- May 3, 2022
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We hear it all the time from "pastors," writers, so-called theologians, scholars, etc., that they are close friends with non-believers. People are taught to "reach out," "build bridges," and "do random acts of kindness" to non-believers in an effort to "bring them to Christ" or "lead them to salvation." The mantra, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," is often repeated (another man-made tradition put forth as "Scripture!). There is an attitude of, "If you just show people enough love, share the love of God with them" that their resistance will melt away and in time, they will "invite Jesus into their heart." I have heard it said that God is "winsome" and that his sheep should be winsome to others. Winsome means: charming, warm, and appealing to others. This is not taught in Scripture! You won't find the word or concept in Scripture.
People are taught that they shouldn't "judge others", Mat 7:1, as if that means a believer should be tolerant toward all non-believers, regardless of the character, words, lifestyle, or actions of others, as if none of that matters and a believer should try to become friends with reprobates, atheists, followers of false doctrine, violent people, people who abuse others, liars, trouble makers, those who cause strife, arrogant, etc., with no regard to how or what they believe or live and turn a blind eye to their sin. It is an attitude of "anything goes" as long as we can "bring them into the light."
John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men (goats) loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. For everyone that does evil hates the light and will not come to the light..."
The current rallying cry for this nonsense is Mat 11:19 The Son of man...a friend of publicans and sinners..." and Luke 7:34. I hear repeatedly, "Jesus is the friend of sinners!" That might be a nice sentiment, but Jesus was not the friend of all sinners, John 15:14-15 You are my friends, if you do all that I command..."
The Pharisees condemned Jesus for associating with those whom the Pharisees looked down on, not teaching that everyone was considered a friend by Jesus. Was Jesus a friend of those he chased out of the Temple? With those he called hypocrites and proclaimed woe unto? Was Jesus a friend of those he called a brood (offspring) of vipers? Was he a friend of those he called children of the devil? Was he a friend of those he called "blind guides?" Was he a friend of those who he charged with preventing people from entering the kingdom?
Neither did Jesus call every person a brother or sister, Mat 12:46-50 "...For whosoever shall do the will of my Father in heaven, the same is my brother, sister, and mother. Mk 3:31-35, Lk 8:19-21.
Nowhere does Scripture command believers to "make friends" with non-believers! Before the Jews went into the promised land, what did God command the Jews to do? Try and make friends with the pagans? Reach out a build a bridge? Be winsome towards the pagans? To share the love of God with them? To send missionaries among the pagan nations? No, Num 33:52-53 "Then you will drive out ALL of the inhabitants of the land..."
2Chr 19:2 And Jehu...the seer went out to meet king Jehoshaphat and said to the king, " Should you help the ungodly and love them that hate the LORD? Now, God's wrath is upon you.
Ps 6:8 Depart from me, all of you workers of iniquity...
Ps 26:4-5 I have not sat with vain persons nor will consort with them who are dishonest. I have hated the congregation of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.
Ps 119:115 Depart from me, you evildoers; for I will keep the commandments of my God.
Pro 24:1 Be not envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Rom 1:17-18 For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel...for it is written, the just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness. and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
2Cor 6:14-15 Do not be unequally yoked (have fellowship with) with unbelievers. For what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? And what communion does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? What connection does a believer have with an unbeliever?
A wicked or evil person is not restricted to only those who are criminal, violent, and extremely dangerous. All non-believers are evil and wicked in God's eyes. All unregenerated people are evil and wicked. All of those whose sins are not forgiven are evil and wicked.
Eph 5:6-11 "...Do not be partakers with them..."
James 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility against God? Any who are friends of the world are the enemies of God.
How is friendship with the world made known? By being the friends of those who are of the world.
Scripture addresses those pretending to be believers, those who call themselves believers.
1Cor 5:9-11 I first wrote to you in a letter, to not mix with fornicators. I am not speaking about those who are not a part of God's family, those in the world, be they fornicators, covetous, extortioners, or idolaters, because you would have to die to avoid those of the world. But now I am writing to you to not keep company with any man who CALLS HIMSELF A BELIEVER but is a fornicator, covetous, an idolater, verbally abusive, a drunkard, or a swindler. DON'T EVEN EAT WITH ONE OF THOSE.
Wow, that sounds harsh! But a believer must practice this. A believer is required to hate sin and not partake of sin. There is a very clear and defined line that sheep are not to cross! You are not to commit sin yourself, nor are you to tolerate it in others. You are not commanded to "let things slide or overlook blatant sin in others." Silence is approval. If you know people who call themselves believers but live a life of sin, and you continue treating them as if they are righteous, you show you approve of how they live. You are saying to them that you are okay with how they live and that you chose to ignore Scripture.
2Thes 3:6 Now we COMMAND you, brothers, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD, JESUS, THE CHRIST, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that lives an ungodly life and not after what we have taught.
Paul makes a command in the name of Jesus! He told them that this is not allowed!
2Tim 3:1-7 "...from such turn away...."
Tit 3:10 A man that is a heretic (one who has their own opinion rather than following Scripture), after you have admonished him (tried to correct) once or twice, reject (avoid)
This is cut and dried! Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus as "Ministers," not regular members, and told them to avoid those not living by the word!
