associate with unbelievers. They do say to be careful when do associate with them.

Keep in mind that not all unbelievers engage in anything those verses say to be wary of.

I have good friends who are unbelievers. They lead explemplary lives. These are some of my inner circle. I can talk to them about anything and will receive good advice from them. They have been there for me when my "Christian" friends were not. We have been friends for a long time. I will not toss them aside because they are not Christians.

In addition, there is someone in my family who is an atheist. This person was raised in a Christian home and grew up as a Christian. As he got older he strayed from that and for whatever reasons is now an atheist. That does not make me love him any less. It is not enough to make me not associate with him. It's not enough for me to never want to see him again. I talk to him often. I love him to pieces and would give my life to protect him and will not remove him from my inner circle.

My point is that we can be around unbelievers and if our faith is strong and we are secure in our faith we can overcome any temptation to engage in non-Godly things if they are thrown at us. BTW, I would rather be around unbelievers who live a good life than a "Sunday morning Christian". You know the ones I mean, party hard through the week, do things that hurt their witness, and think showing up at church on Sunday with a show of faith is all they need to do.

 

 

I agree with your comments.  Very well said.

 

It depends on how we associate with them.Yes,I have casual friends who are not Christian.But I have very little in common with them.We as Christians are in this world not of this world.They are.We as Christians should always remain humble and never give the impression to anyone that we are better than them.We are all sinners.

 

 

First you say "it depends on how we associate we them" .....and then you say "We as Christians should always remain humble and never give the impression to anyone that we are better than them...."

Not really sure what you are talking about.   I know many Christians that say they are Christians, but their fruit doesn't  show it, in fact some of the fruit is rotten,  whereas some of my secular friends I would rather hang out with and talk to them about Jesus and what he has done in my life..  I have another very close true Christian friend whose wife, another supposedly "Christian",   recently left him and spread lies about him to some of the church goers in the church they both attended together.   Because of the stories she made up to some of the people in "the church" to  justify wanting out of the marriage, some of the members won't speak to my friend now.   The bottom line is the church of Jesus Christ is full of hypocrits who do not practice biblical New Testament Christianity teachings in many respects.    I have seen this over and over.  Jesus said by their fruits ye shall know them, and He  looks at the heart of the person. 

 

As Kali Ko  Kat so nicely put it, if one is strong in their faith in Jesus and secure in our walk with Him, you can overcome any temptation. 

 

The Holy Spirit within you will guide you and give you wisdom and you have nothing to fear.  Missionaries encounter unbelieving people on a routine basis.  They would not be a missionary very long if they did not reach out to the unbelievers and hang out with them   because they are unbelievers.

 

Further, how can you justify working with multitudes of unbelievers on a daily basis in the work place, which in most cases is 8 hours a day,  often times which require a close relationship? Do you tell you employer "no, I can't eat with that person because he, she is an unbeliever?" when the job requires it?  Or I can't participate in a certain project with so and so because so and so is not a believer?  Or I can't interact with my co-workers because they are unbelievers.?  If you did, you would not have a job very long.  The reality is the majority of Christians on a daily basis have to interact in close business and work related relationships that cannot be avoided.

 

Oftentimes, the Lord will put us in these situations I mentioned above  to see how we, as Christians handle ourselves and how much salt and light shows through us.

[cozmoe]

Jesus came so that all would have eternal life , we should associate with unbelievers , unless who you are associated with is causing you to be tempted and fall into sin ,, then you need to part company in a loving way and pray for them , strengthen and renew your mind and ask the Lord to work on the hearts of those that need to know him ,

[GoldenEagle]

A better question is, how can a christian follow the great commission WITHOUT associating with unbelievers. Last I checked, every believer out there used to be a unbeliever at one point-and they didnt become a believer, until a believer, associated with them.

 

Excellent point Pat

[GoldenEagle]

 

better way to put it, who did Jesus hang out with?

Jesus ate with the rich and poor alike.   Jesus didn't "hang out" with sinners, but Jesus was also not inaccessible to them, either.   Jesus close personal friends were Peter, James and John.  They are the ones He was closest to during his earthly ministry.  Jesus reached out to the sinners and was not ashamed to be seen with them.   Jesus was completely comfortable  around those the religious crowd despised ,but He did not make them His close, personal friends.

 

I think I get what you're saying Shiloh here in green. I agree that our closest friends who we seek advice and/or godly counsel should be Believers. I agree regarding Jesus's "inner circle" were the disciples. And within this group Jesus was closest to Peter, James, and John.

As to this in red... However, wasn't Judas the betrayer part of Christ's inner circle too? Judas ate with Jesus, lived with Jesus, and was part of the inner circle for what 3 years?

 

God bless,

GE

[missmuffet]

 

 

 

 

 

 1 Corinthians 15:33

³³ Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

 

Proverbs 1:10-19

My son, if sinners entice you,

Do not consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us,

Let us lie in wait to shed blood;

Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

¹² Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,^[a]

And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

¹³ We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,

We shall fill our houses with spoil;

¹⁴ Cast in your lot among us,

Let us all have one purse”—

¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them,

Keep your foot from their path;

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil,

And they make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ Surely, in vain the net is spread

In the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ But they lie in wait for their own blood,

They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;

It takes away the life of its owners.

