Why do Christians think its okay to associate with evildoers or absolve their behavior?

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saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#21
Rose said:

I've been reviewing a lot of what I've seen over the last 40 years and putting it all together to try to make sense of it all and of God. I've seen Christians do some pretty sinful things over the years. But I have equally seen Christians do some tricky mental gymnastics in EXCUSING overtly sinful behavior in OTHERS.

Sister: It is not our responsibility to "excuse" the sins of others, regardless of the church, denomination one is part of. The forgiveness of sin, or the issuance of punishment lies with God.

The part of your question about "associating" with sinners is more tricky. Jesus Himself said He did not come to earth to heal the righteous, but the sick. He was criticized for eating with sinners, "associating" with sinners. He also instructed the church to "go into all the world", and this is what makes it tricky to learn the difference between "associating" and being "a partner in" sinners/sinful acts.

The people in charge of this church you describe are FAR FROM Christians by any standard I read in the Bible. My question is why do you attend that church?

Rose said:

Has anyone else noticed this type of excusing of bad behavior? Christians seem to have the erroneous idea that this type of excusing of bad behavior doesn't matter. I looked for verses pertaining to it and all I could think of was one.

It seems to me you are far too liberal in the use of the term "Christian." Maybe that is the problem? The world if FULL of false teachers, regardless of what they claim to be.

God bless, find a Bible congregation, or, if that is not possible where you live, worship at home with your family. That would be my suggestion. And DO NOT identify all those who profess to be Christians as Christians. We are to discern the spirits. Do that before you choose what to call them.
You're right - it does get tricky. Christ DID associate with sinners - but say a sinner cheated Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Jones has cancer and the money Mr. sinner steals from Mrs. Jones has left her destitute so that she cannot afford her cancer treatments...do you think that Christ would STILL have associated with Mr. Sinner? Or do you think in his case Christ would have seen the egregious harm and pain that His friendship with Mr. Sinner would cause Mrs. Jones?

What I believe of Christ's character, I don't think He would befriend Mr. Sinner if He knew it would hurt Mrs. Jones. Especially if His befriending Mr. Sinner is like Him in effect saying "What you did isn't really that bad!"

Do you see what I'm saying?

I think that Christians have to realllllllly be careful as nothing is usually black and white.
 

saintrose

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#22
No I was not liberal in calling the people Christians. I do believe they were Christians. My husband said the oldest of the family was the best bible teacher he had ever heard. So obviously God did give that man the gift of teaching (or Satan gave him the gift of a silver tongue - I'm not sure which) But I do think the family were Christians. I think they were carnal Christians.

Look at David - a man after God's own heart...he not only committed adultery which led to the birth of an illicit baby - that God didn't allow to line - but David also committed murder! He murdered Bathsheba's husband to get his wife.

I don't understand that one with God. David did pay for his sins and his son died however. But what about his murder of Urriah???
 

saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#23
when dealing with spirtual warfare its imperative to know what a legal right is. If you give demons a legal right to be in your life, its hard to evict them. This may have been an agreement in the past that is causuing you huge headaches now, or some compromise. This is why lots of people get abused because the husband starts beating up the wife, but nobody can really do anything about it until they agree to divorce, for if separated that doesnt guarantee that the wife is not going to be touched again, as marriage gives ones legal right to each others bodies.

thats just one example.
Unsure how you mean that applies.
 

saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#24
I think probably some Christians are aware that they are a sinner also and are not the judge of others . And want sinners to run to Christ and not away from him

“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:9-13‬ ‭

possibly they realize a sinner is a sinner , and there’s only 1 who gets to decide who is forgiven for their many sins , and who is held to account for theirs consider this sinner and this Pharisee and what Jesus is teaching

“And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:37-50‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Notice Jesus didn’t require anything regarding sin or the law from her ? He didn’t point out her many sins and take her over the coals . What he did was corrected the heart of the Pharisee who looked down on sinners thinking himself worthy and she not based upon his own judgement but he was far from Christ’s judgement

there’s a reason sinners love Jesus , and self righteous people mostly reject him
Yes people could realize that they too are a sinner. But listen to this: I read the story of a family whose daughter was murdered by two evil men. Instead of reaching out to the murdered young woman's parents who were in a great deal of pain from the injustice, the nun, Sister Prejean, reached out to the PERPETRATORS, praying for them, and trying to help them in any way that she could.

