Separation/Fellowship with unBelievers?

[YeshuaHamasiachLoves]

Hi folks,

Can I get some advice on the following topic? Pretty nervous about a family vacation.

I'm to go on a cruise in 6 days with extended family (no parents or siblings). 7 day cruise + 1.5 travel days. I'm very new to the faith myself, just seeking Jesus and hoping that I'll feel more of His presence as I continue to read the Bible / pray.

I've been taking a lot of distance from most of my relationships (because most of the people in my life are non-Christians) and am wondering if it's even okay to go on this cruise I'm supposed to go on. I know there's lots of arguments to also go on this cruise, and be a witness/spread salt.. But I doubt if I'm ready to do that as I'm not even feeling the proximity to Jesus yet that I hear a lot of believers to talk about.

I've been running into Bible verses that make me feel convicted about going forward on the cruise (as there seem to be plenty of Bible verses telling believers to come separate [at least to some degree] from unbelievers). So far the steps I've taken in my life to try to come closer to God have been really really difficult (I'm not yet feeling a lot of that joy in Christ that I hear many Christians talk about) so I'm afraid of being swept back into worldly thinking [as I find myself often looking back over my shoulder to what I gave up - even occupationally - to seek God].

I would be rooming with a cousin who is now coming to identify as Christian - but in a very un-Biblical way (mixing in New Age beliefs, implying that there's so many different ways to be Christian and it'd be judgemental to say there's one right way, only applying parts of the Bible that make him happy, advocating for LGBT Christianity).

Thoughts??

God bless.

 

[maintenance man]

I'm very new to the faith myself, just seeking Jesus and hoping that I'll feel more of His presence as I continue to read the Bible / pray.

You also need fellowship with other Christians. You need a guiding mentor who is a mature Christian. This can be a friend, family member, pastor, Bible study group leader. You need to be in relationships with other believers.

I've been running into Bible verses that make me feel convicted about going forward on the cruise

The world doesn't go away when you become a Christian. You still live here and need to associate with unbelievers every day. There's no reason why you can't go on this cruise in my opinion.

I know there's lots of arguments to also go on this cruise, and be a witness/spread salt.. But I doubt if I'm ready to do that

You don't have to preach the Bible, you only need to let your travel companions know you are reading the Bible and attempting to move closer to Jesus. Then conduct yourself accordingly. You are salt when you say no to things you know are wrong. You don't have to force anyone else to make the same choice, you just need to let them know you believe it is wrong and walk away. This is life as a follower of Jesus.

I would be rooming with a cousin who is now coming to identify as Christian - but in a very un-Biblical way

Don't debate theology with your cousin. Let him know what sounds right to you and what sounds wrong to you. If he pushes his philosophy on you, tell him politely you'll look closer at his ideas after the vacation is over.

This cruise is the perfect opportunity for you to test how firm you are in your convictions.

Remain in prayer and you'll have a great experience.

 

[HTacianas]

Hi folks,

Can I get some advice on the following topic? Pretty nervous about a family vacation.

I'm to go on a cruise in 6 days with extended family (no parents or siblings). 7 day cruise + 1.5 travel days. I'm very new to the faith myself, just seeking Jesus and hoping that I'll feel more of His presence as I continue to read the Bible / pray.

I've been taking a lot of distance from most of my relationships (because most of the people in my life are non-Christians) and am wondering if it's even okay to go on this cruise I'm supposed to go on. I know there's lots of arguments to also go on this cruise, and be a witness/spread salt.. But I doubt if I'm ready to do that as I'm not even feeling the proximity to Jesus yet that I hear a lot of believers to talk about.

I've been running into Bible verses that make me feel convicted about going forward on the cruise (as there seem to be plenty of Bible verses telling believers to come separate [at least to some degree] from unbelievers). So far the steps I've taken in my life to try to come closer to God have been really really difficult (I'm not yet feeling a lot of that joy in Christ that I hear many Christians talk about) so I'm afraid of being swept back into worldly thinking [as I find myself often looking back over my shoulder to what I gave up - even occupationally - to seek God].

I would be rooming with a cousin who is now coming to identify as Christian - but in a very un-Biblical way (mixing in New Age beliefs, implying that there's so many different ways to be Christian and it'd be judgemental to say there's one right way, only applying parts of the Bible that make him happy, advocating for LGBT Christianity).

Thoughts??

God bless.

Go on the cruise.

