Question: In Your Most Recent Audio You Say We Are Not to Associate With Certain People But How Do You Explain Christ Association When He Healed And Ministered Unto The People?
Donald Bohanon: Obviously there has to be some form of interaction when healing and or casting out demons, etc, but all those interactions are in the context of brief interaction.
The Bible doesn’t condemn brief interaction in such cases but it does condemn long-term association and fellowship with individuals who engage in any form of behavior that the Bible strongly condemns. In these cases, the possibility of being corrupted by such associations is very real.
That’s why the Bible implicitly commands us to have no fellowship with such individuals in the long term. Unfortunately, that is another way false unlearned ministers have completely misinterpreted the word of God. Once again by applying their own personal interpretation to it.
The Bible has always condemned long-term association and fellowship with those who live contrary to God’s word and even more so with those who live in abominable rebellion against God’s word. Brief interaction is okay under certain circumstances.
But long-term association and fellowship? Absolutely not. What Christ was engaged in, in those instances was brief interaction. Not long-term fellowship. What Christ was doing with his disciples is an example of long-term association and fellowship with people of like minds, beliefs, and eternal goals.
1 Corinthians 15:33
King James Version
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1 Corinthians 10:20-22
King James Version
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
King James Version
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.