It just so happened that the murdered girls parents were Catholics and were extremely harmed by Sister Prejeans' kindness towards two men who had brutally murdered their daughter.

Can I ask for a vote as to how many people here believed that Sister Prejean was really doing the Lord's Work?

I in no way want to influence anyone else's views but I'll give you my take on this:

I think Sister Prejean is a lunatic.

The article showed her in her nun's outfit holding her cross and looking longingly up at a statue of Jesus. I don't think that woman knows the first thing about doing the Lord's work.

How can something be the "Lord's work" if it is greatly harming another person in the process??

In my opinion - that Nun - who HAD NEVER GIVEN BIRTH, HAD NEVER FELT THE LIFE KICKING WITHIN HER, AND THE INEXPLICABLE BOND OF MOTHER AND CHILD...HOW COULD SHE >>> EVER <<< CLAIM TO KNOW THE TRUE SENSE OF EXTREME, EXCRUCIATING PAIN OF KNOWING THAT SOME DEMONICALLY CONTROLLED EVIL THING ATT allACKED AND VICIOUSLY ENDED THE LIFE OF A LOVED ONE?

She couldn't because she never experienced that bond...that intense love.

That Nun who THOUGHT that she was doing all this good (and if truth be told she was probably getting accolades for it from someone) when in REALITY she was probably doing EVIL.

They're my views on how this issue gets very sticky.
 

Sipsey

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Sep 27, 2018
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#25
I agree that a person who does evil has a fractured soul, but I just wonder if the doctrine of forgiveness is overused.
I think that like many doctrines, it can be misunderstood and improperly applied.
 

saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#26
Doesn't it just stink when you can't control other people? Doesn't it frustrate the heaven out of you that you aren't God, and can't smite everyone who "tolerates" wickedness?

In the real world, nobody answers to you except you. If you have a problem with someone else, you can deal with it in a biblically sound way, or you can deal with it in a thousand ways that are not biblically sound. I recommend the former, even though it's rarely as satisfying.

During the period of my divorce, I experienced similar feelings to those you describe. I was annoyed that others didn't distance themselves from or rebuke the offender. Through that, though, I realized that I'm not their judge. Most people don't even know the details, and as they were neither involved nor witnesses to the sinful behaviour, it really wasn't their place to judge.

God knows all the details of every situation, and He will judge with perfect justice. We don't get perfect justice in this life. You might be better off not expecting it, and rather, be thankful that God doesn't deal with your sin the way you want everyone else to deal with the sin of others.
Yes but what IF people WERE witnesses to your ex's sinful behavior? Could you so easily have excused them?

What if you were Ron Goldman's father and you knew in your heart that OJ killed your son in a very brutal fashion. How do you think that Mr. Goldman and his daughter felt the day the jurors acquitted OJ of the brutal killing of their son/brother?

I think what happened in that case showed how ugly, materialistic, unholy, and shallow Americans really are. Because someone is rich and famous they can afford the "dream team" attorney group. And because OJ was America's darling sports figure that even jurors were willing to go along with and wink the eye at murder. Everyone knew he was guilty.

Do you think that you should just shrug and say "Well the jurors said he's not guilty" and you wave to him, slap him on the back?

THAT'S THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR THAT I SEE AS SINFUL.
 

saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#27
I think that like many doctrines, it can be misunderstood and improperly applied.
This is what I am seeing.

I see that the Christian life isn't easy. And I see "Christians" even manipulate Scripture verses for their own ends.

