Hello Pastor, and peace be with you this Lord’s Day.<\/p>\n
I have been studying the book of Romans today and have two questions:<\/p>\n
Question 1:<\/p>\n
When I sincerely turned to God, I found myself in a certain situation: I became willing to befriend and communicate only with Christians, while deleting or blocking non-believers. I felt as though chatting with those who do not believe in Jesus-especially young people-would somehow contaminate me with sin.<\/p>\n
Question 2:<\/p>\n
How do I offer myself as a living sacrifice? Does it mean that everything I do must be done for God (Romans 12:1-2)?<\/p>\n
May God bless you! I am mindful of your love.<\/p>\n\t
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven<\/em>” (Matthew 5:14-16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
How do you teach others if you never talk to them? How do you set a good example when no one sees you?<\/p>\n
My relationship with my fellow Christians is stronger than with worldly people, but I still interact with people who are not following Christ. I don’t get involved in their sinful behavior, but I don’t hide either.<\/p>\n
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain<\/em>” (Philippians 2:14-16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In regard to a living sacrifice, see:<\/p>\n
\n
- The Sacrifice of Self<\/a><\/li>\n
- Christ First! Last! and Always!<\/a><\/li>\n
- Service to God: A Holy and Living Sacrifice<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hello Pastor, and peace be with you this Lord’s Day. I have been studying the book of Romans today and have two questions: Question 1: When I sincerely turned to God, I found myself in a certain situation: I became willing to befriend and communicate only with Christians, while deleting or blocking non-believers. I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[1704],"class_list":["post-96942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-associations"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36781,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-christians-only-allowed-to-talk-to-christians\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":0},"title":"Are Christians only allowed to talk to Christians?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 27, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, Does the Bible say that we're not allowed to talk to anyone who's not a Christian? If so, what happens if a Christian does talk to someone who's not a Christian? Thanks! Answer: I'm scratching my head trying to figure out where such an idea could possibly come\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19773,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-brother-embarrassed-my-non-christian-friend-what-should-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":1},"title":"My brother embarrassed my non-Christian friend. What should I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 5, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a friend whom I've known for about a month. We talk every so often and hang out. We went hiking yesterday and it was the first time she was over at my house. I don't date non-Christians and she is not a Christian. She knows this and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34933,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-christians-celebrate-yom-kippur\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":2},"title":"Do Christians celebrate Yom Kippur?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 25, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello! Do Christians celebrate Yom Kippur? Should Christians fast on Yom Kippur? Why or why not? Is there anything that Christians should do on Yom Kippur? Thanks! Answer: Yom Kippur and the other Jewish feasts are a part of the Old Testament. Jews continue to celebrate them because they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39727,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-the-church-continue-to-support-a-preacher-whose-children-are-already-adults-but-are-not-christians\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":3},"title":"Should the church continue to support a preacher, whose children are already adults but are not Christians?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I need your advice brother. Should the church continue to support a preacher, whose children are already adults but are not Christians? Answer: There are no requirements in the Bible concerning a preacher's children. It may be a concern that a preacher is not able to persuade his own\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":17606,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-a-woman-do-when-the-christian-men-around-seem-more-interested-in-non-christian-women\/","url_meta":{"origin":96942,"position":4},"title":"What does a woman do when the Christian men around seem more interested in non-Christian women?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 27, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Your site is nice and good for learning for the Christians. You are doing a good job. May the Lord strengthen you to do more. 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