Amen! Very timely post, thanks for sharing.
Also:
2 Timothy 3: 12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
This chapter is talking about the last days, 2 Timothy 3:1 'In the Last days perilous times will come'. Those who stand for truth will be persecuted as deceivers and those deceived grow worse and worse.
I have a cousin who is engaged to marry a pagan lady who is extremely hostile to the faith, he and some other relatives are trying to rationalize it, it's 'a way to get her saved'. Those who express reservations are being quietly cut off. It's the times we're living in. Stand firm for the truth and be persecuted. That's why it's good to have one another.
One way I think people can be pressed to compromise on the truth now is relational, they have a friend or family member and don't want to speak up for fear of wrecking the relationship. Another way is that the deception is presented as something seemingly good or laudable.
God Bless All
Justifying marrying (or dating, being in business, etc. with a non-believer) even if part of it is to convert (save) them, on the surface seems like a laudable goal. However, it is direct disobedience to at least two of God's prohibitions, denies the exclusiveness of The Gospel, and woe is the promised outcome. It also disregards the warnings and promises in 2 Timothy 3.
I have recently experienced (and continue to experience) the
WOE, including abuse and exploitation, that comes from association with with the unsaved "friend" and previously-unknown-to-be-unsaved family members in connection with the trials and tribulations associated with caregiving and burying my (saved) Parents. I haven't told anyone outside of the one saved sibling of the circumstances and condition of my mentally ill, homeless, (questionable) saved/unsaved sibling because I certainly don't need any more trials, tribulations, or especially
WOE, which God has promised would surely accrue from such unholy, defiant association/allowing into one's life
I also experienced this with my former husband, whom I thought was saved when we got married. I was wrong, and the
WOE from that will follow me for the rest of my life.
Maybe I (hopefully) finally learned . . .
Jesus also essentially charged His followers to not waste time with those, who will not listen in Matthew 10, and promised them persecution at the hands of unbelievers, governments, religious leaders, etc. Bad enough to suffer persecutions at the hands of man for righteous deeds, but far worse to suffer
WOE allowed by God as chastisement and/or natural Earthly consequences for failing to obey what is clear in His Word (Bible).
14
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, KJV
20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20, KJV
6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6, KJV
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But
they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and
all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3, KJV
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Matthew 10:12-23, KJV
