Question: Should we distance ourselves from unbelievers?

September 1, 2018

TBC Staff

Question: I have been born again for 20-some years and began taking an [exercise] class about four years ago. My teacher is a self-proclaimed gay man. I struggle with supporting him even in a small way. He does sometimes question me about Bible issues, [and] I never back down but quote the verses that condemn homosexuality. Am I wrong taking lessons from him?

Response: To begin, we shall be praying that the Lord will give you wisdom and discernment as you seek to witness for Him.

In 1 Corinthians:5:9-10 we are told, “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.” (Emphasis added)

Verses 11-12 of that passage tell us that we are not to continue to fellowship with those within the body of Christ who continually engage in immoral behavior but that they are to be judged. On the other hand, the scripture tells us that to avoid those who are not believers and are living contrary to the Bible would be impossible. As long as we are in this world, we will be in contact with sinful people. We may have no idea whether the grocers, repairmen, service personnel, doctors, et al., are engaged in homosexuality, or are drunks, fornicators, extortionists, or involved in any other immoral behavior. If we use the opportunity of this contact to share the gospel, who knows what seeds we may sow for His kingdom? You say that you have had liberty to share Scripture with this man. Isaiah:55:11 tells us that God’s Word shall not “return unto [Him] void, but it shall accomplish that which [He] please[s], and it shall prosper in the thing whereto [He] sent it.”

To sum up, because we will have some contact with those who continually practice sin, we must be prepared to share the gospel, to pray for them, and to trust the Lord to give the increase.

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