Removing yourself from unsavory people.... did I do the right thing?

bluegreysky

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I feel conflicted right now about the decision to remove someone from my life.
I know in one place the bible says "remove yourself from evil"
and in other places it says "dine with the sinners and share the good news about Christ" in a matter of words...

Well, I posted some stuff about this last week,
but my beloved Christian boyfriend has a younger brother who chose a girlfriend who is a very ungodly person. His mom cried about it for months.
He "ran away" with her and for a couple of years we all would think about him and pray for him, but didn't really have to deal with him or her.
Well, last year they had a baby (out of wedlock!) and still haven't married or become Christians. I didn't used to let that bother me because my boyfriend chooses Jesus and chooses to live a Christian life and its like "he is not his family, he is his own man" but there was a long period of time where he had to live with his parents and the boyfriend and his baby momma had come to stay for an indefinite period of time. The mother welcomed them into her home for the sake of the baby, but then in family arguments she would always take their side.
Because I love him and plan to marry him, I was around plenty to spend time with him and because he lived with his family at that time, I ran head on into this girlfriend and her ungodly, manipulative, angry, vile, disgusting personality.
Long story short, when he was finally able to get his own place again, he was overjoyed like you'd never believe. I'd had to deal with her just enough to get slighted a few times, and also witness her treating my man badly which made me flaming mad. I wanted to tell her about herself, but it wasn't the Christian thing to do.
So we parted company with them and moved on from his family's home.

They are all in a town 30 miles away, and he lives in my town again. We are happily in love. And I think his parents mean well (but don't always make the right decisions) so I try to maintain a bit of a relationship with them. However, I have this problem with myself where if someone hurts me, I can't just ignore them when they are right there.
I have to excommunicate them permanently.
And it's not just ex boyfriends.
My boyfriend and I have a joint facebook account. we can both log into it and we use it to share positive thoughts about our relationship, about God, and show pictures of our dates we go on, since we don't see his family a whole lot anymore.
This is supposed to be a closed circuit facebook just for (his family's last name) and no friends-of-friends or any of that. Well, baby momma was one of the friends on there. Her posts are always so negative!
So I talked to my boyfriend and he agreed it was ok to un-friend her.
The problem is, she lives with his parents because her man does... and he said that for sure this will make some waves.
They're all hypersensitive.

I'm just trying to keep the focus on God, and his mom loves to talk bible on there and I talk bible stuff with her and with his 3 older sisters and I just feel so much better without little brother's baby momma in the picture. She butts in where she's not wanted sometimes.
I also made a request that she not come up in conversations. The brother can, if it's a positive memory like from childhood, but not her.

I feel conflicted because though he agrees with me, his family wants us all to be buddies and I just don't see that happening.

I had a hangup for a long time with a girl here at my church.
She annoyed me to no end with her bragging about her married life, and I was a bitter single who didn't want to hear it.
I wanted nothing more to be miles away from her,
but we went to the same church and had some mutual friends.
It took years of stress being around her but finally, God helped me get over it.
The thing is, this girl as annoying as she can be, tries really hard to be a Godly woman and a Christian role model.
Baby momma on the other hand.... is atheist, manipulative, angry, negative, selfish and annoying.
I'm at a place in my life that I need to stay away from that sort of person.
I just don't see myself ever accepting her.
I tried (we both tried), but she ruined it by being impossible to deal with.

The ONLY way it could ever happen would be if she got saved, became a born again Christian woman and started acting like one.

There, I vented my piece.
 

WithLoveFromAlyssa

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Well... I know what you mean about it being confusing....
As far as the "remove yourself from evil" and the "dine with sinners" verses.
Heres what I think...

It seems your boyfriends parents are doing the best they can to accept this girl...
even though she's an atheist..
I understand why you would want to delete her from your facebook...
I cant stand constant negativity either....
I Think That What the bible is saying.. (This is how i interpret it, I could be wrong)
That... We shouldn't think that others are so below us that we cant even sit at the same table with them....
God wants us to be loving... BUT We must also be careful to not get TOO Involved with people like that because it MAY hinder our relationship with God....

We are to love sinners, but that doesn't mean we have to be completely wrapped up in them...
When you see her, be as nice as you can... (Not that overly-fake type of nice) but just be pleasant... it will reflect christ...

Ultimately, it is your choice to keep her on/off the Facebook...

all I can say is...

Do not act so mighty that you cant even be in the same room as her..
but don't stoop so low to where she becomes your best friend and you start acting like her....


You too, once may have been in her shoes... lost and far away from God...
But by Gods grace you are with him...

Don&#8217;t Be a Friend of Sinners | Redemption Pictures <--- This sums it up perfectly..

I am always very weary to give advice... so take what I say with a grain of salt...
If anyone is in agreement with me, let me know... because I NEVER Want to give anyone the wrong biblical advice and lead them astray.
 
