Dont be yoker with unbelievers

potatohorse · Feb 3, 2003

Originally posted by Br. Max
potato: Please do not think I am attacking you - that is not my intent - but I must say: IF YOU LOVE SOME ONE, YOU COME TO THEIR DEFENSE WHEN THEY ARE FALSELY ACCUSED. How can I say I love catholics as brethren in the faith unless I speak up when they are being attacked and disparaged? I would do no less for any that I love or call brethren. God tells us to love or enemies - if we love our enemies who are divided from us by anger and belief - how much more should we love those who are together with us as one BODY - the Body of Christ?

Br. Max, no need for apology my friend, i did not take your post as an attack.  I merely stated that I do love my catholic brethren.

dignitized · Feb 3, 2003

Potato: I was actually aming that post at those who are reading this thread, who feel we are all Christians together and are afraid to speak up.

Chris†opher Paul · Feb 3, 2003

I was catholic and now I am a christian.

You seem to think that Catholics are not Christians. If so, why?

I am also a bit troubled at your statement that you were a Catholic. If so, were you raised Catholic? Did you ever learn what Catholicism teaches?

4Jesus · Feb 3, 2003

Originally posted by Chrisopher Paul
You seem to think that Catholics are not Christians. If so, why?

I am also a bit troubled at your statement that you were a Catholic. If so, were you raised Catholic? Did you ever learn what Catholicism teaches?

Where is the post that said,

I was a catholic and now I am a christian

4Jesus

sbbqb7n16 · Feb 3, 2003

Originally posted by 4Jesus
So why give such a graphic example of being yoked together? It shows close contact.

Kinda confused about what you mean But if you mean that the verse shows close contact, that would only prove my point further... "Don't be yoked together" does not mean "don't have ANYTHING to do with"... what I mean by this is that casual meeting and such is NOT being yoked together. I have seen in the past people who try and interpret (and I believe just for argument sake) the verse to say "If you see anyone who is not a Christian run across the street to walk on the other side... don't even come near them." Which is totally against what the verse meant. -- That was my original point, sorry if I didn't make that clear.

We will come in contact with people and Christians are not to work ill towards anyone, even if they are a proven wicked person. So what does this prove one way or another about being yoked together with unbelievers?

It proves that too many people focus on determining which category people fall under rather than focusing on our responsibility to love them nonetheless. We are to love believers and we are to love non-believers, only don't be yoked together with an unbeliever. Once again, I have seen people take this verse and twist it into "don't have anything to do with them" and in so doing they neglect their responsibility to love them.

Have a great day!

hugoguttman · Feb 4, 2003

Thank you everybody who has posted a message in this thread. Thank you.
Ok, let´s see. Someone asked me about my experience as Catholic. I will answer this question and at the same time I will be answering another questions made to me.
In Mexico (I know this is an english forum, but, at least, a christian forum)
As a Catholic, I had my first Communion with the Lord, when I was about 12 years old. It was merely a tradittion. I did not have option. I could not say I want or I dont want. YOU MUST HAVE FIRST COMMUNION. I attended Bible clases, reading mostly the gospel but nothing about Apostol letters.
Later... when I was a young guy I used to attend to church some Sundays, not always. I felt empty until I got into deep abyss, BUT NOT FOR THE CATHOLIC MATTER. NO!!! I make this point very enfatic. It´s just I did not have enough interest in God. I knew He exist. But I was not aware and afraid of Him. That abyss was a world of pleasure and something very important: IT COULD BE A VERY NICE KIND OF LIVING. BUT I COULD NOT SEE THAT, WHAT I WAS DOING WAS NOT RIGHT TO GOD EYES!!!
In my country, we use Protestant word very little... I think only for statistics. What I mean is that in my country, a non catholic is marked as a christian. (obviously not taking in mind those religion like Jewish, buddist, muslims...) First difference. We are Christians, and I know that Catholic are christians also, because they follow the same God. The same Jesus.

NOTE - It is IMPROPER to say: between a Christian and a Catholic when what you MEAN TO SAY is between a PROTESTANT and a Catholic.
Catholic is Christian. If you cannot accept Catholic's as being Christian, I can safely say that Christianforums is the wrong place for you.

I´ll take it. This is for me and I will accept it. If God demmands me to leave this forum, I will, not for your assuptions.
As a christian, I had the option to accept o reject Jesus. Being a thinking man, with judge about what I want in my life. Not an heritage.
I have been fighting agains evil spirits (afraid...doubt...judge...lie...illness...) that I did not see as strong as when I recognized Jesus as my Lord. TRUTH IS THE WORD. I KNOW THE TRUTH. And Glory to Jesus for that!!!
Any Catholic here? If you read my second post in this thread, you can see that I DONT AGREE WITH THE DIFFERENCES SOME CHRISTIANS(PROTESTANTS) POINTS UP ON CATHOLICS. I DONT AGREE, BECAUSE I WAS A CATHOLIC. I think some of them follow Jesus and are real Sons of God as some Christians are.
As the moderator said in the begining of this thread, this is not for fighting. It´s just for making doubts clear and with love when we answer a question.
are you a catholic? Good for you and God bless you.
are you a Christian (protestant) good for you an God bless you.
Pax brothers, pax.
Hugo.

seebs · Feb 4, 2003

Huh? FWIW, I had to stop going to the Lutheran church I was raised in, because I wouldn't do the confirmation ritual. No option was offered; if you wanted to go to church, you had to get confirmed.

