Our modern culture has taught for many years that, to be a good Christian we should just allow anyone and everyone into our lives, mousily putting up with anything they choose to dish out, without challenge......and we call this love.
God tells us to be bold with others about Christ, speak plainly and clearly, when they resist we are to walk away and leave them to God.
How often have we wanted to say, "enough is enough", in dealing with stubborn and contemptuous people, but we resisted because those around us would not only disapprove but all defend the wicked ones.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
"14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,"
Matthew 7:6 ""Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
Proverbs 13:10 "Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel."
1 Corinthians 10:20-21 "20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."
1 Corinthians 5:11 "11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one."
2 Peter 2:13-14 "13 suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their [a]deceptions, as they carouse with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;"
Galatians 4:8-9 "8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?"
If we speak and live our faith boldly, few will understand, even people who claim to be "Christian will not understand and will come against us. But thankfully, God gave us permission and even commanded us to withdraw from those who would continually work against the truth God gives us.
We are called to live in peace, if that peace is continually destroyed by rebellious people, then we are to let them go. We can pray for them, as God leads, but not allow them in our lives while they remain rebellious.
If God does a miracle and they become born again, with a changed heart and a changed life, then we can accept them back into our lives, cautiously as we watch their walk.
When we are born again by the Holy Spirit of God, our actions and words will match up, there will not be a discrepancy between our words and our actions.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 "for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake."
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