Being Friends With Unbelievers

[artsylady]

How do I know that Jesus didn't enjoy the company of the sinners? I didn't say whether He did or not.

Sorry. A few posts ago you did say this.

He wasn't socialising with them because He enjoyed their company

He was doing one of the things the Father sent him to do, which was preach the gospel as in Luke.4, but He didn't have to linger and bring Himself down to their standard of life style in order to do it..... He moved on.

I think you're reading things into the verses that are not there. All it says it that he was eating and drinking with sinners. If he was preaching them, why would the pharisees admonish him?

You are over exagerrating every thing I say.

No I'm not. You just forget what you've said.

You show me the passage or verse in 2nd cor:6:14-18 that Paul is speaking specifically about marriages. You are only surmising.

It's not just me that's surmising. It seems to be a great deal of Christians.

The expression about sleeping with dogs is not to be taken literally as you have. It.s an old saying warning about the company one should be wary of

I agree very much so. We should not be with people who will bring us down. I don't do that.

I've done my share of witnessing in various outreaches, but I was never as thick with anyone that I had to join in with them socially. We are all different Lady,you do things the way you feel you should, but don't preach to me and tell me what you feel I should do to increase the flock.

I might agree with this also. It was you who said it was a no no to fraternize with sinners. I thought you meant that for the rest of us, not just for yourself.

Polish up your halo lady, and give yourself a pat on the back.

For what exactly? Not being tempted by sinners?

Those who choose to segregate themselves probably just fall under different kinds of sin, like judgementalism and self-righteousness. I don't mean to say you are this, but if once you draw lines like these you probably can't help looking down your nose at the sinners.

No matter whether you strictly deal with Christians or whether you hang out with sinners, you'll be tempted one way or the other. The devil doesn't leave Christians alone for anything. Temptation is part of life on earth and it will be until the day we die.

[patricia1]

i go into a bar...sit down order a soda, no one knows I am drinking a soda, I am waiting for my divine appoinment...it happens I leave and hook up that person with church and another believer. I have talked to a few people in the mean time. The fruit comes to fruition and you are gonna tell me I am wrong...I guess that guy could've went to Hell if I listened to you. Jeus came to walk among sinners and loved us so to die for us.

You take things out of context to try to prove you are right. We do not walk that way.. We are all called to be a witness. Maybe not of the fivefold ministry but you are trying to excuse yourself.

The good samaritan was not even looking and blessed the man anyway. How many have you walked by because a lack of feeling for them.

The be-attitudes are not presented by you in a chritisn manner.

It is not my compassion it is Gods...It is not my Love it is Gods Love. This is the difference. It is his will for His children concerning attitude. one towards another in John13:34 and to ALL men. We are to express His nature and is show it through action. Gods Love SENT. Love SEEKS the welfare of all. romans 15:2 and galations 6:10. Phileo is more natural and instinctive. We are to show agape to all men.

Ohileo is also a concious decision. the other is commanded of us. to agapeo all men.

No I was more angry over your words the other night then this new posting to me. patricia1

[patricia1]

i go into a bar...sit down order a soda, no one knows I am drinking a soda, I am waiting for my divine appoinment...it happens I leave and hook up that person with church and another believer. I have talked to a few people in the mean time. The fruit comes to fruition and you are gonna tell me I am wrong...I guess that guy could've went to Hell if I listened to you. Jeus came to walk among sinners and loved us so to die for us.

You take things out of context to try to prove you are right. We do not walk that way.. We are all called to be a witness. Maybe not of the fivefold ministry but you are trying to excuse yourself.

The good samaritan was not even looking and blessed the man anyway. How many have you walked by because a lack of feeling for them.

The be-attitudes are not presented by you in a chritisn manner.

It is not my compassion it is Gods...It is not my Love it is Gods Love. This is the difference. It is his will for His children concerning attitude. one towards another in John13:34 and to ALL men. We are to express His nature and is show it through action. Gods Love SENT. Love SEEKS the welfare of all. romans 15:2 and galations 6:10. Phileo is more natural and instinctive. We are to show agape to all men.

Ohileo is also a concious decision. the other is commanded of us. to agapeo all men.

