25.11.2020

(2 Corinthians 6:14; Psalm 1:1; Mark 16:15) Is it good for a believer to have close friendship with unbelievers?

Bible passages: 
2Corinthians 6:14-16, Mark 16:15, 1Corinthians 5:9-10, Luke 7:34, Matthew 28:19, 1Corinthians 3:6, Matthew 9:10-13, Matthew 10:16, Colosians 4:5-6, Acts 26:17, Matthew 10:5-16, John 4, 2Peter 2:20-22.

Discussion:
The main scripture used for discussion are:
2Corinthians 6:14
   Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Psalm 1:1 
   Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
Mark 16:15 
   He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Definition of unbeliever:
Oxford dictionary meaning - “someone who has no religious beliefs, or who does not follow a particular religion”.
Unbeliever are those that have heard about Jesus Christ or those that have heard but have not made up their mind to follow Jesus Christ.
The bible warned us against being getting close to unbeliever but we still need to be friends with them to win them over to Christ.
Colosians 4:5-6 Paul advised that be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity……
Acts 26:17 ….. believer are being sent out with a promise of being kept safe from own people and those who are not Jewish. Believers are sent out:
to open the eyes of people so that they may turn away from darkness to the light; away from the power of satan and to God. There is example of Jesus sitting with Samaritan in John 4.
Besides that, Paul’s letter in 1Corinthians 5:9 mentioned that believers could not disassociate with those who sin sexually, or with greedy, robbers or those who worship idols. He added that to get away from them, one have to leave this world.
Paul went further in verse 11 …. you must not associate with those who call themselves believers in Christ but who sin sexually or are greedy, or worship idols or abuse others with words, or get drunk, or cheat people. Do not even eat with people like that.
In a nutshell, Paul warned against having association with hypocritical people - people that claim to be a believer but are not working in the way on the Lord.
Conclusion
Believers ought to influence the unbeliever not vise versa. Don’t copy unbeliever’s bad behaviour. Peter warned that after being made free from evil and knowing Lord Jesus Christ. If they (believers) return to evil things and those evil things control them; then it is worse for them than it was before.
Verse 21 … it would be better for them to have never known the right way than to know it and to turn away from the Holy teaching that was given to them 2Peter 2:20-22.

May God help all believers to remain standing in Him. May the Lord touch unbelievers to know God🙏🏽.