Don't Join Sinners!

Please read through these verses before continuing. My words will fade away, God’s Words are forever. God’s word treasured in your heart will keep you from evil.

THE BIBLE WARNS US ABOUT EVIL

After the first ten verses of Proverbs we are warned about evil! We are born with a sin nature and it is the choice of each person what they will do. Some choose to follow God. Some choose to do what is right. Some choose to sin. Some choose to be evil. Some become so evil that their consciences are seared. This is the nature of man.

As Christians, we live in a fallen world. We live with people that have made all kinds of choices. Some very evil, some very good–God tells us to discern the intents of people. We are told not to join sinners in their sins, even if it is for ‘fun.’ Sinners are self-centered not others-centered. Christians are commanded to consider others more important than themselves. A huge difference. This Proverb tells us that they believe it is just ‘fun’ to ambush the innocent. Think about that. Think hard. This is life.

THE BIBLE WILL TEACH US HOW TO DISCERN GOOD FROM EVIL

We are commanded to love, to love others with a passion, but as spoken throughout the Bible, we must have discernment! We are to love everyone, but we are to discern what they are! We are to love them and hate their sin. God will give us the wisdom and discernment to know who is real. Within the chapters of the Bible we can learn how God describes a hypocrite, a liar, a cheat, or an idolater. God gives us great insight into the thinking of sinners; just like we see in Proverbs 1:10.

DON’T CONFUSE A CRITICAL SPIRIT WITH DISCERNMENT

Now it is very easy for our discernment to become a critical spirit. Or it is possible to rationalize our critical spirit as being discernment. Each of us know, when we are sinning in our attitude toward people. The Holy Spirit convicts us. So we must be listening to God. There is a very fine line between religious judgmentalism and discernment. It is the attitude of the heart. Religious judgmentalism is of the flesh, discernment is of the spirit.

DISCERNMENT IS A TOOL TO EQUIP THE SAINTS

God is so awesome! He wants to equip His people. We are told in the New Testament to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves. It is important what we do with our discernment. Discernment should not be used as gossip. Oswald Chambers teaches that discernment is primarily given to show us how to pray. Discernment is given to protect us. Just like this verse says–turn your back on sinners, don’t join them.