Minister Yes, Mingle No

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?  Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?  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 will be My people.”

        “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.  “And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.  And I will be a father to you.  And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

The people of God face the question of what relationships they should have with unbelievers.  When the Apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthians about this he quoted the message to “be separate” which God gave to the Old Testament Prophets Isaiah and Hosea.

This is good advice for Christians.  There are those who want to stop us from speaking about Jesus, those who want to lure us into sin, those who would like us to fall from grace and even some who would like to kill us. 

We also know that the best defense is a good offense and the best offense is to keep our distance from unbelievers.  We can be friendly, but not necessarily friends with those who are not leading Godly lives.

We can share the Gospel with unbelievers and invite them to church and see what happens.  And, perhaps they will become believers because God’s arms are wide open and waiting to receive them.

Minister yes, mingle no.