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turkle

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The Godly thing to do is to be kind to her. Jesus was clear that we were to love; love our enemies, love annoying people, love our neighbor. She is a part of your boyfriend's family, by virtue of the fact that she is the mother of his brother's child. You are not a part of the family. But if you intend to become a part of the family, it is important that you keep the peace. You don't have to like her, but your behavior needs to follow the Lord's example. Don't stand in judgment, but instead, show her the love of Christ. That is how you lead unbelievers to the throne.

Believe me, you don't want to be the person causing trouble in your boyfriend's family. This is a situation that calls for self control and self examination. It's an opportunity to learn to care for the lost as the Lord does. And you don't want to put your boyfriend in the position of choosing between you and his family.

Be gracious, be kind, take the high road, and watch how the Lord teaches you to behave according to 1 Cor 13.
 
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Shattered-Reflections

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If no one has anything to say against it, I am going to go with my gut and assume that I did the right thing.

Bare in mind, people reply in their own free time they kindly give. So it may take time for others to reply. You may find the most beneficial reply will come a week later :) <3

I may find time to give a long reply later, I know where you're coming from with annoying and destructive family. In short:

When it comes to avoiding unsavory characters, there's a difference between a unrepentant "Christian" and worldly sinners. We're suppose to address Christians in their wrong but to non Christians we're to be a reflection of Christ's Kingdom. Treating someone lovingly, graciously, & kindly isn't the same as making them an integral part of your daily life, like they were your best friend. Being a light and gracious giving, doesn't mean forcing truth or enabling destructive ways. We are to live in the world, but not be of the world (be to similar to the worldly). You can't escape evil people, you'd have to leave the world. Sometimes the best thing you can do is not fight when provoked, to not join in their bitterness and arguments, to ignore negative comments with polar-opposite positive comments and a smile, to leave them in their pity-party corner while you celebrate life and God's grace. It's not necessarily your job to pull them out or join them, it's your job to hold tight to your relationship with God keeping your eyes on Him and when given opportunity to do good and be encouraging, do it.

If you aren't ugly to her because of her behavior and you're joyful in your relationship with God and others, that could make a real difference either to her, someone else, or just yourself.


1 Corinthians 5:9-11
When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn&#8217;t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don&#8217;t even eat with such people.



1 Peter 3:15-17
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!



John 17 15-21
I&#8217;m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. &#8220;I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one&#8212;as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
 
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Inkachu

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If she's a young, unmarried girl with a baby and (I'm guessing) no way of supporting herself and has to sap off of her boyfriend's family (cause apparently even he doesn't support himself/her/their child?)... I'd be pretty miserable, too. Chances are, she wasn't a peach before all this happened, and this has only made her personality all the more intensified. Circumstances like that would try even the strongest among us, but when it happens to a person who's already lost and without God, it's going to be to the Nth degree. She's probably a mixture of hurt, bitter, jaded, and a heaping helping of lazy, entitled brat.

I would do my best to pray for her and her child (who is a completely innocent victim here) and would try to be civil and kind if I wind up in the same room with her. I would hope that God would give me the capacity to even reach out to her as a sister one day; but don't force something like that, it has to be sincere or it could go VERY badly.
 
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Pal Handy

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If no one has anything to say against it, I am going to go with my gut and assume that I did the right thing.
Christ doesn't want the world to over come us but He desires that through
His love and strength, we would rise above the situations that try our souls.

Whenever we run away from a painful situation, we do not grow but instead become weaker
in our resolve to reach out with Christ's love to those who oppose themselves.

When we act the fool and do things against God's will in our own lives,
does God depart and excomunicate us from His love?

I know this is hard for you but please rethink this.

Begin to pray for this person and ask God to open her eyes.
Pray together with your fiancee for this woman as you ask God to give you both love in the face of hate
and strength to show His love to her instead of your disapproval, distain and angst.

None of us can love others in our own strength but with God's help
we can deflect the hate directed towards us and still find the right
words to say that will express God's love instead of our angst.

Atleast think and pray about this matter as it has great implications for
your growth as a Christian and for love and blessings for your new family.

Perhaps you could go and see your future mother in law and join forces in
prayer and tactics in a combined effort to try and reach this woman for
God's glory and for her salvation.

A mother's love is amazing as she will open her heart up to those we
would write off, all in the hopes of redeeming her children.

Examine your heart and ask yourself why you are so angry with this
woman and why you want to cut her off, as the root of this problem
is not her but within your heart as she is being used by the devil to push your
buttons to drive you away from her and leave her in his evil hands.

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

God can and will give us a heart that can love others no matter how
much we dislike their behavior, if we will ask Him for His help.

Hope this helps you..
 
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LoricaLady

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Being "hypersensitive" can just mean "being manipulative through acting nasty and then pretending to be the victim."