Your distinction between Catholic and Christian is a lie.

Saying "Christian (protestant)" in that way is itself a lie, a blasphemy, an attack on God's good name.

"Christian" means "all the Christians, whether they're Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, or non-denominational".

If you want a word that refers to Protestants, but not Catholics, you might try "Protestant". That's what it's there for. You can't use "Christian" to mean "except of course for Catholics" without slandering God.

It's clear from your other statements that you do think that many Catholics have a good relationship with God. That kind of relationship, rooted in the belief that Jesus was God, is why we say that the Catholic Church is one branch of Christianity, and its members are Christians.

Are some Catholics, perhaps, not really Christian? I dunno. But if we can say that about them, we can say that about all the Protestant denominations, too.

Chris†opher Paul · Feb 4, 2003

Hugo-

Perhaps there is some language barrier here?

Catholics are Christians.
Protestants are Christians.

Do you understand?

Terri · Feb 4, 2003

Hi hugoguttman,

I would hope if you are talking about marriage you would find someone whose beliefs are as similiar to yours as possible.  A good bible-believing christian would be great! 

Terri

Blindfaith · Feb 4, 2003

Hugo:

I'm not sure who said that if you don't believe Catholics are Christians maybe this isn't the place for you, but I have to disagree with that.

You most certainly are welcome here, and hopefully will learn what it is you're asking.

Chris†opher Paul · Feb 4, 2003

A good bible-believing christian would be great!

You include Catholics in this category, right?

Terri · Feb 4, 2003

Hugo:

Click to expand...

I'm not sure who said that if you don't believe Catholics are Christians maybe this isn't the place for you, but I have to disagree with that.

You most certainly are welcome here, and hopefully will learn what it is you're asking.

I agree!  Hugo please don't leave! We need good bible-believing Christians here!

hugoguttman · Feb 4, 2003

Seebs... God Bless You.

In my country, we use Protestant word very little... I think only for statistics. What I mean is that in my country, a non catholic is marked as a christian. (obviously not taking in mind those religion like Jewish, buddist, muslims...) First difference. We are Christians, and I know that Catholic are christians also, because they follow the same God. The same Jesus.

As you can read, there is a cultural difference that has taken us to missunderstanding... Mexico, with almost 85% of catholic people only uses Christian to reffer those people who are not catholic and are Protestant. That was my mistake. I did not know you could get so personally. I dont have any doubt about Christianity of catholic People... so, did you read all the post? I said Catholic church and protestant church FOLLOW the same God. Both of them Know Jesus Christ.
I´m concluding two things... my english is so poor that very few english speaking people can understand or maybe you can not read posts very well letting your emotions stand up your judge. I think it´s the first one.
I dont think I have blaspheme to God. My heart is in peace.

Perhaps there is some language barrier here?

Catholics are Christians.
Protestants are Christians.

Do you understand?

I understand. Thank you.

We are Christians, and I know that Catholic are christians also, because they follow the same God. The same Jesus.

Did I say something different to your statements?
Pax dear friends, pax.
Hugo.

Annabel Lee · Feb 4, 2003

Hello Hugo,

I have many friends who were born in Mexico and they do not use the word Protestant. It's either Catholic or Christian. Sorry for all the misunderstanding.

A belated welcome to you.

hugoguttman · Feb 5, 2003

Brothers:
Making a reflection on your answers... I concluded something.
God is powerful... For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
But... Does God have any weakness? I think so. HIS LOVE FOR US. as John 3:16 says.
So who am I to judge who is dead and who is alive? And knowing who is un-believer... who am I to judge him? We better love those people as Jesus commanded us to do, and let´s not forget to say the gospel to every creature on the world.
Pax.
Hugo.

Terri · Feb 5, 2003

Hi Hugo  

Hope we haven't been unloving towards you!

Chris†opher Paul · Feb 5, 2003

Amen Hugo!

Jesus ate with sinners! The sick need the doctors, not the healthy!

If we save someone from the "dark side" it is credited to us and covers many sins, so keep it up brother!

Budge · Feb 7, 2003

I am very much against the interfaith movement, if any of you have read my posts on Interdenominational section could attest to and I think this has to do with it.

I DO befriend unbelievers. A new friendship of mine is with an agnostic couple into the New Age. My best friend is an atheist. I think this verse means that being yoked can mean being led away from Christian faith and as a warning to breaking the first commandment which I think many interfaith activities do so.

One thing however important for Christians is to be careful of being Yoked and tied to unbelievers, and being led away from the Christian faith. I only have a few Christian friends and in my life most of my old friends and family even are unbelievers. It is a challenge and I have to lean on the Lord for support and my newer Christian friends.

I think its a balance. God wants you to love and treat others kindly--opportunities to witness through friendship and more, but one must be careful not to compromise Christian faith--such as interfaith movement does.

webboffin · Feb 7, 2003

I don't belong to any denomination as I don't see in the Bible where it favours one denomination or another. The Bible talks of the Church of Christ. Though what this is I don't know.

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