To enter into a friendship is to enter the circle of each other’s
friends; but it also inherits enemies and loses former friends. Because of failure
to consider this, we even blind-side ourselves in our relationship with Jesus
Christ – forgetting that he, too, has enemies who become our enemies, and his reputation is affected by us.
This is a part of life. Scripture directs us concerning friendships.
There are those from whom we are to stand back. Yet, in speaking of separation
the Bible does not endorse isolation. Rather, we must be careful to understand
the dynamics of friendships if friends are to come and go for the right
reasons.
The wrong reasons emerge as early as pre-school where we watch
friendships undulate based on the “ins” and the “outs” as identified by
whatever child becomes the mover-and-shaker in the classroom. It is perfected
in the world of politics and, sometimes, in the church, where friendships exist
to serve personal goals.
In fact, it is in the church where an “in” and “out” mindset can impact
outreach friendships with the lost. When a person seriously seeks to love his
neighbor with the kind of friendship which caused Jesus to be accused of being a friend of sinners, he needs to be willing to let spiritually unwholesome “Christian”
friendships walk away. At the same time he needs to cultivate friendships which
will be helpful to the unsaved fellow who is faced with the prospect of losing some
of his own friends if he embraces the Savior he is being offered.
Bottom line? Knowing that friendships embraced can result in
friendships lost is part of counting the cost of following Jesus. Do you have a circle of
authentic friendships which will be helpful to you and your saved or unsaved friend
when some of his friends harass him and walk away because of you?
Next: May 30, 2014
Previous: I Believe You Will Not Violate Me
Next: May 30, 2014
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