Sadly, too many people feel obligated to remain with family no matter what, but this should not be the case. We are free to remove anyone from our lives and get on with our own without them.
Anyone who would pressure us to remain with those who disrespect us should also be removed. We do not need foolish drama in our lives that only perpetually torments us. No one else should pressure someone to have someone as a friend.
This is a subtle form of bullying. No one else can know the full dynamic of others in our lives; they must trust us to make our own decisions based on the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We love our children, but in our day of deep rebellion and arrogance, we must take control of our own lives without the continual dramatization of immature family members who cause trouble at every turn.
Matthew 10:21-23 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next."
I have a basic philosophy I am convinced is Biblical, which is, never remain with those who work to undermine your walk with Christ.
Those who misinterpret you deliberately without a desire to get to know you will never edify you in Christ and you will not be able to edify them because they do not value anything you say or do. I am happy to understand others, but when they not only don't want me to understand them and have no desire to understand me, then there is no basis for a relationship.
This modern culture has become so completely self-exalting to the degree that, as a rule, people do not care about one another, and empathy is almost entirely absent. We love to care about others, but when they see our caring as an intrusion, then we have to move on and pray that the Lord will present Himself to them.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 describes what we are experiencing right now, but we often walk in denial, hoping we can salvage the wreckage, only to be disappointed by the lack of results for our efforts.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"Godlessness in the Last Days
3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."
It is not mean or rude to politely decline to do things with family. It is not mean or rude to politely make our own choices and decisions to be with like-minded people who love the Lord as much as we do.
When those we have moved on from begin to realize their need for Christ and become born again, then we will be siblings in Christ. When this happens, the drama will no longer be present, and their entire way of viewing life will be changed, because they will be a new creation.
It is not unloving to make our own choices pertaining to friendships. We are called to do so in God's Word.
Proverbs 14:6-8 "…6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them."
Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.'"
Proverbs 9:6
"Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding."
We must pray for people, but this does not mean we will be friends with everyone.
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