This is something I put together for our college and career age group at church. It was written with them in mind but is applicable to all of us.
Does the Bible have anything to say about the company we keep? Let’s take a look at some examples of what we are told about church attendance, and the people we associate with in our daily lives.
First and foremost, we are instructed to be in regular attendance at a local church. Hebrews 10:24-25 speaks of the importance of assembling with God’s beloved church and encouraging one another with love and good works, ESPECIALLY as we get closer to the day of His return. It’s a vital part of our walk with God, to be in fellowship with other believers, to love and encourage each other, to hold each other accountable, to pray with and for each other, and be under the teaching and protection of a pastor who shepherds his flock with God’s absolute truth.
In a world where truth is relative, we need a God fearing group of people to rely on, have mutual encouragement with, fellowship regularly with, and have accountability with. No matter what some may say or think, this is not something we can simply do alone. Often when we are younger in age, and/or faith, we think we can do everything on our own. But as we mature in age and faith, we find that is simply not the case. We need the help of others to get through daily struggles, and we need those other people to encourage us and keep our focus on God. When we venture out into the world alone, and/or with non-believers, we become susceptible to influence and corruption from the world. Satan feeds on our weakness, and will work tirelessly when we are on our own to get a foothold in our mind. Jesus Himself was tempted by the devil as he wandered the desert alone, no man is immune from the temptation of the evil one.
Upon salvation, one of the things we are gifted, is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, we find that our desire for things of the world begins to dwindle. We no longer have the same desires for worldly satisfaction and approval, but instead have a growing desire to better know and draw closer to God. 1 John 2:15 lays it all out for us: If we have a desire to be a part of the world, we do not have the love of the Father in us. So if we truly are saved, we should see a clear change in our own lives and desires, to no longer want the everyday influences of the world as a part of our lives. We should begin to see and have a desire for separation. This often includes relationships with non-believers, as we cannot follow the world, and God at the same time; it was James who said: “friendship of the world is enmity with God”.
This doesn't mean that we are to stop associating with anyone who is not a Christian. Not only is that not possible, but that would violate the command in Matthew 28:19, to go and make disciples. This verse should convict all of us, as it clearly states “ALL nations”, not all but the one we live in. Our country is in dire need of awakening, and we need missionaries on our streets as much as we need them overseas. We are those missionaries for our country, for our home town, for the people we interact with on a daily basis. We are His beloved people, and we need each other to further His great name, defend the truth, and spread the Gospel.
Scripture references:
Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”
1 John 2:15 KJV
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
James 4:4 KJV
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Matthew 28:19 KJV
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Some additional verses to check out:
Proverbs 18:24 KJV
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
John 15:13-15 KJV
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Galations 6:14 KJV
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
(**Crucified here is a reference to death. At salvation there is a death between us and the world)
