Communication part 3
I want to drop a memory verse here that I think has been kind of misunderstood and misused over the years. And maybe I'm going to misunderstand and misuse it right here, but I'm going to tell you what I think about it. And if I'm wrong... at least I'm erring on the side of love. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14). Now, maybe it's just me who has heard it this way, but it seems like the way this verse is generally preached is for "us" religious folk to shun "them" dirty sinners. Like we're not supposed to hang out with people that don't agree with us, because that would be unequally yoking ourselves together with unbelievers. But, guys, most of what Jesus did in His earth-walk ministry was hang out with dirty sinners! I know religious folk who are 100% against drinking. Even though Jesus literally changed water into wine so the party wouldn't stop. My point is... drawing lines in the sand isn't what Jesus came to do. He didn't come to keep people out. He came to bring people in! And, yes, we can all agree that Righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness. We can agree that light has no communion with darkness. But here's the thing--we are the light of the world! All of us. Whether we know it or not. So in order to be equally yoked, we need to have that communion--that communication, that bond, connection, relationship--between the light in me and the light in you! The deep calls out to the deep, right? I think, more than anything, this verse is about not letting anything or anybody drag you down. Letting your light shine, rather than letting it be swallowed up in darkness. Letting your righteousness shew forth, even in the face of unrighteousness. Bringing people up instead of letting people drag you down. Hanging out with people who may have what we call "bad habits" and not partaking in them. Like if you're hanging out with someone who drinks--and I just said what I just said about Jesus and wine--that doesn't mean YOU have to drink. If you're hanging out with someone who smokes, that doesn't mean YOU have to smoke. You don't have to forego your own values and morals in order to commune with people. And you don't have to make people embrace your own morals and values, either. It's not your job to be a Spiritual policeman, if I can say it that way. You don't have to knock the cigarette out of someone's hand. If you don't like smoking... don't smoke. Because if the Holy Spirit can't convict them... you surely don't have a chance. And, by the way, it's not your job to make people behave a certain way. Behavior modification is not what we're looking for here. It's your job to love people. Period. To show them a more excellent way--in your own behavior--rather than demanding that they show you something with their behavior. That's how you'll really be able to build a bond with people. Not by demanding FROM them, but by giving TO them. Giving them everything you have and everything you are. Letting them be who THEY are, while still being who YOU are. Who you REALLY are. Which is who you are in Christ. Which is who Christ is in you. God in the flesh. Love in body. God in YOUR flesh. Love in YOUR body. That's who you are. That's what you have. Just give what you've got without expecting anything from the people you're giving it to!