Are we too friendly?

timewerx

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Look at these verses and tell me what you think:

2 John 1:10-11
If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. 11Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

Matthew 10:14
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.
 

timewerx

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We should not support false teachers. Whats strange about that?

Exactly. But why are Christians are friendly to everyone including to people that despises our beliefs? People who knows Jesus and Christianity but decided to hate them. Why be friendly to them?
 
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WESTOZZIE

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Because none of us see clearly. Because all need mercy. Because many who are now enemies of Christ are won by your being kind to them.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
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timewerx

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Because none of us see clearly. Because all need mercy. Because many who are now enemies of Christ are won by your being kind to them.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What about the verses I quoted.

Should I ignore them?
 
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WESTOZZIE

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You quote John's second letter. He is referring to those who come to teach or preach a different gospel than what he had preached...just as Paul had said to the Galatians in Gal 1. Let him be accursed--ie, cut off...anathema.
So what had John preached as his gospel? We read it in all 5 chapters of 1 John. Now just what John preached and taught is explained differently by everyone today. Good luck to you if you want to shun those who you think preach or believe differently than what John preached.
Then you quote Jesus, when He spoke to his disciples about going out to preach the Kingdom message. It works both ways what Jesus said. If people don't receive your message then go somewhere else, some place where they do receive. No use preaching to those who have shut their hearts to Jesus, unless you have his "now" word on it. Go somewhere where the people are more receptive. That 's what Paul did.
Acts 28:25-28 and also

Act 22:21 Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' "

Act 22:22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!"

Why cast your pearl's before swine, they will only trample upon them? So take your peace away from these people, dont share it with them...in that way, they stay in their chosen(but deceived)darkness. Then as the darkness has it's way in their lives, bringing them to the place of bondage and desperation,...then, maybe..there will be a chance to go to them with Jesus.

But as far as being friendly in a human sort of way goes...I live in Australia. In my town are mostly unbelievers, some Christians, many Catholics(who also are not filled with Jesus Spirit), some Muslims, some Hindus, some Bhuddists, some gays, athiests, etc etc. I make it my aim to be friendly to everybody.
Everyone needs respect. Everyone needs love and kindness. If they reject it, that's their problem.

1Co 10:32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
1Co 10:33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

If not being friendly to others offends them....then what? You have to work this out with the Lord Jesus inside of you brother.
If you are not being friendly because you are afraid of them in some way...or not being friendly because you despise them in some way....these are the issues God deals with in us. Personal thing hey?

Whether you realise it or not...Jesus lives in you and He loves all those people around you. But He does not force us to do anything. So work it out with Father God. Be yourself. If that means shunning others who reject Jesus....so be it. Go ahead and shun them. God will use all and bring you along the way as He always does.

You are a good brother.
Peace.
 
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Pavel Mosko

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Look at these verses and tell me what you think:

2 John 1:10-11
If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. 11Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

Matthew 10:14
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.


The question is not about friendliness but rather giving aid and comfort to someone who is a heretic or in rebellion to church authority (for valid reasons like not repenting of immorality). We should not enable such people and maintaining friendships and associations does give them psychological aid and comfort.
 
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brinny

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You quote John's second letter. He is referring to those who come to teach or preach a different gospel than what he had preached...just as Paul had said to the Galatians in Gal 1. Let him be accursed--ie, cut off...anathema.
So what had John preached as his gospel? We read it in all 5 chapters of 1 John. Now just what John preached and taught is explained differently by everyone today. Good luck to you if you want to shun those who you think preach or believe differently than what John preached.
Then you quote Jesus, when He spoke to his disciples about going out to preach the Kingdom message. It works both ways what Jesus said. If people don't receive your message then go somewhere else, some place where they do receive. No use preaching to those who have shut their hearts to Jesus, unless you have his "now" word on it. Go somewhere where the people are more receptive. That 's what Paul did.
Acts 28:25-28 and also

Act 22:21 Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' "

Act 22:22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!"

