Expert: Dr Eddy Cheong - 11/25/2010

Question
Greetings.

My name is Eric and I believe at least that I am a disciple of Christ.

My question is: "Is it bad for a Christian to be friends with sinners, and unbelievers?"

Not just to have them as a "Hi-bye" friend as you see them and just say hi and that's it. I mean as to have fellowship. As hanging out with them, going out to the movies, etc.

Throughout the scriptures I've seen that Jesus of Nazareth our Saviour was with sinners but it was the sinners that sat with Jesus not Him.

Mark 2:15: "And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, 'many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples': for there were many, and 'they followed him'."

Matthew 9:10 reads: "And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners 'came and sat down with him and his disciples'."

Hebrews 7:26 says: "For such an high priest became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, 'separate from sinners', and made higher than the heavens;"

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 :"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?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.Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,"

1 Corinthians 15:33: "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners."

... Like seriously if it it is how it is, the Word of God is hard, like literally. "It's a two edged sword that cuts through the heart and through the bones" Do God want us to stay away from sinners and that we are only able to communicate and hang out with them if only they talk to us about the Gospel? That would mean that we will always be lonely. For I've been feeling like this for the last past month eversince I graduated since High School in the past June. I appreciate your time and help through the Holy Scriptures by the Spirit.

The Glory and Honor be to God Almighty through Jesus Christ. Amen.

In Christ I hope,

Eric.  

Answer
BE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED
There is no Scripture prohibiting Christians from associating with Non Christians. In fact we have to go into the world (of unbelievers)in order to be a witness for Christ...

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Matt 28:19 and 20 NIV

Having said that I need to add some clarification to 2 Cor 6:14-17.
A yoke is a wooden harness which binds two oxen to a common destiny (the use of the word ‘destiny’ as opposed to ‘destination’ is deliberate). How can a worshiper of Christ and a worshiper of Baal walk together (see also Amos 3:3)? Verse 16 above says that we are the Temple of (the Living) God, and the Holy Spirit resides in us. Christian Marriage, contrary to common belief, is a tripartite arrangement where a Christian couple makes a covenant with each other in the presence of Almighty God. They essentially become “One flesh”. How could the Holy Spirit dwell in the temple of the Living God and the temple of Baal at the same time (as both of them are now one flesh)? God will only be a Father to you (1 Cor 6:18) if you heed His call for Separation and Holiness (1 Cor 6:17).
Although the verses above apply primarily to Christian marriages, it follows that a Christian Business man cannot go into any kind of partnership with a Non Christian as a God fearing Christian follows the principles enshrined in the Bible whilst the Non Christian follows a different spiritual path.

To associate with someone and to partner with someone are thus very different and separate issues.

With regards to the relationship of a Christian with other Christians, the issue here is one of fellowship i.e. meeting together, breaking bread, etc.
There is only one command with regards to christians not fellowshipping with other christians and this is found in 1 Cor 5:11..

1 Cor 5:11
11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
NIV

In other words we are not to fellowship with a person who calls himself (or herself) a brother (or sister in Christ) if he or she is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. And in any Christian circle, you are bound to meet such persons who masquerade themselves as professing Christians.