God warns us against snobbery and bigotry, things based on externals.
But He warns us to avoid people with bad character:
1. Bad influences (1 Corinthians 15:33).
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”
2. False teachers (2 John 1:10).
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.”
3. Professing Christians with sinful lifestyles (1 Corinthians 5:11).
“You must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler.”
4. Divisive people (Titus 3:10-11).
“If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them….”
We shouldn’t avoid unbelievers (1 Corinthians 5:9-11), but neither should we partner with them (2 Corinthians 6:14).
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
Let’s heed these warnings.
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Note: God has given us specific instructions to honor our parents. We need not respect their lifestyle choices or closely associate with them if they are immoral, but we must show them respect out of our love for God and His commands.