Why cast your pearl's before swine, they will only trample upon them? So take your peace away from these people, dont share it with them...in that way, they stay in their chosen(but deceived)darkness. Then as the darkness has it's way in their lives, bringing them to the place of bondage and desperation,...then, maybe..there will be a chance to go to them with Jesus.

But as far as being friendly in a human sort of way goes...I live in Australia. In my town are mostly unbelievers, some Christians, many Catholics(who also are not filled with Jesus Spirit), some Muslims, some Hindus, some Bhuddists, some gays, athiests, etc etc. I make it my aim to be friendly to everybody.
Everyone needs respect. Everyone needs love and kindness. If they reject it, that's their problem.

1Co 10:32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
1Co 10:33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

If not being friendly to others offends them....then what? You have to work this out with the Lord Jesus inside of you brother.
If you are not being friendly because you are afraid of them in some way...or not being friendly because you despise them in some way....these are the issues God deals with in us. Personal thing hey?

Whether you realise it or not...Jesus lives in you and He loves all those people around you. But He does not force us to do anything. So work it out with Father God. Be yourself. If that means shunning others who reject Jesus....so be it. Go ahead and shun them. God will use all and bring you along the way as He always does.

You are a good brother.
Peace.

Hi Ozzie. Was Jesus always "friendly"?

In addition, is there a "friendly" that is OF God, and a "friendly" that is NOT of God?

Is "friendliness" (and its varying definitions) a barometer of one's "salvation"?

Can "friendliness" ever be used as a tool for "deceitfulness"?

What does this verse mean:

"be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." ~Matt 10:16

Is a "Christian" always "smiling"?

God bless you Ozzie. By the way, i am smiling on this cloudy-ish early Saturday morning, and so is my heart. I'm very friendly and outgoing and warm and embracing ev'ry where with a wunnerful sense of humor. However, i am not "always" friendly.

Why might that be?

By the way, a most blessed day (or ev'ning) to you.

This is one of my fav'rite verses:

:)

DZPitDNXcAAa0FY.jpg
 
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timewerx

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Hi Ozzie. Was Jesus always "friendly"?

At one point, Jesus harshly rebuked the Pharisees, even looked at them in anger.

It seems loving our enemies doesn't really mean being friendly to them all the time. Friendliness doesn't always convey the truth. There is a time to be friendly and a time not to be.
 
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brinny

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At one point, Jesus harshly rebuked the Pharisees, even looked at them in anger.

It seems loving our enemies doesn't really mean being friendly to them all the time. Friendliness doesn't always convey the truth. There is a time to be friendly and a time not to be.

He also overturned tables, made a whip, and drove out the moneychangers with it.

You might call it "wrath".

The question is, did Jesus "sin" when He did this?

Another question is, when a murderer or anyone who commits a heinous crime comes before a judge (Christian judge or not) is the judge to be "friendly"?

Is God going to be "friendly" on the Day of Judgement when He pronounces judgement from His Great White Throne?

As it is written in Ecclesiastes, there is a time and a purpose for all things.
 
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brinny

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okay so youre smiling, great. He asked, I answered. Not on here to argue, or prove a point. Jeeesh.

Sorry, no offense. I'm still smiling. No harm meant.

Friends?
 
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As others here have said, the OP verses refer to false teachers and/or intransigent people who refuse to hear the word.

But, I don't believe it means we should be unfriendly to anyone who is unsaved or even a carnal Christian who isn't "perfect" like we are. (A little bit of sarcasm).

For example, in our little tight-knit community there was a church member who was living with the former wife of another church member. Adultery, divorce, the whole bit. Unlike so many churches today that turn a blind eye to church discipline, our church properly voted to disallow them to fellowship with the church.

However, that did not mean we had to shun him in the community. They still had friends in the church.
 
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timewerx

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I've never been accused of being too friendly.

The average Christian is only slightly more friendly than everyone else, so no surprises here!

It's what I often hear being taught or preached by Christians that we should be friendly to everyone that bothers me. It isn't supported by the Bible, nor even sound reasoning.
 
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