In The World, Not of the World

What kind of folks do you look forward to hanging out with? What kind of things do they do?

What are their interests or hobbies in their idle time?

Who you "willfully" and idly hang out with and what you "tolerate" says a lot about your relationship and just how "set apart" or "holy" you really are.

We have to make proper choices when adjusting our lives to the will of Yahweh as the Holy Spirit leads. This includes even those we associate with in this life that we choose to associate with . This is not the
same as “being in the world”, as in associating with those we have to work with or those we
come into contact with while attending to our daily activities. But the ones we choose to be with in idle time.
Neither does this include family that we live with that are not of the same mind and heart.

This is what Paul said of the matter:

1 Corinthians 5: 9 “I wrote to you in my letter not to keep company with those who whore. 10 And I certainly did not mean with those of this world who whore, or with the greedy of gain, or swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.” 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone called ‘a brother,’ if he is one who whores, or greedy of gain, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler – not even to eat with such a one”

It's important enough that Paul references it to mean those who are considered

“brethren” that we should avoid. "Don't even eat with them" he says. I'm sure that implies a

chosen private setting such as the home or others outside of just regular public dining. It's a no compromise zone.

Surely it has some effect on us or maybe it's a witness against those who do those things. I would say both.

He goes on to say: 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But Elohim judges those who are outside. And put away the wicked one from among you!”

( that should be enough to show that the popular phrase “don't you judge me” has been misused to justify sin in many cases)

Again in 2 Thessolonians 6 But we command you, brothers, in the Name of our Master Yeshua Messiah, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly...”

But we should also be careful how we handle these situations as Paul notes here:

2 Thessolonians 3: 13 And you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, note that one, and do not keep company with him, so that he is put to shame. 15 However, do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

These matters should be handled with care.

We would want the same mercy shown to us if ever we strayed in our walk. Being kind is not

tolerating sin however. We stand against wrong behavior, showing that it will not be tolerated

as the world tolerates sin.

Making these kinds of choices does not imply that one thinks he is “better” per se' than another. It's about the influences that others have in your life and loving someone enough with “tough love” actions that say “I love you enough to do this even if you do get mad at me”.

We should take heed to the instructions given to us for the “working out our own salvation”

and establishing good habits and keeping company with others doing the same to help one another grow.

We, as people, tend to be more like chameleons than we realize. We will slowly take on the “color” or characteristics of those around us. Therefore we should surround ourselves with those of whom we choose to be like.

If we want to be godly people learning of the ways of our heavenly Father, we should choose

the company of like minded people.

However, choosing to be like the world doesn't really take much effort because it's already all

around us so we are admonished to “come out from among them”.

Bitter and sweet, light and dark, right and wrong just don't mix therefore

2 Corinthians 6: 14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 And what agreement has Messiah with Beliya?al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore, “come out from among them and be separate, says Yahweh, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you. 18 “And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says Yahweh the Almighty.

To take this admonition even further we should look at another area in our lives that many give much of their time to.

Entertainment.

Predominantly idle time spent in front of the Television. The eyes, ears and mouth of the world. And, the biggest advertising agency worldliness has. This also extends into the movie theaters along with the “games” our children play.

Are murdering, stealing, adultery, filthy language, etc, what we call "entertainment"? Fun?

Watching a good"movie/story" on television, or an all out event to a theater, with a message of

goodness prevailing in the end is great.

But to sit there and indulge in one that is loaded with evil suggestions, pornographic images

and the likes is another. We have allowed ourselves to be "entertained" by purely sinful

behavior. We should shun such images and words and not allow them into our homes much less

our minds. Instead of protecting and guarding our minds we make a conscience choice to feed on this stuff.

Would you choose to let an adulterous scene take place in your home? Or the making

of a porn film? You do when you turn on the television and tune into that show or movie that portrays that very thing. We can try and justify it away by saying “the story is what I'm looking at” or maybe if a scene was only a few seconds long we'll think no harm was done. We can come up with all sorts of excuses and ways to try and justify sin, but having it in “pretend” form on a screen doesn't make the behavior less sinful.

Remember, Yahshua told us that if we even think something like lusting after someone or being

angry in our hearts that it is sin. How much more if we partake of someone elses' imaginations

that they have hired people to act out?

There are better choices if we really must sit and feed on what's coming out of that box that we love to have entertain us.

“Imagine” if you will if we spent as much time praying for the lost, and seeking out the treasures

that our heavenly Father desires to share with us; That which is found in the place where He

desires to feed us from; His words, the scriptures; The window into His will, and His kingdom.

This is an area that we should consider diligently in our lives if we choose to be “set apart” unto

the will of Yahweh. Yahshua didn't give His life so that we could continue in sin in any form or fashion.

Being in the world is one thing. However, what you do and who you associate with, other than

necessity, is another. There is a difference.

While in the world we don't have to be of the world.

Shalom