2John 1:9-11 "...If anyone comes to you and does not practice the same doctrine, don't invite him into your house nor bless him. For any who show him acceptance participates in his evil deeds.
You can do what you want, but it is very simple and direct to me! As a believer, I am not to be friends with any non-believers, avoid any and all contact with pseudo believers and not to associate with believers who are walking outside of what Scripture commands.
People are taught that they shouldn't "judge others", Mat 7:1, as if that means a believer should be tolerant toward all non-believers, regardless of the character, words, lifestyle, or actions of others, as if none of that matters and a believer should try to become friends with reprobates, atheists, followers of false doctrine, violent people, people who abuse others, liars, trouble makers, those who cause strife, arrogant, etc., with no regard to how or what they believe or live and turn a blind eye to their sin. It is an attitude of "anything goes" as long as we can "bring them into the light."
John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men (goats) loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. For everyone that does evil hates the light and will not come to the light..."
The current rallying cry for this nonsense is Mat 11:19 The Son of man...a friend of publicans and sinners..." and Luke 7:34. I hear repeatedly, "Jesus is the friend of sinners!" That might be a nice sentiment, but Jesus was not the friend of all sinners, John 15:14-15 You are my friends, if you do all that I command..."
The Pharisees condemned Jesus for associating with those whom the Pharisees looked down on, not teaching that everyone was considered a friend by Jesus. Was Jesus a friend of those he chased out of the Temple? With those he called hypocrites and proclaimed woe unto? Was Jesus a friend of those he called a brood (offspring) of vipers? Was he a friend of those he called children of the devil? Was he a friend of those he called "blind guides?" Was he a friend of those who he charged with preventing people from entering the kingdom?
Neither did Jesus call every person a brother or sister, Mat 12:46-50 "...For whosoever shall do the will of my Father in heaven, the same is my brother, sister, and mother. Mk 3:31-35, Lk 8:19-21.
Nowhere does Scripture command believers to "make friends" with non-believers! Before the Jews went into the promised land, what did God command the Jews to do? Try and make friends with the pagans? Reach out a build a bridge? Be winsome towards the pagans? To share the love of God with them? To send missionaries among the pagan nations? No, Num 33:52-53 "Then you will drive out ALL of the inhabitants of the land..."
2Chr 19:2 And Jehu...the seer went out to meet king Jehoshaphat and said to the king, " Should you help the ungodly and love them that hate the LORD? Now, God's wrath is upon you.
Ps 6:8 Depart from me, all of you workers of iniquity...
Ps 26:4-5 I have not sat with vain persons nor will consort with them who are dishonest. I have hated the congregation of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.
Ps 119:115 Depart from me, you evildoers; for I will keep the commandments of my God.
Pro 24:1 Be not envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Rom 1:17-18 For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel...for it is written, the just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness. and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
2Cor 6:14-15 Do not be unequally yoked (have fellowship with) with unbelievers. For what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? And what communion does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? What connection does a believer have with an unbeliever?
A wicked or evil person is not restricted to only those who are criminal, violent, and extremely dangerous. All non-believers are evil and wicked in God's eyes. All unregenerated people are evil and wicked. All of those whose sins are not forgiven are evil and wicked.
Eph 5:6-11 "...Do not be partakers with them..."
James 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility against God? Any who are friends of the world are the enemies of God.
How is friendship with the world made known? By being the friends of those who are of the world.
Scripture addresses those pretending to be believers, those who call themselves believers.
1Cor 5:9-11 I first wrote to you in a letter, to not mix with fornicators. I am not speaking about those who are not a part of God's family, those in the world, be they fornicators, covetous, extortioners, or idolaters, because you would have to die to avoid those of the world. But now I am writing to you to not keep company with any man who CALLS HIMSELF A BELIEVER but is a fornicator, covetous, an idolater, verbally abusive, a drunkard, or a swindler. DON'T EVEN EAT WITH ONE OF THOSE.
Wow, that sounds harsh! But a believer must practice this. A believer is required to hate sin and not partake of sin. There is a very clear and defined line that sheep are not to cross! You are not to commit sin yourself, nor are you to tolerate it in others. You are not commanded to "let things slide or overlook blatant sin in others." Silence is approval. If you know people who call themselves believers but live a life of sin, and you continue treating them as if they are righteous, you show you approve of how they live. You are saying to them that you are okay with how they live and that you chose to ignore Scripture.
2Thes 3:6 Now we COMMAND you, brothers, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD, JESUS, THE CHRIST, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that lives an ungodly life and not after what we have taught.
Paul makes a command in the name of Jesus! He told them that this is not allowed!
2Tim 3:1-7 "...from such turn away...."
Tit 3:10 A man that is a heretic (one who has their own opinion rather than following Scripture), after you have admonished him (tried to correct) once or twice, reject (avoid)
This is cut and dried! Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus as "Ministers," not regular members, and told them to avoid those not living by the word!
2John 1:9-11 "...If anyone comes to you and does not practice the same doctrine, don't invite him into your house nor bless him. For any who show him acceptance participates in his evil deeds.
You can do what you want, but it is very simple and direct to me! As a believer, I am not to be friends with any non-believers, avoid any and all contact with pseudo believers and not to associate with believers who are walking outside of what Scripture commands.
