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Fellowship

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Nelson Boils:
You say,"one of the friends believes in the restoration of all things and THE OTHER TWO DON'T."

So if the other two don't believe,why O why are you trying to fellowship with them?Are you hoping to convince them?

2 John 10:10 " If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.Anyone who welcomes him SHARES in his wicked work."

Wittenberg:
Dave in Tenn and Nelson Boils

Great questions to ask oneself! With an all-powerful God, there is only success I guess. Having to wrestle with this, is part of God's plan for my life, however small it turns out to be. I define success in the case of "fellowship or bible study etc." as being blessed and being a blessing to others. I've heard opinions from pagan people that have challenged me and lead me to seek deeper truths of God. I also have relationships with people that care nothing for the Bible that give me great joy.
Thinking again about my original question and re-framing it; I will be setting aside an hour or two a week to meet with men to discuss our lives and explore our faith. When i put it in those terms, there is no failure.

In the past I have become frustrated when joining others in a fellowship/church setting because I felt I couldn't speak my mind (because I couldn't) without being viewed as a heretic. I have very few friends that believe the way we do here. I understand more and more why Jesus hung out with the people that he did, they were okay with hearing the TRUTH!

Regarding the verse quoted below by Nelson Boils
2 John 10:10 " If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.Anyone who welcomes him SHARES in his wicked work."

I'm going to need to ponder this, it's an extremely challenging verse for me. The hard part is, I enjoy being around so many people that don't believe, whether a Baptist or an agnostic/atheist. I guess this verse jumps out at me as meaning, not to accept their teaching verses not to spend time with them. (Others viewpoints would be appreciated)

I hope the spirit in which I'm asking these questions is received in the way I'm trying to give it. Thanks everybody

Extol:
Hi Wittenberg,

Here is something else to consider:

Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.

2 Timothy 2:22-26 (The MESSAGE)

And the same from the Concordant Version:

22 Now youthful desires flee: yet pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with all who are invoking the Lord out of a clean heart.
23 Now stupid and crude questionings refuse, being aware that they are generating fightings.
24 Now a slave of the Lord must not be fighting, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, bearing with evil,
25 with meekness training those who are antagonizing, seeing whether God may be giving them repentance to come into a realization of the truth,
26 and they will be sobering up out of the trap of the Adversary, having been caught alive by him, for that one's will.

This might sound like a contradiction, but I don't believe the Word of God contradicts. As with Proverbs 26:4-5

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit

different circumstances require different responses and attitudes. We must ask for the wisdom of God to help us discern whether one is on the verge of the truth, or just wanting to be argumentative.

Deblyn:
Amen, first of all to Kat's response. I learned long ago not to try and "convert" people. The Lord is quite capable, although He may use any one of us to help someone else along the way. Also, Jesus said, "No man comes unto the Father, except by Me".  It can be frustrating at times to deal with others who believe that faithful church attendance, etc., are part of God's requirements into the "sweet bye and bye". Be patient, and tolerable when needed.

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