Working, socialising with unbelievers

[Nancy]

Hi there all,

I am thinking a lot lately about this subject.
At the moment, i have a job which i love doing, a waitress in between cleaning and washing up, a jack of all trades. I look forward to going to work in the mornings. But something spoils my enjoyment totally. After listening to what a person said of their experience in which they quit their job as they felt bogged down by (i assume the language, conduct, whatever) their colleagues, i feel that i shouldn't like my job because obviously i will be dragged down aswell!  There is a lot of swearing, but there is swearing everywhere these days, it's par for the course.  And then this same person is saying that it is better to join a social club than to go to church teaching ET.  I am a very impressionable person and feel that i must have no opinions of my own as they CAN'T be right before God.
Then i get bogged down with the whole spiritual thing and think i just want a simple life after a life of deep thoughts in which i thought i was losing my sanity. 
What is so terrible about mixing with ALL kinds of people and enjoying their company? Does every conversation have to be SPIRITUAL?
This thinking doesn't do anything for my sanity and happiness!
Any thoughts?
Godbless
Nancy

[hopeful]

Hi, Nancy!   :hiya: 

So few people even like their jobs
but yet you love yours!
What a blessing! 
Just keep lovin' it, sis!  :HeartThrob:
And just because someone else felt they had to change
work places because of bad language, doesn't mean you do.

Enjoy a simple life full of love!   :HeartThrob:
Enjoy different types of people!
Let the Spirit of the Lord fill your heart!

:dsunny:
Hopeful

[arup]

Hi, Nancy.

Jesus' words -

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."

Jesus hung out with "sinners" too.  Maybe you are there for a reason.

Don't condemn yourself (although I understand where you are coming from and have some of the same traits myself).

Andrew

[sparrow]

Maybe that person left their job because they couldn't quite grasp the notion of seeing others as children, too, who only want to love and be loved. No matter the actions on the outside, we're all the same on the inside....  some of us just don't realize it yet, that's all. God loves all of us. And one day we're all going to realize that we are one big family. It's a blessing to know this. What, we can't deal with some carnality from our brothers and sisters? It's too tough for us to deal with? Our ears are so precious...? We're so delicate...? No. I think not. Jesus didn't run from sinners, he embraced them. Is it because we see ourselves in the carnal ways of our neighbor that makes us run away from them? Is it because we are feeling the sting of our own sins? Are we feeling the sting of knowing that those sins are what put the nails through our saviours hands and feet..? Jesus has overcome for us. All of us. No need for guilt, only gratitude. Are we going to show our gratitude by running away from "uncomfortable" situations? Like I said before, are we NOW too precious? too delicate? I don't think so. We need to go into these situations with full force, remembering our gratitude and showing it by being strong and learning how to love our neighbor, no matter how deep the sin, or how much it offends. Love conquers all. Fear and avoidance accomplishes nothing.

(I'm kind of thinking out loud, here. and writing this as a reminder to myself. I've been having problems in this area....)  :Gcry:

:HeartThrob:,
sparrow

[Nancy]

Hi there sparrow and arup,
thanks for replying!

I, sparrow, am certainly not delicate! I come out with some corkers at times and i'm not squeamish when mentioning bodily functions to the consternation of others!!!! And i adore Father Ted (a comedy programme set in Ireland about a parochial house in which live three priests, one a rapid alcoholic who says Feck! and Arse! a lot!)
arup, i agree with you that Our Lord mixed with 'sinners' but then i read the Apostle Pauls' letters and he seems to be saying not to mix with unbelievers! Whats' the deal here?
Godbless
Nancy

[arup]

Hi again, Nancy.

In regards to Paul's letters... I can see where you're coming from, but he was very practical about things, as well.  I love this verse, and maybe it's applicable:

11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thess 4:11-12

I tend to think that we need to find the middle ground.  This verse was posted somewhere on this forum the other day and it was very helpful to me...  Perhaps you'll appreciate it, as well.