 

[Aldebaran]

Hi folks,

Can I get some advice on the following topic? Pretty nervous about a family vacation.

I'm to go on a cruise in 6 days with extended family (no parents or siblings). 7 day cruise + 1.5 travel days. I'm very new to the faith myself, just seeking Jesus and hoping that I'll feel more of His presence as I continue to read the Bible / pray.

I've been taking a lot of distance from most of my relationships (because most of the people in my life are non-Christians) and am wondering if it's even okay to go on this cruise I'm supposed to go on. I know there's lots of arguments to also go on this cruise, and be a witness/spread salt.. But I doubt if I'm ready to do that as I'm not even feeling the proximity to Jesus yet that I hear a lot of believers to talk about.

I've been running into Bible verses that make me feel convicted about going forward on the cruise (as there seem to be plenty of Bible verses telling believers to come separate [at least to some degree] from unbelievers). So far the steps I've taken in my life to try to come closer to God have been really really difficult (I'm not yet feeling a lot of that joy in Christ that I hear many Christians talk about) so I'm afraid of being swept back into worldly thinking [as I find myself often looking back over my shoulder to what I gave up - even occupationally - to seek God].

I would be rooming with a cousin who is now coming to identify as Christian - but in a very un-Biblical way (mixing in New Age beliefs, implying that there's so many different ways to be Christian and it'd be judgemental to say there's one right way, only applying parts of the Bible that make him happy, advocating for LGBT Christianity).

Thoughts??

God bless.

Go on the cruise and enjoy yourself! It's only a week. Growing as a Christian will last for the rest of your life.

 

[timothyu]

I say go on the cruise and learn to be in the world rather than of it. Being of it simply means following the will of man which is self serving, self justifying, and seeking gain at the expense of others.

Jesus taught us to serve the will of God and not the will of man. God's will is that we love all neighbours as self, easy to do at home or on a cruise. You only need to determine whether choices you make are gainful at the expense of another, or treating all with love and respect.

Jesus taught a way of life. He did not come to create a religion that puts us into yet another box of man's making.

 

[Sketcher]

Assuming that cruise isn't themed to center on debauchery, I'd say you can and should go. The fallout of any separation is going to be extreme, so you should save it for when it is truly necessary, and what you have shared with us does not indicate that it is truly necessary. Furthermore, my general rule is, don't be the "bad guy" when it comes to those separations, because we are supposed to be ambassadors and rescuers to the lost (2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Always be open, kind, respectful. If there's a closing off to be done, it should be because they dislike being around you for no reason other than you are following Jesus and they are sinful. Don't mix your own sin or foolishness in with that, because it's misrepresenting the faith when you do. If you find that you have done that with people, apologize.

Now when you do go on the cruise, set limits for yourself and abide by them. If you're old enough to drink alcohol, make a hard limit as to how many drinks you will have spaced out over a day. If you are a recovering alcoholic and that is too much for you, then drink nothing, and make sure you make that known to relatives who will support you in this on the trip. Take a Bible along to read for when there is downtime and your relatives don't want to spend time with you (but carve out a good half hour or so for devotion time). And of course, have fun.

 

[YeshuaHamasiachLoves]

Assuming that cruise isn't themed to center on debauchery, I'd say you can and should go. The fallout of any separation is going to be extreme, so you should save it for when it is truly necessary, and what you have shared with us does not indicate that it is truly necessary. Furthermore, my general rule is, don't be the "bad guy" when it comes to those separations, because we are supposed to be ambassadors and rescuers to the lost (2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Always be open, kind, respectful. If there's a closing off to be done, it should be because they dislike being around you for no reason other than you are following Jesus and they are sinful. Don't mix your own sin or foolishness in with that, because it's misrepresenting the faith when you do. If you find that you have done that with people, apologize.

Now when you do go on the cruise, set limits for yourself and abide by them. If you're old enough to drink alcohol, make a hard limit as to how many drinks you will have spaced out over a day. If you are a recovering alcoholic and that is too much for you, then drink nothing, and make sure you make that known to relatives who will support you in this on the trip. Take a Bible along to read for when there is downtime and your relatives don't want to spend time with you (but carve out a good half hour or so for devotion time). And of course, have fun.

