Today Dr Charles Stanley talked about how once you become a Christian and once you learn the ways of God, then you need to be discerning. You need to follow the ways of God, and avoid the ways of evil people.
And it says in Proverbs to be careful who you hang out with if you are a Christian, if you are a Christian then you do not spend time hanging out with evil people. Also of note, is that who you hang out with is a reflection of you.
For example, many times I have lived in bad neighborhoods because I am poor, but I did not become friends with the drug addict criminals who I had for neighbors. I would lock my door and stay home alone and I would not make friends with the drug addicts and criminals.
If you are a good Christian, then you do not need to be hanging out with bad people. You need to be discerning.
And it has been hard for me, because I had uncles who were criminals, and I had to learn that they were not role models, but instead they had problems from not having a father and not being raised right. Dealing drugs, and going to prison, that is not the way to be. And it is not healthy for a Christian to hang out with people like that.
I have a neighbor who is into meth, and as soon as I found out that she was doing meth I lost all respect for her, and I will not have anything to do with her. I am not going to be friends with her. I need to be discerning like the Bible says.
So, that is what Dr Charles Stanley talked about today. Be smart in the choices you make in who you spend time with. And for me, I would rather be alone than be with bad people. Sometimes it is hard being alone, but I would rather be alone than be around bad people. And when I do find a wife, she will be a good Christian like me, and she will be into what I am into, and she will hate illegal drugs just as much as I do, etc.
If you are a Christian, then you need to have Christian friends, and you need to be discerning.
Salute,
Tony V.