The question on my heart today is not related to my marriage but is about toxic relationships/friendships and when is it okay to walk away as Christians.......
I have always assumed as a Christian that we are to continue to turn the other cheek even if a non-believing person continues to bring toxicity into our lives. I thought we were meant to basically continue to take the beating in hopes that they will come to Christ one day and see the error of their ways. However, I've been doing some searching of the bible to understand how to deal with certain people in my life who are causing division and mock my God and yet continue to have expectations of me as that of a loving friend or family member....
After reading scriptures to understand my role in this scenario I've come to the conclusion that if they continue to choose the worldly ways and turn their backs on God even after being shown truth and they are not repentant for their behaviour then I have Gods grace to walk away.
This is not to say that we should walk away from every tough relationship because clearly there are people who are truly sorry for their behaviour and see the errors of their ways. God forgives those who repent and accept Jesus into their hearts but ultimately we have free will to either choose him and be under his grace or choose the devil and be under condemnation.
I acknowledge that we all mess up at times and don't always get things right so this is not about those kind of scenarios. This is about those who consistently choose evil, are boastful, proud, abusive and will cause others harm without a second thought and yet when you mess up they throw every error in your face.
We as Christians are called to forgive because God first forgave us. We are not to judge the sinner because we too were like them. The aim is to be reconciled to everyone but if reconciliation is not possible then it's okay to surrender the relationship/friendship to Jesus in prayer and walk away. My hopes is that these people will come to know The Lord at some point in their lives and clearly I'm not the right person to bring them to Christ but my hopes are that the seed has been planted and someone else will do the watering in their lives. I truly forgive them and I am also sorry for the wrongs I've played however, today is a day to release them to God. I will continue to uphold them in prayer but it's time to minimize the madness!
"People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people".…..2 Timothy 3:2-5"
"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm".…Proverbs 13:20
"Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended".…Proverbs 22:10
"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared".….Proverbs 22:24-25
"Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words".…Proverbs 23:9
May God bless you as you navigate through the trials and figure out through Christ which is the best direction for you to go in... Feel free to visit this website that has helped me to come to my conclusions along with the word of God and The Holy Spirit who dwells within. http://www.luke173ministries.org/466828
Signing Off,
Freedom from the abuser, even if they are family!
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