Wise Men Needed

[Catsmeow]

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:14-18 (KJV)

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners". But wisdom is proved right by her actions. Matt 11:19 (NIV)

remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:20(NIV)

Recently, I found myself in a quandry.

I feel overwhelmed with compassion for the lost generation of "Harry Potter" kids who've found themselves ensnared in the dreadful trap of the occult.

While feeling the yearnings of a Christian motivated to reach the lost souls of children, teenagers in particular, I also see enormous controversy regarding the scripture references to stand back and avoid becoming defiled by the sin itself.

There's ample scripture to support this concern...so someone who voices alarm is scripturally sound in their position.

YET, there's still the issue of those kids.

I feel like I see people trapped in a burning building. If I run into the house, I could get burned. If I don't, those people will die.

I hope someone...anyone...will see where I'm going with this.

I don't like the occult or condone it. I don't like gay lifestyles or condone it. I don't agree at all with Catholicism.

YET, I am compelled to reach out to those people. I want to understand them. I want to show loving concern. I want them to see the Light.

There's an overwhelming confusion in my brain. I admit it! I have having a terrible stroke of cognitive dissonance. I don't know whether we should just turn and keep our hands clean...or get down into the dirt and gather these lost souls up in our arms like bunches of flowers.

Do we run into the burning building and save them...or do we keep ourselves separate? *(Be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing).

I'm utterly at a loss right now...and any godly wisdom would be valued!

[IslandRose]

Dear Cats,

Here's the way I look at it. It is easier for a person outside the quick sand to reach in and pull someone out than it is for someone in the same pit to help his friend or brother....

Simplistic maybe, but I am just a simple person.

IR

[sagz4Christ]

Cats,

I have looked up in a few commentaries the verses you gave, and have found the following. This was taken from "John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott Illustrated New Testament".

2 Corinthians 6

Verse 14

Unequally yoked together; joined with them in any of the pursuits or associations of life. This prohibition is often, though without reason, supposed to refer specially to marriage. It seems, however, to be more general in its meaning, referring to connections of every kind.--Unbelievers; idolatrous heathen. The term, as used here, cannot justly be considered as intended to include individuals not professedly pious in a Christian land. (See 1 Corinthians 7:39.)

Verse 17

The unclean thing; the sinful pursuits and pleasures of the idolatrous world around them.

I think the meaning in this passage is to keep Christians from "accepting" and "agreeing" with the unrighteous acts of the nonChristians. I can't think of a better way to say it, save this; as we reach out to the lost and dying, we are to keep ourselves from becoming defiled by their "unclean" acts. For instance, if we are reaching out to drunkards, we are not to go to the bar and sit with them as they get drunk. If we are witnessing to someone steeped in pornography, we are not to sit there and be with them as they are looking at the stuff. Likewise, if we are to witness and reachout to as lost generation that has their minds wrapped up with Harry Potter, we are not to go with them and watch the movie, or if it is worse, we are not to attend any "worship" services they want to attend.

We can see this portrayed by our Lord in the next verse you gave:

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners". But wisdom is proved right by her actions. Matt 11:19 (NIV)

He ate with and extended His love to the "unclean" sinners of His day. He did this without condoning their behavior, and sat with them as they were away from the sin that was theirs. (I mean not in the middle of it).

To conclude. we should be concerned that as we reach out to the lost, that we don't defile ourselves or the temple of God (our bodies). It is always a concern and that is why there is ample Scripture to support your concern. What we have to do instead of run away though, is pray.

If the Lord put on your heart to witness and reachout to these teenagers, then you had better do it. Pray that God will give you the dicernment needed to witness in Truth to these kids. Pray that He will protect you as you set out in His will for your life.

Remember, my sister, the Lord goes before us and makes our way straight!

I hope this helps

your humble servant by His Blood;

~Sagz

[Catsmeow]

Thanks, Sagz. I don't know any other way to reach these children.

When I was in missions, I went into the streets and sat with beggars. I held naked little orphans in my arms. I, myself got real dirty in the ghettos.

I didn't mind getting dirty.

When I see these precious children who get trapped in the occult, I feel such pain and grief, I cannot turn away.

When I was in missions, I remember standing on a street looking into the eyes of a little girl, dressed in rags, her hair knotted and filthy. She stood with a tin cup in her hand.

That little girl had those big, brown, baby doe eyes - so lonely and needy and no one to love her. I ached. I remember those hot tears streaming down my face.

The more "seasoned" missionary I was with said, "Oh, don't worry...you'll get used to it".

I thought, "If I ever get used to this...I shouldn't be here."

Same with these children.

I never want to become calloused and insensitive. I want to reach out to them. I'm not worried that their covered in sin, any more than I was I'd get dirty being in the streets with beggars and orphans.

Sometimes, in order to get our "ox out of the ditch"...we just need to climb in and push.

[Faith1]

Dear Cats

What a sensitive heart you have, how wonderful and a blessing. If this is what our Lord would have you to do then do it...all with prayer before His throne of grace and He will guide you.

You have to know in your own heart if this is our Lord truly calling you to this much needed mission as you look to Him in prayer He will make it clear to your spirit and you will know...

If however you are still usure then just 'wait'

Remember dear sis 'prayer availeth much' some of God's precious ones who cannot get out and about because of possible physical disabilities have many times been called by our Lord to simply pray in earnest and consistently for such a mission...

Prayer is a powerful tool indeed. I am restricted because of financial limitations yet the Lord has given me many to pray for and about and I have seen changes in progress...

