Can Christians have non Christian friends? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Faith] >> General Faith



Message

SoldierInGodsArmy -> Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 5:03:30 PM)

I believe that if we are to be in accordance with Gods will, we must avoid those who choose to believe in false teachings. I feel that those who mingle with non Christians will be slowly turn away from God.

Do not walk with evil for you may become evil.

"Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.'" (1 Corinthians 15:33, NKJ)

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." (Proverbs 13:20, NKJ)

"Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul." (Proverbs 22:24-25, NKJ)

"Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on." (Proverbs 4:14-15, NKJ)

"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22, NKJ)



HisCovenant -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 5:06:13 PM)

I think Christians can be friends to Nonchristians. I would question whether a Christian ought to trust a Nonchristian and consider them as a friend since they don't have the ability to disciple us but only to lead us astray.



Liveloved -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 5:11:30 PM)

quote:

I feel that those who mingle with non Christians will be slowly turn away from God.


This is what others thought of Jesus too. Yet He ate with sinners and tax collectors.

Perhaps there is something greater here?



atheistinpeace -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 5:16:04 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoldierInGodsArmy

I believe that if we are to be in accordance with Gods will, we must avoid those who choose to believe in false teachings. I feel that those who mingle with non Christians will be slowly turn away from God.

Do not walk with evil for you may become evil.


I'm friends with a good number of Christians (and those of other faiths or no faith at all). Religious differences have never, ever, even remotely, been a problem. The characteristics that unite us seem, for all concerned, to be more important than the religious beliefs that divide us.

A theological question at this point: does it make sense to you that the creator of the universe wants you to avoid other humans? And secondly, if the Bibical God is real, would He want you to avoid the very people who you are capable of leading to salvation through Christ?

AiP



agapetos -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 5:21:13 PM)

I had a Christian friend for over 15 years before I became a Christian. If it wasn't for her love, her support and her prayers over the years, I may not have become a Christian.



GroupW -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 5:56:48 PM)

I for one believe we're called to be "salt and light" to the world. Tough to do if you live as a little island in a "holy huddle".

I probably have as many Christian as non-Christian friends. In college, one of my best friends was Muslim. My wife is pretty much the same. We both feel that we're supposed to be out their being in the greater society though not 100% bought into the society.



ames01 -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 6:04:56 PM)

Yes. I think Christians can and should befriend non-Christians. We're called to spread the Good News, and friendship evangelism is one of the most effective methods of doing that. We do need to have close Christian friends to support us in our walk. But we also need to be wary of stepping into the "Christian bubble" and ignoring the lost people all around us.



GroupW -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 6:07:21 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: atheistinpeace
A theological question at this point: does it make sense to you that the creator of the universe wants you to avoid other humans? And secondly, if the Bibical God is real, would He want you to avoid the very people who you are capable of leading to salvation through Christ?

AiP


For an atheist, you have remarkably good theology ;)



HisCovenant -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 6:09:08 PM)

I thought that same thing!



SoldierInGodsArmy -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 6:32:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Liveloved

quote:

I feel that those who mingle with non Christians will be slowly turn away from God.


This is what others thought of Jesus too. Yet He ate with sinners and tax collectors.

Perhaps there is something greater here?


Good point though I feel that this is a different case.

Jesus knew what he believed, was unwaveringly secure in His belief, and did not just hang around unsaved for friendship. He continually taught the unsaved, by His example and by His words (i.e. Mark 2:13). And still, Jesus had a close group of friends who were believers (the disciples) whom he spent more time with than anyone else. (Not to mention that He regularly took time out to be alone with God, see Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12-)

I feel it is pointless to befriend those who are set in there own ways. Such as athiests who seem to be stuck in a delusional world full of phony theories and mathamatics.



agapetos -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 6:39:15 PM)

quote:

I feel it is pointless to befriend those who are set in there own ways. Such as athiests who seem to be stuck in a delusional world full of phony theories and mathamatics.
Now hang on one minute there...

I knew about what Jesus had done for me... but it took me a long time for all the dots to join up and believe it. Decades in fact. And it took a stranger who befriended me online to point help me join those dots up...

As I said, I had a Christian friend who prayed for me for over 15 years but for some reason the message wasn't getting through to me. I knew that if I were to die, I would be going to hell, and it didn't bother me. I also know that without the friendship of that lady, I wouldn't have looked specifically for an online Christian site to chat to people in (to avoid the foul language in other online sites).

Going by what you say, I wouldn't have had that friend praying for me, I wouldn't have been befriended by anyone online at CW (or CCN as it was back then) and I wouldn't be a Christian today ~ I'd probably be in hell actually, because I'm not sure that I'd have got through the past decade without God in my life.



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 6:46:22 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: atheistinpeace
I'm friends with a good number of Christians (and those of other faiths or no faith at all). Religious differences have never, ever, even remotely, been a problem. The characteristics that unite us seem, for all concerned, to be more important than the religious beliefs that divide us.


My faith in God is the most important thing in my life. That doesn't mean that I don't talk to non-Christians. But there is a special bond between brothers and sisters in Christ.

Galatians 6
10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.


quote:

ORIGINAL: atheistinpeace
A theological question at this point: does it make sense to you that the creator of the universe wants you to avoid other humans?


Not altogether.


quote:

ORIGINAL: atheistinpeace
And secondly, if the Bibical God is real, would He want you to avoid the very people who you are capable of leading to salvation through Christ?
AiP


Not altogether.

1 John 5
19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Matthew 5
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.



Doc65 -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 7:10:26 PM)

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
---Rom. 10:13-17

If you do not associate/be friends with nonbelievers, how are they supposed to hear? If you are not friends or associate with them, how are they supposed to hear the message of Christ? As Christians, we are called to go out into the world (the root meaning of apostle - the Greek apostello - was to be one who is sent) and proclaim His good news. After all, Christ did not come to save the righteous but came for the sinful...

