The Prayer Channel
The blog home of the internet radio prayer meeting heard Wednesday nights at 10pm central time

Let’s just say for the sake of argument that we are in the last days.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (ESV)

If you read that verse you can certainly build a case that if we are not in the last days we’re rapidly heading in that direction.  However, I’ve heard this passage quoted by people as an excuse to never associate with people who have not accepted Christ because it says to “avoid such people.”  If we are to avoid them, these Christians believe, then we need to make sure we do not include them in our lives and never interact with them beyond the times we have to do it for work or some other purpose (like talking to a teller at a bank.)

Let’s ignore for a minute that you really don’t know someone’s place with Christ until you get to know them and let’s say that you can spot someone who is “unholy” a mile away.

“Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” – Matthew 5:15 (ESV)

To completely ignore these people and to isolate yourself from them means you’re taking the light that shines through you and hiding it under a basket (or, more accurately, behind the walls of your home.)  There is no way to bring Christ to those who do not know Him without interacting with those people no matter how much you think putting a tract on their front porch will do the job for you.  YOU must interact with them and let them get to see God’s light shining through you.

You have to find that middle ground between hiding from the world and opening all to everyone.  While Jesus wants you to give to others He also wants you to provide for your family and those who depend on you because that is giving as well although many people don’t look at it that way.  You are giving to your wife, to your children, to your parents and in-laws, cousins, etc.

What I think Timothy is being taught by Paul is to not get involved with these people in a way that is substantial like a business relationship or marriage or legally binding situation.  Avoid placing yourself in a place where someone who openly sins and openly refuses to acknowledge the truth of God is able to control you in some legal, binding manner.  (This is why it’s also important to vote because otherwise you’re willingly allowing yourself to possibly be put in the hands of someone who refuses to follow God’s teachings.)

So be on guard but don’t be invisible.