WITHDRAW?

 

Friday, September 25, 2020

 

WITHDRAW?

 

2 Thess 3:6

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

 

1 Tim 6:3-6

3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 

Eph 5:11

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

           It is an uncomfortable concept that we should withdraw from some and become separatists. In social media there are two levels to this action. The first is to “unfollow” a friend. They can still see you, but you have chosen to no longer see what they are saying and doing. The other is to “unfriend” someone which means to remove them from your list of friends. There may be many reasons for this.

 

           The Bible, of course, is not necessarily talking about social media but influential contact. A man is known by the company he keeps! (Proverbs 13:20). The old timers had many ways of saying this truth. Momma used to say, “if you sleep with the dogs you’re going to get fleas.”

 

           Of course, if you practice this kind of social distancing, you will be labeled by those you don’t run with. Even Jesus was not immune to the slander. We see this in Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

 

           Yes, it is an uncomfortable concept, but one that is worthy of our consideration. Be careful of the company you keep because gradually there will be such a mutual influencing of one another that you will become similar in thinking and in actions.

 

1 Cor 5:11

11 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 idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

 

Dear Lord, let me choose my friends wisely and let me be a friend that will influence others for good. AMEN