Stay Away from those People I Want you to Hang out with!

Some people have troubles sorting out what God means when he tells us to "Come out from them and be separate [from them]" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). It seems obvious that we are to get away from sin, but then how do we get people saved in the first place, if we don't hang out with them? And that's a fine line to walk- being with sinners and not sinning! But it's not about staying away from sinners. It's about staying pure in the midst of sin.

When in the presence of non-Christians, we usually expect them to behave as a Christian would. For instance, have you ever asked non-Christians to not swear around you? Now I don't swear and I don't like hearing it, but I realize that it's Christ in me that has lifted me out of that stuff (and lifted that stuff out of me). I can't expect people who don't have that power within to live in that elevated state. When you think about it- how silly is that expectation!? How can you act like a Christian without having Christ in you? It's impossible (in fact, it's a real challenge when you do have Christ in you!).

What we need to do is keep ourselves from being sucked down while modeling what Christ has done in our lives. Believe me, it shows- especially after time when they realize that you don't do those things like they do. You stand out when you act different. So it's not about keeping ourselves from sinners, but keeping ourselves from their influence.

Another part of the issue is taking a stand when those who call themselves Christian, but aren't acting like Christians should, give Christ a bad name by their poor example. Those are people Paul tells us to shun if they don't take your reproach and continue to sully Christ's name. The hope is that they will finally get the message and straighten their lives out. But how often do we just let them go on with their degradation and not call them on it? How many people do you know who "wear the uniform," but everyone knows they're involved in sin? And need we be talking about "big" sins (whatever that means) or can we see that gossip, meanness, stinginess, control, etc. are sins too? We need to come out from them and be separate with the hope that they will repent and return to Christ.

Get out there and associate with those sinners! Hang out with them! Spend time with them! Get to know them! But don't get pulled down by their actions, instead set the example and be a part of Jesus' desire to lift them up to higher ground.