The "Christian" sibling who is really evil, manipulated other siblings as a way to try to "prove" that what she did wasn't really that bad - that the problem was, instead ME. She tried so hard to excuse her evil behavior that she manipulated other siblings who weren't smart enough to see through her machinations and who stupidly went along with her.

So the evil sibling acted like (didn't overtly SAY it but "said it" in her actions: "See! These other siblings all associate with me! So I must not be as bad as you say!"

When in fact SHE WAS.

She tried her darnedest. She and my father ganged up on me (I had a very rotten family) and they both blamed ME for being upset with the evil sibling. I refused to buckle. They thought that since they ganged up on me I was going to buckle and agree with them that what she did wasn't really evil.

It wasn't until this year that God really began to open up the intricacies of how people commit evil and get others to go along with them. It reminded me of the verse where Christ refused to commit himself to them because He knew what was in man.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#28
That's a good way to put it: Being a Christian today is a title and not a lifestyle. But in both cases I mentioned, I do believe that the Christian sibling and the Christian family were real Christians. But they seemed able to inflict hurt on others - as long as ~they~ weren't the one feeling it.

The Christian family were slammed bad and winded up having their name dragged through the mud. So God did show them that they weren't going to claim the title while living sinfully. They lost their business but I don't think they should have kept their church because they hurt so many people and didn't care. I still can't stand seeing it because it reminds me d theof how nasty the family was, and how they hurt a member of my family. They showed all the unbelievers in the area how horrible "Christians" are and probably drove many away from Christ.

The Christian sibling was able to make the mental leap of knowing the horrid evil the sibling did yet continued to associate with them. I just don't know how a believer is able to do that. If you knew a member from your church ran into someone and killed them - could you continue to be friends with them, never even considering the pain of the people who lost their loved one due to that person's recklessness? This doesn't even wade into the murky water of police who look the other way when someone recklessly takes the life of another. But in the above cases, the police, as well as Christians were able to look the other way. I just wonder if they have seared consciences where their conscience is no longer working.
I would forgive them but I wouldn't have anything to do with them because if anyone can do that with no remorse and if other Christians can just go with it then honestly I am concerned
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#29
I think what happened in that case showed how ugly, materialistic, unholy, and shallow Americans really are.
Having said that you need to be clear in your own mind that all these are outside of Christ, therefore lost and on their way to Hell. They are already under condemnation until they are saved.

Therefore your primary responsibility is not to be looking for sin and evil in others, but to proclaim the Gospel and extend the love of God to all and sundry (regardless). By no means does that mean any compromise, since the Gospel -- God -- commands all men everywhere to repent.
 

Blain

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Aug 28, 2012
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#30
I think sometimes Christians wrongfully forgive when they should hold accountable. I think the forgiveness doctrine has harmed many many more people than it has helped.

The corrupt family was never held accountable and hurt many many people. Before he left the church the pastor called us to come to his house. He sat for about two hours telling us all the wrongs this evil family has committed. He said there are people who refuse to step foot in a church today because of what that family has done.

So everyone was being nice and forgiving to them...but maybe too soon???

Think of what may have happened if member of the Christian community, instead of "forgiving" this corrupt family, ostracized them instead. Do you think that may have saved more people from getting hurt by them? Because the Christian Community was loving and forgiving the evil family was never motivated to change!

The youth pastor went on to kill a woman in a reckless driving incident.

The family went on to hurt a member of my family.

They went on to cheat a lot of people in the community wit corrupt real estate transactions.

They ultimately severely harmed young children in a real estate transaction.

Did Christians forgive this family too soon? Is this what God really wanted them to do?

