Just how seriously does God take our relationships with those who hate Him? Does He care? Is He neutral? Does He want us to copy what they, with just a few minor adjustments so we can prove we're "just like them" and then somehow think that earns credibility with the world (who cares if it's valid before God and His children)?
1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
Deu 13:6 "If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods' (whom neither you nor your fathers have known,
Deu 13:7 of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end),
Deu 13:8 you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him.
1Co 5:11 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.
Mat 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
Mat 10:36 and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
Mat 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Mat 10:38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Mat 10:39 "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
Jos 23:6 "Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,
Jos 23:7 so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them.
Jos 23:8 "But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
Jos 23:11 "So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God.
Jos 23:12 "For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,
Jos 23:13 know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.
Psa 106:34 They did not destroy the peoples, As the LORD
commanded them, 35 But they mingled with the nations And learned
their practices, 36 And served
their idols, Which became a snare to them.
Psa 106:37 They even sacrificed their sons and their
daughters to the demons,
Psa 106:38 And shed innocent blood, The blood of their
sons and their daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the
land was polluted with the blood.
Psa 106:39 Thus they became unclean in their practices,
And played the harlot in their deeds. 40 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled
against His people And He abhorred His inheritance.
Psa 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Psa 26:3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.
Psa 26:4 I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders.
Psa 26:5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.
Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
Pro 20:19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
Pro 24:1 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;
Pro 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change,
Pro 28:17 A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.
Pro 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
Pro 1:15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,
Pro 1:16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood.
Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life
Pro 6:24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
Pro 6:25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
Pro 6:26 For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.
Pro 14:7 Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
Mat 10:21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved
2Co 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
2Co 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
2Co 6:17 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.
2Co 6:18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
We don't stop living in the world, as Paul said. We can't not mingle with the unsaved (1Cor. 5:10). However, Paul also said we ARE to be separate in fellowship, goals, union, and the like (2 Cor. 6:14-18). We are still commanded to not be in fellowship with the world, but we are to proclaim the Gospel to it. We are not to seek the friendship of the world, nor be unequally yoked with it because of what else he said: bad company corrupts good character. As seen throughout Scripture, fellowship and union with those who are hostile with God end up influencing those who say they belong to God. It never worked for Israel and it doesn't work for Christians. Friendships with the unsaved are not based on truth and unity, so such friendships are shallow and we should always keep in mind the Great Commission within those friendships. But we are also to keep a distance too; we cannot do what the unsaved want to do if it violates Scripture and the testimony of the Gospel and our witness as slaves of the King of kings. There is, in a word, a limit. And if we are being loyal to Christ, that necessarily means that they will despise us because they hate Christ Jesus. After all, those who are truly saved are IN Christ so if they hate Him, they will hate us.
1Pe 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
1Pe 4:4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;
1Pe 4:5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1Pe 4:6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
1Pe 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
1Jn 3:13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
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