Pastor John, over the months, we have a pile of email questions from listeners who want

to know about the certain boundaries we should have in places, Christians, regarding our

friendships with non-Christians.

What are some categories to keep in mind here?

Where would you draw the lines?

We have to find the line between ignoring two seemingly opposite commands.

One is, do not be deceived, bad company ruins good morals, 1 Corinthians 1533, or your

boasting is not good.

Do you not know a little leaven, leavens the whole lump, Paul is talking about tolerating

people in the church that you should excommunicate.

Now on the other side, whoever walks with the wise becomes wise.

But the companion of fools will suffer harm, Proverbs 13.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, stands not in the way of sinners,

sits not in the seats of scoffers.

So you got all these commands and wisdom Proverbs on the one side that say, watch out,

hanging out with corrupt people, can lead to your corruption.

Now on the other side, of course, you got Jesus, who not only ate with text collectors

and sinners, but he was called the friend of text collectors and sinners because that's

in fact what he did.

So often, and you got Paul saying, if you take me as me, when I say don't hang out or

separate yourself from sexually immoral people, if you think I mean the world, then that

won't work because then you'd have to go out of the world.

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