I would say unfriend her asap! If they complain quote her comments and say you find that stressful. When they try to make excuses or whatever for her, or get accusatory, just say, "Well, we all have to make choices that are right for us. That's the right decision for me. It's my facebook page and I get to set the rules so that I feel comfortable there whether she meant to be offensive or not. I really have nothing more to say." If you keep saying, "I really have nothing more to say on the topic" they will probably keep trying to be manipulative and try to get you to put up with more abuse. Just pleasantly change the subject and, yes, distance yourself from them. You can say something neutral like, "Well, looks like your family and my family have different ways of interacting and naturally I'm more comfortable with my own way."

If you are going to marry this man, may I suggest that you hash it out in advance how you are going to deal with his family in the future. You could make up scenarios like, "If they do such and such type thing again, this is how I am going to respond. Will you support me on that? Will you just let it go?" Stuff like that. Get specific. Think of various ways they have shown a tendency to be abusive (and that's what it is) and come up with corresponding various ways that you two will deal with it.

The thing is, you two seem united now and may well stay that way. But his family, sounds like to me, will try to drive a wedge in that unity. Are you prepared for that? A united front from the beginning, and a game plan you both agree on, could keep them from derailing your marriage and happiness.

You don't have to feel guilty if you don't want much interaction. You can "Speak the truth in love" but speak the truth! We are told to be gentle too. Be gentle. But firm. United.

So often Christians seem to feel that they have to put up with abuse and just love, love love will save the day and the sinner. Not usually true. Yes, Messiah did become out sacrificial Lamb when the time came for that. But you also see Him distancing Himself from people who were insincere and hostile. He wouldn't even explain some parables to one crowd following Him, but only to His apostles.

You can't "nice" mean people into a change in their hearts. Yes, you can and should pray for them and be civil to them. But remember that, sad to say, most people are not going to make it to Heaven, only, as Messiah said, "a few." If the Holy Spirit puts someone on your heart as a burden, then great spend more time and energy on him or her. But if not, I'd say spend your time and energies in ways that really serve Him. Even Messiah did not win them all, or even most of them!

Praying for wisdom for you in all these areas.

Dr. John Townsend, a Christian counselor, has written some great books about how to protect yourself by setting up healthy boundaries. Lots of reviews, many used books at good prices, on Amazon.
 
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seashale76

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You can't choose family and this girl has a permanent link to your boyfriend's family. If your boyfriend's family was truly all that hypersensitive then they would be continually offended by this girl. If it is a fact that she is the one causing the waves, drama, and negativity at every turn, the fact they haven't said anything to her about it either means they aren't all that hypersensitive or they like to avoid conflict (perhaps because they fear she'll keep the grandchild from them if they ever do say anything).

Things to consider:
1) Limit your interactions with her only to unavoidable family events. I think it is going to be impossible to cut her out completely without cutting out dealing with your boyfriend's family too, tbh. You're planning on marrying this guy, so you will find yourself dealing with her again, mark my words.
2) You can't control what she says and does. You can only control how you react. Do not react to her shenanigans. Don't feed that fire. Be distantly polite at all times.
3) Related to #2. Have stock phrases ready for when you must deal with her in family situations. Besides the perfectly timed complete silence these phrases are your friends: "What an interesting assumption." "I'm afraid that won't be possible." "Why would I want to do that?" "So kind of you to take an interest." "Have you tried the bean dip or fill-in-the-blank?" "That topic is not open for discussion."
4) I always advise against Facebook in general anyway. But if you must- I wouldn't have a couple's page anyway. However, ridding yourself of her on-line presence by 'defriending' her was the right thing to do. People have enough real life drama without having to deal with it on-line too.
5) Do not- under any circumstances- talk about or gossip about her to your boyfriend's parents, sisters, etcetera. She is not on your radar, even when you're in the same room, and even if she is being offensive. If you do, then you will look like the bad guy.
 
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boogalaboogala

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you mentioned that you and your boyfriend share a facebook account to share positive thoughts with each other.. maybe save a few of those positve thoughts for life outside facebook.. i mean, all i am getting, is you judging and running people down..
well, atleast we don't have to worry about you sitting on the councel of the wise..
the last sentence in your rant says something about acting like a christian.. is that what you are doing? are you acting?
 
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Christian Soldier 777

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Your Boyfriend, his mom and 3 sisters are able to tolerate her. Why not you? If we avoided everyone that was not a Christian and thought differently then us. Christs' love could never reach into the darkest places. Pray for her to find Jesus. Pray to God to help strengthen you! (Ephesians 4:2) With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love. The key word here is long suffering and the way to overcome it is love. Sometimes God puts people in our life to refine us and help us build Christian character. Wood does not become smooth unless you sand it!! Maybe she is your sand paper!! (Ephesians 6:12) " For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Look at it as an opportunity to win her for Jesus!!
 
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