Aletheia

Q: As a Christian, what level of association should I have with non-Christians?

Scr.: 1 Cor. 15:33; Prov. 12:26; 1 Cor. 5:6-8; Prov. 14:16

This question is a rather common one with an answer that some people don't like and try to justify their preference. David summed it up well in stating that it is all about influence. Who influences who usually seems to be the big question and the defining factor. The confusion and misconception usually comes when people misinterpret the meaning as saying we should stay amongst ourselves and never think about the outside world. This view simply does not make sense. Jesus would never have given us the great commission unless He meant it. There is a tendency of some Christians to criticize exclusivist thought and protection as having a "holier-than-thou" attitude. Joe expressed this when he stated that no one is better than anyone else and it's haughty to not be friends with a non-Christian. The term he then used was spiritual racism. True, there are some who deceive themselves into thinking they deserve grace or warrant God's merit. This is false, but, Christians, if they are real, truly are better than every non-Christian because we have received grace and mercy and help and purpose and all those other things that somehow don't seem to be too apparent in Christians at this present time. We are better because we are beings that have been transformed by Christ, as Mr. Callahan said, and are continuing to be made better each day.

Does this, then, give Christians reason to shun non-Christians? Not in the least, but rather we should be all the more present in their lives so that they may see the difference and desire the change. But, 1 Cor. 15:33 warns us that "Evil companionships, communion, associations corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character" (Amp.) And 1 Cor. 5:6-8 commands us to get rid of all sin because just a little bit contaminates the whole body of Christ. In these passages, the only casting out and shunning is of those believers who still sin greatly and without repentance or struggle. The "immoral brother" ,as is Paul refers to the type, is to be expelled if he/she will not concede the reality of his/her sin. The Bible tells us in other places like proverbs that who we are effects and guides our neighbors and that the wise friend is the one to have because he/she avoids trouble (12:16; 14:16). In closing, Rachel stated an idea that I hold to be true and real along with many others, like Bo Sutherland, that friendship can only and always exist from one Christian to another. The similarity that forms the friendship is strongest and the effects of Christianity on the whole life style produce easy friendship because of easy tempers and congenial personalities, not to mention spiritual unity.

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