 

Proverbs 4:14-19

 

Do not enter the path of the wicked,

And do not walk in the way of evil.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;

Turn away from it and pass on.

¹⁶ For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;

And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness,

And drink the wine of violence.

Good guidelines to follow. However, it does not say to NOT associate with unbelievers. They do say to be careful when do associate with them.

Keep in mind that not all unbelievers engage in anything those verses say to be wary of.

I have good friends who are unbelievers. They lead explemplary lives. These are some of my inner circle. I can talk to them about anything and will receive good advice from them. They have been there for me when my "Christian" friends were not. We have been friends for a long time. I will not toss them aside because they are not Christians.

In addition, there is someone in my family who is an atheist. This person was raised in a Christian home and grew up as a Christian. As he got older he strayed from that and for whatever reasons is now an atheist. That does not make me love him any less. It is not enough to make me not associate with him. It's not enough for me to never want to see him again. I talk to him often. I love him to pieces and would give my life to protect him and will not remove him from my inner circle.

My point is that we can be around unbelievers and if our faith is strong and we are secure in our faith we can overcome any temptation to engage in non-Godly things if they are thrown at us. BTW, I would rather be around unbelievers who live a good life than a "Sunday morning Christian". You know the ones I mean, party hard through the week, do things that hurt their witness, and think showing up at church on Sunday with a show of faith is all they need to do.

 

 

I agree with your comments.  Very well said.

 

It depends on how we associate with them.Yes,I have casual friends who are not Christian.But I have very little in common with them.We as Christians are in this world not of this world.They are.We as Christians should always remain humble and never give the impression to anyone that we are better than them.We are all sinners.

 

 

First you say "it depends on how we associate we them" .....and then you say "We as Christians should always remain humble and never give the impression to anyone that we are better than them...."

Not really sure what you are talking about.   I know many Christians that say they are Christians, but their fruit doesn't  show it, in fact some of the fruit is rotten,  whereas some of my secular friends I would rather hang out with and talk to them about Jesus and what he has done in my life..  I have another very close true Christian friend whose wife, another supposedly "Christian",   recently left him and spread lies about him to some of the church goers in the church they both attended together.   Because of the stories she made up to some of the people in "the church" to  justify wanting out of the marriage, some of the members won't speak to my friend now.   The bottom line is the church of Jesus Christ is full of hypocrits who do not practice biblical New Testament Christianity teachings in many respects.    I have seen this over and over.  Jesus said by their fruits ye shall know them, and He  looks at the heart of the person. 

 

As Kali Ko  Kat so nicely put it, if one is strong in their faith in Jesus and secure in our walk with Him, you can overcome any temptation. 

 

The Holy Spirit within you will guide you and give you wisdom and you have nothing to fear.  Missionaries encounter unbelieving people on a routine basis.  They would not be a missionary very long if they did not reach out to the unbelievers and hang out with them   because they are unbelievers.

 

Further, how can you justify working with multitudes of unbelievers on a daily basis in the work place, which in most cases is 8 hours a day,  often times which require a close relationship? Do you tell you employer "no, I can't eat with that person because he, she is an unbeliever?" when the job requires it?  Or I can't participate in a certain project with so and so because so and so is not a believer?  Or I can't interact with my co-workers because they are unbelievers.?  If you did, you would not have a job very long.  The reality is the majority of Christians on a daily basis have to interact in close business and work related relationships that cannot be avoided.

 

Oftentimes, the Lord will put us in these situations I mentioned above  to see how we, as Christians handle ourselves and how much salt and light shows through us.

 

We can be salt and light of this world to nonchristians without being their best friend.By our actions and what we say.They observe us.I understand that their are many,many people who say they are Christians but it is not evident by their actions and words.They are hypocrites.The Bible has alot to say about that.I know many,many nonbelievers who know I am a believer and would not give me the time of day.Many of my Nonbeliever friends do not want to hear anything about God what so ever it turns them off.Life is full of choices.I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

[sheepinarowboat]

How can you avoid spending time with them?  The world is filled with them.  I happen to love a whole lot of them.  I don't take my cues from them for my lifes choices but I will try and love up on them like Christ loved me...even before I knew Him.

[nikki1]

 

 

better way to put it, who did Jesus hang out with?

Jesus ate with the rich and poor alike.   Jesus didn't "hang out" with sinners, but Jesus was also not inaccessible to them, either.   Jesus close personal friends were Peter, James and John.  They are the ones He was closest to during his earthly ministry.  Jesus reached out to the sinners and was not ashamed to be seen with them.   Jesus was completely comfortable  around those the religious crowd despised ,but He did not make them His close, personal friends.

 

I think I get what you're saying Shiloh here in green. I agree that our closest friends who we seek advice and/or godly counsel should be Believers. I agree regarding Jesus's "inner circle" were the disciples. And within this group Jesus was closest to Peter, James, and John.

As to this in red... However, wasn't Judas the betrayer part of Christ's inner circle too? Judas ate with Jesus, lived with Jesus, and was part of the inner circle for what 3 years?

 

God bless,

GE

 

 

 

 

Jesus close personal friends were Peter, James and John.

 

Even Peter denied Jesus, but Jesus according to the above statement, was a close personal friend.