Do you think maybe God would have had you rather follow the verse:


Proverbs 17:15

“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.”
Well forgiving doesn't mean not holding them to accountability if a person or a family does such evil deeds it's like how I said if you love them you want the best for them so rebuke is sometimes more loving in the same way if you forgive a person that doesn't mean you just let them get away with it

If a parent catches their kid doing a wrong thing and the kid says they are sorry the parent forgives them but they still recieve their punishment because a lesson has to be learned
 

saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#31
The answer you seek is found in the Cross. Jesus Christ is the solution for mankind - there is no other! It takes the Power of God to set the captive free. Many bypass the Cross for their solutions and Grace is canceled. These problems we face are too severe to be talked out of anybody. Bondage (taskmasters are demon spirits that come to afflict - Exodus 1:11) can be broken only by the Power of God. This is why Jesus had to come from Heaven and die on the Cross in order that the power of sin may be broken. Sin has a power behind it and his name is Satan.

If a Christian will and their efforts to live for God is in anything except Christ and the Cross, i.e., Finished Work, The Blood of Jesus (Romans 8:2), Satan can override your will and force you to do things you don't want to do and trying not to do (Ephesians 6:12). Our willpower is routed in flesh. This is why Jesus said deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow me (Luke 9:23). In other words, receive my benefits daily I have provided for you. Psalms 103:2

The Christian is doomed to failure if he thinks he can face the sin business and simply say yes or no. That's not the way it works. Those who try that (and almost all have) will conclude by failing every time. You may win for a while, but after a while, you're going to fail.

Now, stop and think about this for a moment: If it were possible for us to defeat sin and the attacks of Satan by willpower, then Jesus would not have had to come down here and die on a Cross. He could have merely taught us how to function within our willpower, and that would have solved the problem.

However, He didn't do that, did He? The truth is, the problem of sin is so deadly that it took the Cross to defeat this monster, and even then, we have to have the help of the Holy Spirit to get this thing done. That's why Paul said, "But if the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of Him (God the Father) who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He who raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit who dwells in you" (Rom. 8:11).

This tells us that sin is so powerful that it takes the same power to overcome this thing as it did to raise Jesus from the dead, which, of course, is the power of the Holy Spirit. Understanding that, we should come to the conclusion that our personal willpower is totally inadequate.

However, most Christians little understand the victory of the Cross and try to do this thing on their own, which always results in failure.

The majority of Christians know nothing about the Cross of Christ for sanctification. Justification delivers us from the penalty of sin, while sanctification delivers us from the power of sin. The Cross of Christ is as necessary for sanctification as it is for salvation (1 Cor. 1:18).

Because we are in this body of flesh, as Paul said, "We have not been perfected yet (Philippians 3:12-13)," and because we have an enemy within and an enemy without (the world, the flesh, and the Devil), you can still get tired of trusting. This is why the scripture says:ng

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1


JSM
I wasn't seeking an answer. I was perusing what I had lived through and saw that Christians at time ADD to another's grief by going along with another's wrongdoing - maybe stupidly so - but they still do it.

If anything I would like to urge Christians to really think before they act, and before they throw themselves behind a person. It just may be that person is manipulating you to harm another.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#32
Yes but what IF people WERE witnesses to your ex's sinful behavior? Could you so easily have excused them?
If such were the case, I would choose not to associate with those people. However, I would know that God is their judge, not me.

What if you were Ron Goldman's father and you knew in your heart that OJ killed your son in a very brutal fashion. How do you think that Mr. Goldman and his daughter felt the day the jurors acquitted OJ of the brutal killing of their son/brother?

I think what happened in that case showed how ugly, materialistic, unholy, and shallow Americans really are. Because someone is rich and famous they can afford the "dream team" attorney group. And because OJ was America's darling sports figure that even jurors were willing to go along with and wink the eye at murder. Everyone knew he was guilty.

Do you think that you should just shrug and say "Well the jurors said he's not guilty" and you wave to him, slap him on the back?

THAT'S THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR THAT I SEE AS SINFUL.
I see no point in discussing the sinful behaviour of people who don't claim to be Christians, as I expect that they will be sinful.
 

saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#33
Having said that you need to be clear in your own mind that all these are outside of Christ, therefore lost and on their way to Hell. They are already under condemnation until they are saved.

Therefore your primary responsibility is not to be looking for sin and evil in others, but to proclaim the Gospel and extend the love of God to all and sundry (regardless). By no means does that mean any compromise, since the Gospel -- God -- commands all men everywhere to repent.
Many probably were outside of Christ.

Who is to say what my primary responsibility is? And in advising me of that aren't you too setting yourself up as a judge?

I don't say this with mean intentions, just to point out something.

I was actually thinking that God may be showing me these things in order to write about them. I've seen many injustices inflicted on others as well as on myself by "well=meaning do-gooders."

I think a lot of evil is committed by people who THINK they're doing good. If I search my heart I can probably find times when I too did this.
 

saintrose

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#34
If such were the case, I would choose not to associate with those people. However, I would know that God is their judge, not me.


I see no point in discussing the sinful behaviour of people who don't claim to be Christians, as I expect that they will be sinful.
Discussion here is always voluntary.
 

saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#35
Well forgiving doesn't mean not holding them to accountability if a person or a family does such evil deeds it's like how I said if you love them you want the best for them so rebuke is sometimes more loving in the same way if you forgive a person that doesn't mean you just let them get away with it

If a parent catches their kid doing a wrong thing and the kid says they are sorry the parent forgives them but they still recieve their punishment because a lesson has to be learned
You really grasped it. Sometimes rebuke IS the best thing that you can do for another. It's like a child. If you give in to them every time they demand that you buy them a toy even when they misbehave - you're not doing that child any favors as he or she will likely grow up to be a monster - always expecting his own way even when they do wrong.

Instead of everyone at the one church fawning over t corrupt family we should have rebuked them. It showed that because no one ever rebuked them they continued their evil until many more people were hurt.

Even now - after knowing that the corrupt family damaged many young children's health, their "church" parking lot is full every week. I don't know how those "Christians" live with themselves.

I think as Christians God is going to hold us accountable for things that we think we can sweep under the rug. How do you think it must feel to a mother whose child is permanently damaged, to drive past the "church" that the evil family owns? It must tear her heart out. So then I would have to ask myself:

How guilty are the "Christians" who ATTEND that church for hurting a mother whose child was damaged by the corrupt family?

I do know several Christians who have turned their back on that family - and IMO I think that is the RIGHT response in this case.

Christians all speak about forgiveness, and loving your enemies, and all that, but I think that we at times do the Work of the Lord when we rebuke and turn our backs on other believers.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#36
You really grasped it. Sometimes rebuke IS the best thing that you can do for another. It's like a child. If you give in to them every time they demand that you buy them a toy even when they misbehave - you're not doing that child any favors as he or she will likely grow up to be a monster - always expecting his own way even when they do wrong.

Instead of everyone at the one church fawning over t corrupt family we should have rebuked them. It showed that because no one ever rebuked them they continued their evil until many more people were hurt.

Even now - after knowing that the corrupt family damaged many young children's health, their "church" parking lot is full every week. I don't know how those "Christians" live with themselves.

I think as Christians God is going to hold us accountable for things that we think we can sweep under the rug. How do you think it must feel to a mother whose child is permanently damaged, to drive past the "church" that the evil family owns? It must tear her heart out. So then I would have to ask myself:

How guilty are the "Christians" who ATTEND that church for hurting a mother whose child was damaged by the corrupt family?

I do know several Christians who have turned their back on that family - and IMO I think that is the RIGHT response in this case.

Christians all speak about forgiveness, and loving your enemies, and all that, but I think that we at times do the Work of the Lord when we rebuke and turn our backs on other believers.
You are absolutely right after all if they are unrepentant they haven't learned anything
I am not a parent but just imagining how the parents must feel is gut wrenching, driving by that church knwoing they just got awaay with their horrible deeds if I was a parent of those children my soul would be shrieking with such agony rage and disgust from the very pit of my being I would be absolutely destroyed inside even shaking my fists at God crying out to him how could let them get away with this.

