Bible Questions Answered:
“...and so I hang with these guys although I don't approve of everything they do...”
Kelly/ Voorheesville, New York U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
We are known by who we associate with.
Association:
The act of associating or state of being associated.
Dictionary.Com
Associate:
To join as a companion, partner, or ally:
Dictionary.Com
Condone:
To disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like):
Condone:
Accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue:
Oxford Dictionary
Should Christians Associate With The Ungodly?
Exodus 23:2 KJV
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil..."
Exodus 34:12 NLT (The Lord speaks to Moses)
“Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.
I Kings 11:1-3 NLT
1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites.
2 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.
3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from The Lord.
II Chronicles 19:1,2 NLT
1 When King Jehoshaphat of Judah arrived safely home in Jerusalem,
2 Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate The Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, The Lord is very angry with you.
Psalm 1:1,2 KJV
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of The Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
Proverbs 2:20 KJV
"...walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Proverbs 4:14 KJV
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Proverbs 13:20 KJV
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Proverbs 24:1 NLT
Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.
Proverbs 28:7 NLT
Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.
Luke 16:13 NLT
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other..."
I Corinthians 5:11 KJV
But now I have written unto you not to keep company*, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
*Company- Greek: Sunanamignumi (Soon-an-am-ig-noo-mee): To mix up together, associate with: (have, Keep) company (with).
I Corinthians 5:11 NLT
"...you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
I Corinthians 15:33 KJV
"...“bad company corrupts good character.”
II Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV
14 Be ye not unequally yoked* together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath Light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of The Living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith The Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be A Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Some people are laboring under the delusion, that the word “yoked, refers only to marriage, and that would be a gross mistake!
*Yoked”- Greek: Heterozugeo (Het-er-od-zoog-eh-o): To associate discordantly: unequally yoked together with.
Yoked, then would indicate any friend, business or social companion, partner, or ally:
I John 2:15 KJV
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of The Father is not in him.
Every day, we face decisions of acceptance and popularity among our school chums, and office workers, versus remaining true to The Lord Jesus and our faith.
We do not need to run, from the ungodly, but as Christian people, we must be on guard so as not to be construed as being “one with them.”
Joshua 24:15 KJV
And if it seem evil unto you to serve The Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve The Lord.
