Matthew 9:10-13(NKJV)
Now it happened, as
Jesus sat at the table in the house, that
behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His
disciples.
And when the
Pharisees saw it, they said to His
disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those
who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire
mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners, to repentance.”
Compare that to what
Paul says.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17(NKJV)
Do not be unequally yoked
together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with
lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
And what accord has Christ with
Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
And what agreement
has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As
God has said: “I will
dwell in them And walk among them.
I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
Therefore
“Come out from among
them And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive
you.”
Is Paul telling us
to shun those who don't believe? It sure
could be interpreted that way. I think
there is a distinction here that Paul fails to make.
In the case of Jesus
I think he is demonstrating that you have to go to where the unsaved are in
order to have a chance of saving them.
In the case of Paul
I think he is referring more to who you spend your time with when you aren't
trying to save people. I think he is
saying don't hang out with unbelievers in your everyday life because what do
you have in common with them.
Notice that Paul
refers to the unsaved as the unclean.
Isn't that judgmental? :)
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