“Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.” (Prov. 14:7)
I have done this many times, but there is a caveat to this verse, you must first listen to what that person has to say. No one can decide who someone is without hearing their words, although actions play a part in how we decipher an individual, words are what speak truth, or lies.
Appeals can drag on for years in some courts around the planet, for the lawyer will attempt to persuade the judge or jury with words about circumstances supposedly beyond the control of the one accused. Not so with the Scriptures. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
If you have been blessed with Spiritual discernment, then when a person who proposes what they consider truth cannot be verified in the Word of God, and if they will not accept the truth, our opening verse is a good one to remember, depart from them. These are not usually our brothers and sisters in Christ, although they would profess to be so, for those that love the Lord, whether they are discerning in much or the weaker brother who is just beginning to be taught, are willing to listen, for it is the truth of the Scriptures that we seek.
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Prov. 9:9)
The entire context of Matthew chapter 24 is about the Tribulation period and its approach. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matt. 24:13) If you believe that our salvation is secure, cannot be lost or removed, then this verse speaks of the truth of the Rapture.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) If you believe that we are saved by grace through faith and you meet someone who believes we must perform some work before we will be accepted in the Beloved, and they will not accept that truth of grace, then depart from them, cast not the pearls of God before swine.
Very rarely will you meet someone who does not believe in any form of religion that this verse applies to, the wicked care nothing for the things of God. It is those who, in whatever form, profess to know the Lord, and have been deceived to a point where the truth is impossible for them to comprehend. Those whose faith rests in the lies of the Roman Catholic cult, are they deceived, or have they been given over to a reprobate mind? “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2nd Tim. 3:5) It is a question worth contemplating.
There is another item that bears much pondering in that verse also, the word fool. We are to call no brother or sister in Christ a fool, and although at times it can be quite easily visible to us by their words that they serve a false Christ, if even a hint of the truth is returned to you in your conversation with that person, then this verse is not for them.
A deceived person, a reprobate mind, a wicked individual or a weaker brother. One must be very sure.
The Scriptures must always be taken in context, and that context can at times be scattered amongst many books in the Word of God. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2nd Peter 1:20) The proof of the Rapture can be found in several verses, all forming a singular context. Grace flows throughout the entire written Word of God, as does the Lord Jesus Christ.
The reason we study to show ourselves approved is so that we can give an account of our faith. In love whenever possible, but sometimes rebukes are necessary, and required.
Be sure if you are going to depart from someone, you have a valid reason for doing so.
