1. II Corinthians 6:14-18 The Four Mistakes Christians Make About Whom They Spend Time With

2. I.Mistake Number 1 Hermit Syndrome or “Going it alone” Problem: The believer who withdrawals from others depletes his spiritual fuel tank, is derelict in his duty to build up other Christians, and is unavailable to be light and salt to the unbelieving world

3. The Biblical Standard… In essence, believers are to bath in Christian fellowship which then enables them to be light and salt to the world around them. Hebrews 10:23-25, Ephesians 4:15-16 Matthew 5:13-16

4. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. Matthew 5:13

5. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; "nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

6. A famous early example was St. Simon the Stylite, lived atop a fifty foot pillar for the last thirty- six years of his life.

7. II.Mistake Number 2 Fellowshipping with unrepentant believers Problem: I Corinthians 5:7 Unrepentant believers leaven the whole lump of dough

8. Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Galatians 6:1 Our first course of action…

9. Biblical Examples: Causes dissensions and hindrances – Rom. 16:17, Titus 3:10 Immoral, covetous, idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – I Cor. 5: 11 Unruliness – II Thess. 3:6 Freeloader – II Thess. 3:11 False teaching – II John 10

10. In summary… Turn away from them Do not associate with them Do not eat with them Remove them Keep aloof from them Reject them

11. III.Mistake Number 3 The Holy Huddle Problem: After one becomes a Christian, his or her pool of non-Christian friends empties till it is all but dry. He or she is then neither light or salt to a dark and salt void world

12. Paul’s clarification… I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-- not even to eat with such a one. I Corinthians 5:9-11

13. Implication… Paul thought it incredible for believers not to hang around unbelievers. How could one ever earn an audience with someone to share the good news with if they didn’t have unbelieving friends to share with?

14. I never understood a sign I saw as a young boy When I was a little boy I went to a friend’s house who had a sign that non-Catholics were unwelcomed on the door. I thought at the time, “How strange.”

15. In contrast… We must develop friendships with unbelievers We must earn their right to share with them the truth of the gospel We must share with them in a culturally attractive and relevant approach with gentleness and love yet without sacrificing truth We should develop a list of unbelievers we are in constant prayer over

16. IV.Mistake Number 4 Unequally Yoked Passage: II Corinthians 6:14-18 Problem: Forming deep intimate friendships with unbelievers which can pull us away from devotion to Christ

17. Context of passage… This passage at hand is an interlude, that is, it seems to have been placed here by Paul either as an afterthought or Paul was not necessarily concerned about the flow of the passage Who does Paul primarily have in mind as the unbelievers not to be bound to? Answer: In all likelihood, it is the false apostles that he has condemned in this epistle

18. What is Paul afraid of? But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. II Corinthians 11:3 Solomon was living proof of the violation of this principle. Nehemiah 13:26

19. This begs the question… What is the difference between associating with unbelievers and being bound to them? Answer: The difference lies in the level of intimacy, dependency, and influence.

20. Paul’s admonition in vs: 1a… Do not be bound together with unbelievers (NASB) or, literally, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (KJV) Leviticus 19:19 Deuteronomy 22:10 Two different animals would hurt each other

21. Paul’s five rhetorical questions… 1.What partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Answer: None 2.What fellowship has light with darkness? Answer: None 3.What harmony has Christ with Belial? Answer: None 4.What has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Answer: None 5.What agreement has the temple of God with idols? Answer: None

22. Paul’s Six Stark Intimate Terms… Yoked (bound) Partnership Fellowship Harmony Common Agreement These six terms are what glues us together with God and fellow believers

23. I just have to ask… Co-authors of the national best- seller All's Fair: Love, War, and Running for President, Democratic strategist James Carville and Republican strategist Mary Matalin have been key players on the national political stage for more than two decades.

24. The Lord’s call to separate… Vs: 16 – We are the temple where God lives This has incredible implications. God not only dwells in us, but walks with us and we are His people Vs: 17 – Break off improper relationships with those who don’t know God If one does break off improper relationships, the promise of God’s intimacy is sure

25. What does all this mean? The primary interpretation of this passage again means that believers are to separate from false teachers and those who could lead them astray The application of this passage has much further implications with other significant relationships

26. 1.Does this passage teach then that Christians should not marry unbelievers? See I Corinthians 7:22 2.Is it wrong for a Christian to date an unbeliever? 3.Is it wrong for a Christian to go into business with an unbeliever? 4.Should Christian teenagers not make their closest friends unbelievers? Life Questions…

27. In summary, it appear then… We are to fellowship with Christians We are not to associate with unrepentant believers We are to associate with unbelievers We are not to be bound with unbelievers