Thank you for sharing! I was feeling convicted over several Bible verses. One of them was within 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

 

[Sketcher]

Thank you for sharing! I was feeling convicted over several Bible verses. One of them was within 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

"Yoked" means "partnered." It would be one thing if you were going to marry an unbeliever or start a business with an unbeliever. This isn't either of those. This is a trip with your family. If they don't intend to get into circumstances where you would have to sin in order to tag along, you're free to go with them. Can you name any such sins, and why you would have to commit them?

 

[YeshuaHamasiachLoves]

"Yoked" means "partnered." It would be one thing if you were going to marry an unbeliever or start a business with an unbeliever. This isn't either of those. This is a trip with your family. If they don't intend to get into circumstances where you would have to sin in order to tag along, you're free to go with them. Can you name any such sins, and why you would have to commit them?

Not exactly But they believe in some things that I'm trying to turn away from - and I'm feeling not the most strong in my relationship with God right now and don't want to turn to my old ways when so new.

Here are a couple examples: they are very pro LGBTQ (one of their kids is in the community) - and I am just turning away from dating the same-sex in the past 5-6 months. I get really sad sometimes when I see attractive guys and my flesh thinks especially like romantic thoughts. Then of course we are to hold our thoughts captive. And also yes I don't know about being on the pool deck - I want to hold to what Jesus says in Matthew 5:27-28 In addition, (this is not a judgement of them) but they are very excitable about career achievements, and emphasize professional accomplishment. I myself just walked away from a career path which I was very passionate about because it felt probably hypocritical to continue doing this work that was not glorifying God's Kingdom. I want to make sure to keep my eyes on working for God's Kingdom, rather than my old ways of ambition/seeking prestige. I want influences that will encourage seeking God's Kingdom first, and not lead me back into the temptation to chase my own worldly career goals first.

Here are a few more verses which seem to indicate the same cause of concern:

Psalms 1:1

1 Corinthians 15:33

Proverbs 13:20

Romans 16:17

Psalms 1:1-4

 

[timothyu]

But they believe in some things that I'm trying to turn away from

We learn from experience. God will not condemn you for trying to learn the walk of being in the world but not of it. Consider that if you hide yourself away, or put yourself in a box of like minded, the adversary has you cornered. Everything outside that 'box' becomes the enemy. Jesus said to be servant to all, to love all neighbours as self. Can't do so under a rock. Get out and live in the way of the Kingdom rather than the will of man. You've been given freedom by God to do so. Man on the other hand through life in general, religion, work, debt, etc. want to tie you down. Your choice. Freedom the Kingdom has to offer, restrictions man (the minion of the adversary) likes to place on you. Anyone who says freedom is bad merely want to put you in their box. God wants you as an example out in the world.

 

[Sketcher]

Here are a couple examples: they are very pro LGBTQ (one of their kids is in the community) - and I am just turning away from dating the same-sex in the past 5-6 months. I get really sad sometimes when I see attractive guys and my flesh thinks especially like romantic thoughts. Then of course we are to hold our thoughts captive. And also yes I don't know about being on the pool deck - I want to hold to what Jesus says in Matthew 5:27-28

Understandable. I don't know how much they'll nag you about finding someone of the same sex or who would be an otherwise inappropriate match for you on the cruise, but then there's that pool deck.

In addition, (this is not a judgement of them) but they are very excitable about career achievements, and emphasize professional accomplishment. I myself just walked away from a career path which I was very passionate about because it felt probably hypocritical to continue doing this work that was not glorifying God's Kingdom. I want to make sure to keep my eyes on working for God's Kingdom, rather than my old ways of ambition/seeking prestige. I want influences that will encourage seeking God's Kingdom first, and not lead me back into the temptation to chase my own worldly career goals first.

I don't know how much of a problem that would be on a vacation, lots of people want to get away from all that when they go on vacation, but you know them better than I do.

Out of curiosity, what was the old career you walked away from? And what are you doing to make ends meet now?

Here are a few more verses which seem to indicate the same cause of concern:

Psalms 1:1

1 Corinthians 15:33

Proverbs 13:20

Romans 16:17

Psalms 1:1-4

There's a difference between the closest company you are to keep (which should ideally be wise and growing Christians) and people you reach out to. Unsaved family members make that a little weird because there's that family closeness.

 

[usexpat97]

Cruises almost always have Sunday morning services, but they are a joke. Doesn't matter. Go. Look in your daily program on your bed. 95% of Christians on the ship won't even go to that, and here is God blessing them. Just take that little time out for Sabbath. You'll be fine.

 

[Mario David]

Go on the cruise and take your bible,

enjoy your trip.