"Do not be yoked with unbelievers..." scripture

[St. SteVen]

Hopefully other believers can be of more help. Thanks to anyone else?

Maybe glad-handing agreement is not what you need.
On a scale of 1-10, how likely might you be wrong on this?
You seem to be hanging on to this with such a firm grip.
I've been a Christian for 60 years, Maybe I know some things that you don't.

/

 

[St. SteVen]

Hopefully other believers can be of more help. Thanks to anyone else?

This reminds me of a joke.

An atheist accidentally fell off a cliff.
He managed to latch onto a small tree to keep him from falling.
There he hung in midair with no hope of getting back up.
At that moment God spoke to him. "Just let go, I'll catch you."
The atheist cried out, "Is there anyone else up there?"

/ @Lambano

 

[Lambano]

but that I would still be able to be of help and be there if he needs to vent, or even talking like being supportive...

That sounds like a friend to me!

And frankly, I think God would approve of you having a friend for whom you will be there to help and listen to. "Unequally yoked" does not refer to that kind of friendship.*

* The opinions expressed herein represent my own understanding of God as presented in the Bible and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Almighty Himself.

 

[Lambano]

49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” (Matthew 26:49-50, NASB red-letter Bible)

Jesus called Judas his friend, even after Judas betrayed him.

 

[St. SteVen]

49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” (Matthew 26:49-50, NASB red-letter Bible)

Jesus called Judas his friend, even after Judas betrayed him.

I nominate this as POST OF THE WEEK.

WOW!

"Jesus called Judas his friend, even after Judas betrayed him." - Lambano

That's the same Jesus that taught us to love our enemies.
Not the Jesus the church gave us that incinerates his enemies.

/

 

[thelord's_pearl]

I think the most important thing then is to be a friend and share about God and be a follower/example of Jesus but if you notice yourself suffering consequences then you know the level of commitment you should be with your friend, something as Lambano talked about.

 

[thelord's_pearl]

Were you being a part of his worldliness when you were friends?

/

No I don't feel he bothered me at all, except that He can never lift or build me up in Christ if he stays that way.

 

[Lambano]

I think the most important thing then is to be a friend and share about God and be a follower/example of Jesus but if you notice yourself suffering consequences then you know the level of commitment you should be with your friend, something as Lambano talked about.

I'm not sure "suffering consequences" is the right phrase. Maybe, noticing that your commitment to your friend entails doing things you know you shouldn't.

You know what they say: "A good friend will help you move. A really good friend will help you move a body." You don't want to find yourself helping your friend cover up a murder. Or get involved with a business partner in unethical business practices. Or (and this is often a problem for young people in this culture) get tempted into premarital sex.

And the same principle applies to being tempted (due to the commitment to your friend) to not do the things you SHOULD be doing as one of Jesus's people. And that may be more subtle.

 

[quietthinker]

"Do not be yoked with unbelievers..." scripture​

ahhhhh, yer never know where and when somebody is gonna throw an egg!

 

[St. SteVen]

"Do not be yoked with unbelievers..." scripture​

ahhhhh, yer never know where and when somebody is gonna throw an egg!

Don't forget to duck, or the yoke might be on you! - LOL

'

 

[Lambano]

Don't forget to duck, or the yoke might be on you! - LOL

'

We need a groaning emoji.

 

[quietthinker]

Don't forget to duck, or the yoke might be on you! - LOL

'

what! ducks!....quakin' aint my speciality!

 

[St. SteVen]

what! ducks!....quakin' aint my speciality!

Yer quackin' me up. - LOL

What do you call a chicken coup taken over by ducks?
A box of quackers.

'

 

[St. SteVen]

We need a groaning emoji.

A sure sign that it's a Dad joke.
It's fully groan.

/

 

[thelord's_pearl]

Thank you @Lambano and @St. SteVen for your help and discussion, and it's nice having you here @quietthinker! lol...

 

[Lambano]

Thank you @Lambano and @St. SteVen for your help and discussion, and it's nice having you here @quietthinker! lol...

You're quite welcome, ma'am.

 

[St. SteVen]

Thank you @Lambano and @St. SteVen for your help and discussion, and it's nice having you here @quietthinker! lol...

You are welcome.

I noticed a Prayer topic where you were asking for prayer about your own loneliness and friendships.
So, this seems to be a topic, that for you, is beyond the scope of your stated OP on this thread.

I remember something my father told me. "If a person wants friends, they mus show themselves to be friendly."

Basically, isolating behavior leads to isolation, and friendly behavior leads to friendships.
But friendly behavior requires a level of openness with others that puts us at risk of being hurt.

Much more to say about this, but I'll stop there.

/

 

[St. SteVen]

New topic. (shameless promotion)

Thoughts on Invocation and Benediction

Recent discussions on the forum got me to thinking about this. I was a bit bothered by the use of Matthew 18:20 as either an apologetic, or invocation. "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." - Matthew 18:20 NIV The problem being contextual. Not what Matthew 18:18-20...

www.christianityboard.com

/

 

[thelord's_pearl]

You are welcome.

I noticed a Prayer topic where you were asking for prayer about your own loneliness and friendships.
So, this seems to be a topic, that for you, is beyond the scope of your stated OP on this thread.

I remember something my father told me. "If a person wants friends, they mus show themselves to be friendly."

Basically, isolating behavior leads to isolation, and friendly behavior leads to friendships.
But friendly behavior requires a level of openness with others that puts us at risk of being hurt.

Much more to say about this, but I'll stop there.

/

the friend I'm talking about here in this thread is a friend but hardly there for me but when he is, he is pleaant, just to clarify.

 

[St. SteVen]

the friend I'm talking about here in this thread is a friend but hardly there for me but when he is, he is pleaant, just to clarify.

Oh, course.
I didn't assume that the problem was on his end.
You are VERY fortunate if he is still friends with you. (after what you did to him)
Best to bear that in mind going forward.

/