16 Do not be overrighteous,
       neither be overwise—
       why destroy yourself?

17 Do not be overwicked,
       and do not be a fool—
       why die before your time?

18 It is good to grasp the one
       and not let go of the other.
       The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.
Ecclesiastes 7:16-18

Either way, I can sympathize with your struggle as I deal with the same internal struggle sometimes, as well.  One day at a time is the only way I can really approach it.

Andrew

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: I think Paul was speaking to babes in the faith. If you're at a place in your walk where you know that nothing can move you out of your persuasions BUT God, you can go in anywhere with any crowd, and not be moved by anything but Him.   

When I came to the knowledge of the Lord, I didn't want to be around my old friends and they didn't want to be around me. Not because I thought myself better now, but because it was so awkward since I was so different, and everything that came out of my mouth was not of the old me. I couldn't help it, I was truly no longer that person, and didn't want to be. They felt uncomfortable for the same reason, and didn't understand what I was trying to tell them the difference was.

Now I have a handful of Christian friends that don't think I've fallen off the deep end, but for the most part, I'm surrounded by unbelievers. It's hard sometimes, but I've grown so used it being just me and the Lord these last few years, for the most part it doesn't bother me. I'm usually thinking to myself, "What's Your purpose in bringing them across my path, Lord?" and waiting for an answer. It's not about us, it's about His purpose and He's always got one, LOL.......blessings to you.......

[Kratos]

Nancy,

I think that God's idea of "fellowship" is much deeper than our own. The same Paul who recorded God's admonition that there should be no fellowship between light and darkness and between a believer and an unbeliever, also, said this:

1Co 5:9  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

In context, Paul had just instructed the believers in Corinth to have no fellowship with a brother who was a fornicator because fellowship involves a mutual contribution of spirituals. But, he added, that he did not mean that we should not spend time with unbelievers even if they are sexually immoral. They are lost and do not know any better. We do not fellowship with unbelievers because we do not mingle with them spiritually as we do with believers in the church. We must be around them so our light can shine to them.

I hope this makes sense. We must not hide our lights under baskets when it comes to the lost. We must be around them to be salt and light to them. But, once a person is alive spiritually, we must be more careful as believers do not just "hang out" like the world, we fellowship in the spirit. I will hang out with believer and lost alike, but I will only fellowship with believers who are walking close to the Lord.

John

[Yahschild]

Nancy,

I think that God's idea of "fellowship" is much deeper than our own. The same Paul who recorded God's admonition that there should be no fellowship between light and darkness and between a believer and an unbeliever, also, said this:

1Co 5:9  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

In context, Paul had just instructed the believers in Corinth to have no fellowship with a brother who was a fornicator because fellowship involves a mutual contribution of spirituals. But, he added, that he did not mean that we should not spend time with unbelievers even if they are sexually immoral. They are lost and do not know any better. We do not fellowship with unbelievers because we do not mingle with them spiritually as we do with believers in the church. We must be around them so our light can shine to them.

I hope this makes sense. We must not hide our lights under baskets when it comes to the lost. We must be around them to be salt and light to them. But, once a person is alive spiritually, we must be more careful as believers do not just "hang out" like the world, we fellowship in the spirit. I will hang out with believer and lost alike, but I will only fellowship with believers who are walking close to the Lord.

John

GREAT way to put it, John!  Really great!

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: :thumbsup: Well said, John........

[rosered]

 
wow i too was blessed by your stament John !
  thanks alot  for sharing whats in your heart!!
just read this admonishment  of Pauls two days ago and than there it is !  seeing this as a  double witness  to me

  was thinking of al the blood shed [spiritually speaking that  goes on when the worldly realm  and the spiritual realm  are  mixed  this come to mind for me

    Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

  to me its the partaking of such things that  Jesus warns us to  Remain [ not loose what  we have  spiritually gained through His giving to us , what we have in the first place ']
  i know  for  a fact  they can make you shrink back into fear  from the Grace  that God has given  liberally to  us causing us to stumble and doubt again  what God has spoken and estamblished within us ..
  love rose
 

[noname]

Christ came to be the Light in the Darkness...just follow his example, be the light to your coworkers by just being you!...shine on! :thumbsup: