How The People You Fellowshipped With Can Have Influence Over Your Percepti

The word sharpen can also mean to make fierce. Does the devil see you and your friends as fierce warriors of truth or does he see you as dull brittle swords that can be easily broken?

God’s warning concerning a certain group of Christians

1 Cor. 5:9-13 (NKJV) I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. [10] Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. [11] But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. [12] For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? [13] But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

You are not to keep company or mingle with fornicators and other groups of people that are not living righteous lives. Now, you cannot escape mingling somewhat with unrighteous people. As Paul says, you would have to go out of the world.

However, if they are called a brother or a Christian and actively living in these lifestyles then you kick them out of the church and do not fellowship with them. The motive is to make them rethink their life and repent so that they can be restored.

Romans 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. [18] For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Sinful living is not the only thing that should cause us to separate from "friends" that are not wholly for God or righteousness. We are to separate from the troublemakers. These are the ones that like to get folks all angry up for nothing. They look for ways to trip you up and then rebuke you when you fall. They like to fuss about everything and everyone. They talk a good fight and to those who are not mature enough to have discernment, they look like they might even be right. They gain a following and do more to create disunity rather than the unity that sound doctrine teaches.

There are times when grievances are valid. We should always stand for the truth and when necessary divide over doctrinal issues. Luther said, "Peace if possible, but truth at any rate." However, the ones Paul speaks of here are just whiners. They seek attention and control with their whining and they do not even have the courtesy to serve cheese with their whine. If they requested one egg sunny side up, and one scrambled and you served them on a silver platter they would whine that you scrambled the wrong egg.

These folks are not serving Christ. Their own appetities or bellies control them. Their goals and motives are their own and not God’s. Paul says to absolutely shun them. Run do not walk away from them. Pray for them, but don’t hang with them. Be there to welcome them back if they repent and God removes the bitterness and pride from them. Don’t go out with them, but do not go out of your way to rebuke them at every opportunity either. Even negative attention feeds their flesh. Starve them and they may grow to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Then God can fill them and make them the friend they should be.