Weather we are in the thick of it physically or through prayer God will take care of everything.

Hope I have'nt rambled to much... :x: sorry cats

In Christ

Guessa

[Catsmeow]

Thank you... I think that was the Lord speaking to me through you. I really need to spend much more time in intercessory prayer.

I so feel for the children...whether here or abroad. Whether they're into the occult or just poor and impoverished...it's a very hard world to grow up in these days...and my heart just aches for these kids.

[nebula]

Hey, cats!

I don't know specifically what your struggle is - is it about interracting/befriending or about going to places and/or doing things you normally wouldn't as a means of interracting and relating to these children?

You know, the Bible is full of paradoxes. It seems to say two opposite things at once. (Like one verse in Proverbs tells you to answer a foo according to his folly for such-such reason, followed by a verse telling you not to answer a fool according to his folly for such-such reason. I guess it's a context thing? )

John the Baptist because of his calling and ministry didn't "eat and drink" while Jesus "ate and drank."

It's like the conflict Paul mentioned with some people regarding only one day a week as holy, while others regarded every day as holy.

Isn't there a verse about every man needing to judge in his own heart what is right?

Ultimately, I believe this is what you will have to be confident in - what is the Lord putting into your heart?

It's like what I went through with church. I didn't see it a sin or backsliding to not go because it was becoming dead to me; the program was interfering with my meeting with God. But everyone around me thought otherwise. I was so-o-o-o-o thankful to find others here who feel the same as I. It was like a confirmation to my heart that it wasn't "just me" and that I am where I need to be in order to pursue the Lord.

So, if you can discover which decision it is that your heart is most at peace with, that may be where the Lord is leading you, even if it seems wierd or unconventional. Ask the Lord for wisdom in this, if you haven't already.

Blessings on your journey!

[Adstar]

Cats I fully agree with the sentiments of sagz4Christ's post.

Jesus may have drank with drunkards, but you can be assured He never became drunk.

Let the Spirit guide you when you reach out to the lost.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[RCruise]

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:14-18 (KJV)

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners". But wisdom is proved right by her actions. Matt 11:19 (NIV)

remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:20(NIV)

Recently, I found myself in a quandry.

I feel overwhelmed with compassion for the lost generation of "Harry Potter" kids who've found themselves ensnared in the dreadful trap of the occult.

While feeling the yearnings of a Christian motivated to reach the lost souls of children, teenagers in particular, I also see enormous controversy regarding the scripture references to stand back and avoid becoming defiled by the sin itself.

There's ample scripture to support this concern...so someone who voices alarm is scripturally sound in their position.

YET, there's still the issue of those kids.

I feel like I see people trapped in a burning building. If I run into the house,  I could get burned. If I don't, those people will die.

I hope someone...anyone...will see where I'm going with this.

I don't like the occult or condone it. I don't like gay lifestyles or condone it. I don't agree at all with Catholicism. 

YET, I am compelled to reach out to those people. I want to understand them. I want to show loving concern. I want them to see the Light.

There's an overwhelming confusion in my brain. I admit it!  I have having a terrible stroke of cognitive dissonance. I don't know whether we should just turn and keep our hands clean...or get down into the dirt and gather these lost souls up in our arms like bunches of flowers.

Do we run into the burning building and save them...or do we keep ourselves separate? *(Be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing).

I'm utterly at a loss right now...and any godly wisdom would be valued!

Hi Sis!

There have been a lot of good responses to your post. If I can humbly add anything in simplicity, it is this:

The warning Paul gave in II Corinthians 6 was against becoming a part of or joining with those who are not Christ's. Whether in marriage, business, etc.... Some Christians forge friendships with unbelievers and while with them, become like them not living fully in Jesus. They become like that person in the sense of joining in unprofitable or wrong conversation and acts. Ususally, the unbeliever never sees nor hears anything of the Gospel. Yet, as in my wife's case and mine sometimes, we had friends from before Salvation. Some we never hear from because we don't do those things anymore and we just aren't "fun" now. Yet others have drawn closer seeking from us just what has given us peace and fulfillment. Several have accepted Christ just from seeing our lives.

In very simplistic terms, as long as you are humbled and walking with Christ daily, continually in His Word so as not to be swayed or "snared", you "can do all things through Christ who strengthens [you]". In other words, you can enter satan's territory with confidence in Christ who already defeated satan.

As far as Matt 11:19, Christ was simply showing the hypocrasy of the Pharisees:

Mt

[Guest ronan]

I know i am realy moving away from the main topic but i feal that this must delt with. You said in your orginal post

I don't agree at all with Catholicism. 

I understand that some of the isuse in Catholism are hard to deal with. But that they are side isues. i think that the most import thing that is sumed up in Romans 10:9 "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and belive in you hart that God raised him from the dead , you will be saved." Now any one who does not put this scripture in to practise is not a Christain, weather Cahtolic or non-Catholic. And it is our belife in Jesus resrection that unites us. The best sumation of this is in Ephesians 4:4-6 "(4) We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all be called into the same glorious future. (5) The is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) and thier is only one God and Father, who is over us all.".

We all worship God in own ways, but that does not make any of us non-believers. And to say Catholics worship saints or marry is wrong. Any one who does is wrong and gulity of idolirty.

I just felt that i sould point this out to you as you seam to consider that Catholics are amoung the lost, which is taking time away time which could be spent ministering to those who do not have Jesus. I hope this helps and i will be happy to anwser any questions you may have Cats.

Trust in Christ ALWAYS!