KEEP AWAY FROM IDLE AND DISRUPTIVE PEOPLE

Proclamation:

“In the name of The Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”  2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.  Paul begins this third and final chapter of this second letter by asking them to pray for him and his fellow laborers. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)  Then he offers a brief prayer for them. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)  Afterwards, he told them to keep away from every believers who is disorderly and who does not live according to the way that they have been taught.  He repeated this later in the letter and added that they were not to treat the disobedient one as an enemy, but to make them feel ashamed and to warn them. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)  He also told them that if an idle brother is unwilling to work, then he should not be given food to eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)  He ended the letter with a benediction. (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18)

Application:

We should be very careful regarding the company that we keep and the friends that we associate with.  “Birds of a feather will flock together.” (Author Unknown)  “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)  As believers we are to witness to the lost, but we are not to fraternize with them on their level.  If we cannot pull them up with The Word of God, then we should not let them pull us down into their sinful behavior.  If we cannot help them, it is better for us to avoid them.

DO NOT BE YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS

Proclamation:

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  … Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?  For we are the temple of The Living God.  As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.’”  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Paul begins this chapter with a discussion of all the hardships that he has had to endure. (2 Corinthians 6:3-10)  After he lists all of them, he makes it clear that he has opened his heart to them but they have not done to same to him. (2 Corinthians 6:11-13)  Then he tells them that they should not be unequally yoked to unbelievers.  This statement is not addressed to believers who are married to unbelievers, which he had addressed earlier. (1 Corinthians 7:14)  This message is addressed to those believers who are hanging out with, or in relationships with, or partnering with unbelievers.  He tells them that The Lord says, “Come out from them and be separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) 

Application:

Believers should not socialize with unbelievers.  If the believer is not trying to tell the unbelievers about The Lord Jesus, The Christ, then what are they conversing about, and why are they fellowshipping?  Any activity with unbelievers is probably sinful.  It is even worse if the believer is worshiping with the unbeliever or being pulled away from Christ.  If we cannot pull them out of sin, we should not let them pull us down into it.  We should separate ourselves from as much sinful activity as is possible.  We may have to work with unbelievers but we do not have to socialize with them.  We should not be courting them or partnering with them.  How can two people walk together unless they are in agreement? (Amos 3:3)  This text about being unequally yoked is not about believers who disagree on how something should be done.  This is about not having a relationship or an agreement with an unbeliever.  If what we are doing is not giving God glory, then we should not be doing it.