Socializing around those who cause temptation

[Aaron_H_1983]

Jesus didn’t shun away from hanging around well known sinners. The team I work with I am a minority. Meaning that the majority of the men are divorced, single, and constantly have conversations of sinful nature. Such as their comments about attractive women, etc. I am married with children and serve the lord with all my heart. Jesus hung around well known sinners. I know Christ has told us to get out of our comfort zone and reach out to the sinners like them. But I find this challenging because of the temptation it brings. So I tend to seclude myself from them. Any thoughts or advice?

 

[Blackshirtproud]

I’m with you here. I am far from a saint but I try my best and think of the same thing you said about Jesus sitting with the sinners.
I have been trying to just walk away when things go south. But it’s tough.

 

[Robertanthony]

Jesus didn’t shun away from hanging around well known sinners. The team I work with I am a minority. Meaning that the majority of the men are divorced, single, and constantly have conversations of sinful nature. Such as their comments about attractive women, etc. I am married with children and serve the lord with all my heart. Jesus hung around well known sinners. I know Christ has told us to get out of our comfort zone and reach out to the sinners like them. But I find this challenging because of the temptation it brings. So I tend to seclude myself from them. Any thoughts or advice?

Jesus enjoyed everything Adam lost following the Fall, he was free from original sin, had an intellect that you can only dream you had, he did not know concupiscence, his will was perfectly aligned with that of God, I’m sure God didn’t play his little game of hide and seek with him as much as he does with most of us, it’s easy to say no to temptations with all those prerogatives. Do you think for a second that the son of God (who is God himself) could have sinned, it wasn’t even on the menu. Sinning was not a possibility nor an option.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Jesus did call all sinners to follow him and did not hide from them. However, you are not Jesus. I agree with the above poster on that crucial point, but I do so without bitterness. We can’t exactly do all things Jesus did in the way he did. We must be careful and protect ourselves. If these guys are not good company for you, then distance yourself from them. Always be kind but don’t cross certain boundaries. Also, we are not required to stay forever in certain situations when they obviously don’t work to our benefit.

 

[InNomineDomini]

Purposely exposing yourself to temptation is imprudent and endangers your soul. But it may evangelize someone is not an excuse, and neither is such a willingness to be tempted a sign of charity and hunger for souls. You are not wrong for wanting to shield yourself from temptation, and you would not be wrong for privately, at home, praying for the souls of the lost.

That being said, it’s difficult to isolate yourself from co-workers to the extent that you never hear or are exposed to any sinful behaviour. But this shouldn’t mean that you cooperate with it to the extent that you seem to be endorsing the sort of things that go on. You can excuse yourself from certain situations, and express why if the need is felt, whilst still maintaining a professional and even “no hard feelings” type of attitude.