Iscool's exact quote from post 76:It's not quite so simple as that...Those things would show us who we should and could not fellowship with...
Jesus associated with sinners to show them the gospel. He ate with the tax collectors and met others where they were. He did not wait for them to come to Him (initially).
Once people heard about Him they came to Him, but at first He went to them.
Perhaps you both are talking past each other. The way I understood Iscool’s statements was that Jesus preached to sinners where they were, but neither consorted with them, approved of them, or participated in what they were doing. I know, I know you were not claiming that either. But Jesus went there because like Matthew there were people who WANTED to hear what Jesus had to say.
I give no credence to those who go to strip bars, drink and stuff singles in garters saying they are going there to preach the Gospel. I even question the types who go in to places like that and scatter a few Jack Chick tracts on the tables and in the bathroom. Now if someone set up a soap box outside and proclaimed the Gospel and those who were spiritually sick came forward to hear, that is a different matter.
Jesus associated with sinners to show them the gospel. He ate with the tax collectors and met others where they were. He did not wait for them to come to Him (initially).
And then I said it apparently was a matter of semantics, and obviously it still is with you...
Definition of fellowship in English
fellowship
Pronunciation: /ˈfɛlə(ʊ)ʃɪp
noun
1 [mass noun] friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests:they valued fun and good fellowship as the cement of the community
[count noun] a group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim.
[count noun] a guild or corporation.
2the status of a fellow of a college or society:a fellowship in mathematics
Are you being intentionally dense???