If you don't want to be among others who are not believers, there are/were/have been many cults and communes which sought to shut out the world...not what I would call being very evangelical by any means...



GroupW -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 7:16:54 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisCovenant

I thought that same thing!


AiP:
FYI - we're hiding little subliminal Christian messages in all the evolution posts to try to get you to convert. I think you'd make a great Christian.

BT



SavedByGraceMD -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 7:19:30 PM)

I think it is Ok for us to have friends who don't believe as we do. After getting saved it is only natural for us to want the same for our friends. That being said, there are things that they will do that we should not do. My single guy friends go to strip clubs, go out and get wasted, go out trying to pick up women. Now I agree that if we go along with these activities that we sooner or later will get sucked in. So if they are truly our friends, they will understand when we decline doing certain things with them, and won't get mad at us. As long as we remain true to our faith and remain good witnesses, you never know when you may bring 1 of them to the Lord.



SD456 -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 7:38:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoldierInGodsArmy

I feel it is pointless to befriend those who are set in there own ways. Such as athiests who seem to be stuck in a delusional world full of phony theories and mathamatics.


Some do not get saved overnight though. It can take someone being a friend for years before a person will open up their heart. Perhaps you haven't been called to such a friendship, but some are.



Liveloved -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 8:25:54 PM)

quote:

I feel it is pointless to befriend those who are set in there own ways.


But this is true of those in the 'Christian' world as well---ears turned off is the problem Jesus dealt with in the so-called church of His day as well. We all KNOW SO MUCH and are so satisfied in our knowing.

This is the very reason Paul went to the Gentiles. The 'church' knew it all. However, the Gentiles were needy and open and ready to hear. Many non Christians are the same today.

I see a much greater need that can be met by Jesus among the nonChristians. Those who 'think they know' Jesus are closed. And many in the 'church' today are lost.



saraimay75 -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 8:43:22 PM)

I guess this means I need to move out then. Because my parents are not Chirstian. Now were will I come up with the $600(for a room in a house)-$1200 (for a one bedroom apertment or studio) rent that I need wotking part-time while going to school???

Speaking of school I have made a couple of friends who I know are not Chirstian. In fact only two of the women in my all my classes are Chistian. What am I supposed to do only talk to them? Ignore the rest? That would do me a whole lot of good.


Oh, yeah I beleive that Jesus hung out with a non-Chistan or two.



Cloak -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 9:12:15 PM)

If our friendship with non-believers would have an impact on their life for the better and influence them to see the light of God; then I would encourage that relationship.

Jesus did mix with sinners who wanted to change and that should be the same criteria with us.

There are people out there who would not want to change for whatever reason even if they have seen Christ in us. These are the folks to be Avoided.



agapetos -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 9:34:13 PM)

quote:

There are people out there who would not want to change for whatever reason even if they have seen Christ in us. These are the folks to be Avoided.
And how do you determine whether they want to change or not? Do you set a time limit on it or ???

Again, I had a friend who was a Christian and she was my friend for 15 years before I became a Christian.

I saw Christ in her ~ and others that I met through her (the guy who opened his home to guys who'd just come out of prison (even immediately forgiving one chap who'd nicked his car and wrapped it round a tree), the guy who stepped out in faith and admitted to the tax man that he'd avoided paying taxes (and didn't get sent down for it), the lady who went to work as a missionary behind the Iron Curtain (as it was then)...)

Now, all these people had an impact on my life, and I saw Christ in all of them, but (again) it took someone I'd never met before who was several thousand miles away to listen and help me join the dots, understand and accept...

Don't know if that person would have waited 15 years or not...



SonInMe1 -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 9:46:27 PM)

An effective witness is from having a relationship with people. Telling Jesus to a starnger seldom has results but letting someone in, letting someone see the Jesus in you and putting your faith to the test....that is an effective witness.

Jesus did it all the time.

Now of course we are not to make the world's ways our's. That...is the difference.

James 4:4 also applies.



makarizo -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 10:12:00 PM)

I have had a few 'non Christian' friends or more in my lifetime.
most of them now call themselves Christian.

"non Christian people" are NOT the enemy, and it is not a permanent position either!!! perhaps better said "not yet Christian people"

people who "choose" to believe in false doctrines are deceived.... I know how to fix that... ...
if a non Christian can come between you and your walk, then by all means keep yourself from stumbling.



Cloak -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 10:29:13 PM)

Agapetps ~ Because you wanted to change. There are people who will NOT and does Not want to change and I've experienced that 1st hand. They did nothing but waste my time and energy and even were trouble-makers.



deermousie -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/8/2008 11:35:37 PM)

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
1 Cor. 5

Paul tells us to avoid people who call themselves Christians who are steeped in sin. He says you can't avoid non=Christians, which isn't the same thing as being friends with them.

God asks what fellowship does darkness have with light, which indicates we're poorly matched as intimate friends. But we do have relationship and sometimes shallow friendship with unbelievers. God saved me through a friend who was a Christian who showed me things in the Bible that made me realize it was true (Israel becoming a nation after almost 2000 years).

Our lives are lights.



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: Can Christians have non Christian friends? (5/9/2008 12:35:44 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

An effective witness is from having a relationship with people. Telling Jesus to a starnger seldom has results but letting someone in, letting someone see the Jesus in you and putting your faith to the test....that is an effective witness.

Jesus did it all the time.

Now of course we are not to make the world's ways our's. That...is the difference.

James 4:4 also applies.


Romans 10
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Timothy 2
25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

If you share the message and the person doesn't want to hear it, you move on.

Matthew 10
14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.



Page: [1] 2 3 4   next >   >>



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI