Answers
By BGEA Admin • December 29, 2023 • Topics: Christian Living
Q:
Is it true Christians should not associate with people who live differently from us? It seems that would be pretty haughty. At the same time, it doesn’t seem right to pat ourselves on the back for living a different kind of life, thinking that we are better than others, does it?
A:
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
No one likes an arrogant, prideful person. This is certainly not the mark of a Christian. The Bible says that God opposes the proud but favors the humble (see James 4:6). God wants us to be pure in body, pure in mind—and He wants us to be pure in conduct.
Under this rule of good conduct also come our associations. Paul says that evil companionships corrupt good morals (see 1 Corinthians 15:33). This condemns all business, social, fraternal, and religious associations in which unchristian principles and practices govern. We are to be separated from the world’s system of evil and bear witness to the light of Christ.
Christians who are involved in associations that are evil and corrupt are told to be separated from such things (see 2 Corinthians 6:17). God promises that if we do this, He will receive us into His most intimate fellowship.
The Bible teaches that purity of conduct includes truthfulness. God’s Word teaches that we should be truthful in our representations of ourselves. With what scorn Christ denounced the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees! In the Sermon on the Mount, He rebuked all hypocritical giving, praying, and fasting. We should also be truthful in speaking of our past achievements in our particular vocation. God does not ask us to understate the facts—that might even be untruthfulness—but neither does He want us to overrate our achievements or our gifts, either in thought or in speech.
The Bible is the constant fountain for faith, conduct, and inspiration from which we drink daily.
(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
