Monday, February 08, 2010

Spiritual battles and difficult decisions.

Ephesians 6:12 (King James Version)
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.


I have been struggling for months about this question: How involved should a born again Christian be involved with an unbeliever or a Christian that is separated from God? How much sin around us can we and should we take? How much should we shelter ourselves and our children from all the evil influences of the world... including friends, culture, media, etc... Where do you draw the line???

I disagree with people that (in the name of Jesus) of course, get deeply involved with people who are living wicked lives. They say the want to win them for Jesus. I am sorry but that is hard to believe. Most of the time it works the other way around. When Christians get very "tolerant" and "accepting" of sin, they soon loose their biblical perspective of sin and start embracing the cultural mandate of political correctness.

I have gotten to the conclusion that there is no black and white answers, but each situation needs to be analyzed carefully and under the light of the word and through prayer. For example, if I find out that a very close friend is living in sin, I may try to talk to talk to her and encourage her to go back to the Bible principles, etc. But if the person chooses consistently to live separated from God, then I need to "draw the line", because I need to protect my own relationship with God and my own children from this person's influence.

Influence for us Christians is a lot more than what a person does and says. Spiritual influence which is the most critical, is worked in the spiritual realm. The part we don't see or hear. Ephesians 6:12

Lately I feel the Lord is calling me to build a wall to keep me and my family from the enemy. This wall is built with prayer, worship and spiritual warfare. But how often we make the mistake of not protecting ourselves from the wolves dressed as sheep. Lord, open my spiritual eyes and let me see! Let me identify those things around us, (and those people around us), that represent a negative influence to us. -The enemy in disguise.-

I want to be salt to this world, but I don't want the world to swallow me alive!

Every situation is different, and I am learning to pray over all of my relationships, and be careful and wise.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Mathew 10:16

Some very though decisions need to be made if we are to live the way God wants us to live and I never thought it would be this hard. To love and embrace the people that God wants me to bless and share with, is not the biggest challenge, but to separate myself from people that I like and even love when their beliefs and their life style jeopardizes my own relationship with God, is by far the hardest part. And what about my kids? God trusted them to me, to rise them in his ways. I am responsible to protect them from the world influences and to teach them a godly way of living. So, how serious would I be taking on this responsibility if I didn't shelter my children?

Today I am praying for wisdom, and I trust God will grant it to me as he promises in his word. Amen.