No I was more angry over your words the other night then this new posting to me. patricia1

[HeatherEljohari]

i go into a bar...sit down order a soda, no one knows I am drinking a soda, I am waiting for my divine appoinment...it happens I leave and hook up that person with church and another believer. I have talked to a few people in the mean time. The fruit comes to fruition and you are gonna tell me I am wrong...I guess that guy could've went to Hell if I listened to you. Jeus came to walk among sinners and loved us so to die for us.

You take things out of context to try to prove you are right. We do not walk that way.. We are all called to be a witness. Maybe not of the fivefold ministry but you are trying to excuse yourself.

The good samaritan was not even looking and blessed the man anyway. How many have you walked by because a lack of feeling for them.

The be-attitudes are not presented by you in a chritisn manner.

It is not my compassion it is Gods...It is not my Love it is Gods Love. This is the difference. It is his will for His children concerning attitude. one towards another in John13:34 and to ALL men. We are to express His nature and is show it through action. Gods Love SENT. Love SEEKS the welfare of all. romans 15:2 and galations 6:10. Phileo is more natural and instinctive. We are to show agape to all men.

Ohileo is also a concious decision. the other is commanded of us. to agapeo all men.

No I was more angry over your words the other night then this new posting to me. patricia1

God bless you pat- Jesus IS God, God loves everyone unconditionally... God WANTS to save us, we are his children. Why would God not want us to help a sinner, no matter how deep into it? *I believe* Our loving God doesnt want us around certain types of sin if it can be a personal weakness which we can fall into. But- I dont believe we can avoid people who need us, do you?

Heatherxoxoox

[eric]

May be I should't have made my apologies. They weren't accepted anyway.

From now on I will keep my mouth shut.

[artsylady]

May be I should't have made my apologies. They weren't accepted anyway.

From now on I will keep my mouth shut.

Eric: Now I'd like to make an apology. I usually respond to threads as I see them and that's what I did. After I read your apology, I meant to respond to that entire post but ran out of time. So I do accept your apology brother. And thank you for it and should have at least responded with a quick acknowledgment like I am now.

[artsylady]

So about family. My sister who is in her 89th year, and me, are all that is left of my family and she is christian. On my wife's side of the family all of except one sister out of four, and my wife are all atheists and when we have a family get together the convo always end up about talking sex and other obscene topics. They are definitely not my friends, but I am still civil to them for my wife,s sake.

I hope they are also aware that you love them.

I wonder if they'd talk about things like that just to get you ticked off? Some nonChristians do like to get the 'goats' of Christians and do enjoy seeing them uncomfortable. Kind of a mob mentality thing where individually, they would not act this way. If the only time you saw them was at family gatherings where you HAD to be there, this would give them opportunity to act this way.

Well they are all gone now and I can only hope that some of them found the Lord before they were buried. Nineteen of them passed away in a few months and I haven't been back for five years. Now.... I never ever referred to our association with each other as friendship, but comradeship with fellow soldiers. After a while they became used to me and toned down their language and loud talk. I'm in my 85th year now and maybe I'll meet up with some of them and maybe I wont. I,m glad I met them, but I could never have been busom friends with them. Just an orator or a bystander. Sorry for any rude remarks.

If you don't mind my asking, what kinds of sins would you fear falling into by befriending some of these comrades? I understand if you don't answer too, but Im not sure what you mean exactly about this.

[kari21]

i go into a bar...sit down order a soda, no one knows I am drinking a soda

What if someone you had witnessed to before, but was still making up their mind, saw you in the bar? What conclusion would they come to? Perhaps that you were a hypocrite, and thus reject the Gospel message?

I'm not saying that your motives aren't good, just that appearance does count for a lot.

Kinda like a man going to witness in a strip club.

[kari21]

What if someone does not see that they need repentance or salvation. What of Christ do you give them then?

To be honest, it's really not my concern then. I have planted the seed, and the Holy Spirit will bring the conviction. You must remember, it is NEVER us doing the convicting and saving - it is God alone. If one rejects what you have said, the Bible says to "shake the dust from your feet" and to move on.

[dgolvach]

The best I know how to deal with them is to show them love and show them that the sorce of that love will no longer allow me to do some of the activities that they do. Hopefully they will look at my life and say..."hmmmm...where does this guy get all of his love from"? Its wasn't hell fire and brimstone witnessing that lured me to Christ but I saw something others had that I wanted. I need it and so do they. (unbelievers) God is a fountain of love and if we follow him this love overflow out of us on to others.

Dan