Christian Association

See Neighbor

At Matt. 5:43, Yahshua is credited with the words

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor (τὸν πλησίον), and hate thine enemy”

What meaning would the saying have, if one’s enemy, as is often the case, lived in the house next door? See the note at Rom. 13:10.

So here it should be evident that τὸν πλησίον is “one near” to you, but not necessarily geographically. Rather, one near in relationship is more likely the case. The Hebrew word in the original, which is found at Lev. 19:18, is Strong’s Hebrew #7453, “from 7462; an associate (more or less close)” and Strong lists the A.V. translations of the word “brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbor, X (an-) other” and so it should certainly be evident now that τὸν πλησίον is not simply “one who lives nearby” etc.

The root of 7453, 7462, is defined by Strong: “a primitive root; to tend a flock, i.e. pasture it; intransitive to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension to associate with (as a friend)...” and so it seems to me that one’s πλησίον can only be a fellow sheep! For the bounds of proper Christian association are set at II Cor. 6:11-18, Christ has no concord or agreement with Belial, the ungodly, those without the faith, or the children of darkness, and no government of man, sponsoring “urban renewal” and forced racial integration, can ever change that.

Holy and Separate People

See Holy and Separate People

Matthew 7:6 You should not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor should you cast your pearls before swine, lest they shall trample them with their feet and turning they would rend you to pieces!

Sheep should not even communicate with dogs and swine. To communicate, in the orignal sense of the word, means to share things in common. When we communicate we are sharing with one another. We should not ever go into the presence of aliens and share the Word of our God with them! Nowhere in the Scripture are we told to share the Truth with swine, dogs, or beasts – and those who do are doing us a great disservice. From the Wisdom of Sirach, 12:5: “Do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not unto him, lest he overmaster thee thereby: for else thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him.” Even if we pretend to teach aliens the truth, they will only use it against us.