Dealing With Unbelievers (part 1)

When it comes to involvement with unbelievers, do you avoid them so that they do not lead you into sin, or do you spend time around them so that you can lead them out of sin (it should be obvious that to spend time around them and ignore the peril of their souls in sinful!)? It is a difficult question, and the Scriptures have references to both behaviors being good and holy. So then, how do you balance these two things? Most everyone lands on either end of the spectrum, which means that most everyone gets out of balance.

In the Daily Office readings a few days ago, Psalm 101 was assigned. In the Psalm we are told much about this very issue, though it clerarly leans toward avoiding pagan influences. We all know that unbelievers can find sneaky ways to mislead the faithful and pull them away from God, but many Catholics are blind to it when it occurs (precisely because of how sneaky the devil is in influencing the situation). We also know how important it is to work to bring the lost into the path of salvation.

The balance is most easily kept by following the guidance of Psalm 101 as it tells us how we are to view the lost. Do we see them as "friends", of whom it would be nice to help them to find salvation? Or, on the other hand, do we view them as wandering souls who are unaware of the blessings of God? The difference will impact not only how much we can help them, but also how much they will influence us.

More to come tomorrow...