And I would be breaking down in a flood of tears for my child even just thinking about it fills me with rage as I speak I am a very loving and pateint person but when you do this kind of thing with such complete disregard in the damage you caused to so many and you just go about your life as if you didi nothing wrong this is one of those times someone might have to hold me back, I may be a very loving person but I don't trust myself with my anger because it takes a lot to make me angry but if you do such as things like this there is a monster inside that scares even me
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#37
Who is to say what my primary responsibility is? And in advising me of that aren't you too setting yourself up as a judge?
I am presenting you with your primary responsibility as Scripture has given it to the whole Church. The primary responsibility of the Church is the Great Commission. Not sitting in judgment over sinners (as you are doing).
 
K

Karraster

Guest
#38
I've been reviewing a lot of what I've seen over the last 40 years and putting it all together to try to make sense of it all and of God. I've seen Christians do some pretty sinful things over the years. But I have equally seen Christians do some tricky mental gymnastics in EXCUSING overtly sinful behavior in OTHERS.

I've seen a terrible perversion in human behavior which is this: if you do evil to others but just not do it to ME, I'm okay with you. I learned this perversion first hand when a neighbor crazed out on drugs who lived next door to us came after us with a torque wrench, and remained in the neighborhood after being arrested, and people talked to them and were still welcoming to them as long as ~they~ weren't the one experiencing negative effects from it. (It was one of the worst spiritual attacks I've had) You would think that people raising families would ostracize those doing things that were overtly anti-family and even dangerous. But they didn't. I learned a real lesson throughout that about how fickle people are. I think people were actually afraid that if they weren't nice to the couple on drugs, then their craziness would be turned on them.

But what was even a greater eye-opener was that Christians did this. A Christian sibling did something extremely evil and another Christian sibling kept associating with her as if nothing had happened. My whole world was reeling from the blow, and I was trying to gain my bearings it was so bad, and the other Christian sibling kept associating with the evil one as if nothing had happened. I saw the same law of human behavior was at work: as long as you're doing you're evil to another person and not to ME I'm okay with you.

We attended a church where the family who ran it was very corrupt. The youth pastor ran into a woman and killed her. He bragged that he knew all the cops in town and he wasn't charged. Not even with reckless driving or making a wrong turn. Nothing. Instead of shunning him or rebuking him no one did anything. Of course the family's reckless behavior continued and they ended up hurting a lot of people.

Has anyone else noticed this type of excusing of bad behavior? Christians seem to have the erroneous idea that this type of excusing of bad behavior doesn't matter. I looked for verses pertaining to it and all I could think of was one.

Howw much do you think that God holds this type of behavior accountable?

Proverbs 17:15

“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.”
I've read most of the thread and it seems as if some replies are not even on point, or perhaps I am the one who is misreading, anyhow....
I agree with what you are saying and could add tons of examples myself, folks who are in the church doors without fail at every meeting, yet gossiping, backbiting, lying and cheating in their everyday life and they are oh so popular. We are called to be witnesses yes, but we are not called to condone aid and abed sinful ways of others especially if they be brothers/sisters in the faith of Messiah.

I see a world swiftly moving into darkness where deception is rampant and wisdom is rare. In 1 Corinthians we are told evil associations corrupt excellent morals. We are to be set apart from the world and worldly ways. Stand firm sister. We are to love no person on earth more than our Savior, not even a family member can we let get between us and what we know is right.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
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#39
Loving even our enemies does not translate as approving of what they do. Please do not cast doubt on the understanding of the brethren.

When I pray for a sinner, I do not pray for his sin; simple as that.
 

saintrose

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May 9, 2020
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#40
I am presenting you with your primary responsibility as Scripture has given it to the whole Church. The primary responsibility of the Church is the Great Commission. Not sitting in judgment over sinners (as you are doing).
Yes I do the work of fulfilling the Great Commission - I have had a tract ministry and I hand out tracts and leave them around for others to read.

I think you're wrong as Scripture tells us: "have nothing to do with the evil deeds of darkness but RATHER EXPOSE THEM."