Being Friends With Unbelievers

[Scarletprayers]

I figure if I can be friends with kari, I can be friends with just about anybody!

[kari21]

I figure if I can be friends with kari, I can be friends with just about anybody!

I love you too, puddin' pie!

[Scarletprayers]

I figure if I can be friends with kari, I can be friends with just about anybody!

I love you too, puddin' pie!

Well thats MUCH better than what you usually call me!

[kari21]

I figure if I can be friends with kari, I can be friends with just about anybody!

I love you too, puddin' pie!

Well thats MUCH better than what you usually call me!

I'm sorry...REDNECK puddin' pie!

[Massorite]

Amen Massorite. One light that is why I wrote my definition of a friend. I have a wonderful best friend who is not saved. Her heart is a heart of virtue and she will sacrifice anything for me. She lives not like all of those in the world and is going to give her life over soon.... I treat everyone as if they were my brother or sister I just do not trust everyone. I would be a fool. The word of God says not to put your trust in man...if one does they set themselves for disappointment. Having a spouse as your best friend is one of the greatest treasures God can give... Patricia1

That is the only why to be patricia. It is the only way to glorify Christ. We should treat all with care and respect.

So many Christians today treat unbelievers with contempt and anger and rejection or like they are some sort of lower life form when the truth of the matter is that though we are saved, we are still sinners. Like the song says 'We fall down, We get up"

[DjZed]

Thanks for the replies.

What I mean by "hang out" is like, going to the movies, to each others houses, out to eat - that sort of thing. Like I said, as God does consider the unregenerate "evil," am I going against scripture by hanging around with them?

PS: They know I am a Christian, and I have witnessed to them (and still do when given the chance) and they accept that. Though they have asked that I not try to bring Christ up for EVERY circumstance!

They understand the Gospel, but so far have rejected it.

PPS: My very best friend in the whole world is not a Christian.

Many of my good friends are non christians. As we look at our individual purposes before god we have to see what it is that we are set out to do. I consider one of my gifts evangelism. sometimes this happens in a one time shot or it comes out as i get to know someone more. I am able to hang out with drunkerds, worldly parties, those who use drugs, perscription and illigal. I can do this because god has given me the ability to do so without any trouble to me. I am not uncomfortable. I used to be. but i came from that realm and i identify well there. Fellowship with the unregenerate must be put in perspective. Light actaully has no part with darkness. Fellowship with the saints is different. Whats the scripture addressing when it says not to even eat with them? Was thier a specific issue that paul is dealing with. If he is, is it the same application as your speaking of? When looked through the character of a sovergn god we can see that the preaching of the gospel is not needed by god through us, but we are privlaged to preach the gospel and god does use us. So once the gospel is preached it is up to god. God will use us in both long term and one time relationships. What we are is faithful in preaching. We shouldnt judge them unworthy of us because we know god. We should see them as a poss.part of gods elect. If god sustains your relationship with an unbeliever, then you have opportunity right now. I ran into an old friend once,from highschool, at a gas station and in the conversation i must have preached the gospel. 5 years later he called me to thank me for preaching the gospel to him. I had to confess i didnt even remember seeing him. He filled in all the details. WOW. i didnt see that coming. If you fall when you hang out in those situations then run the other way. if your gift is being used when you hang out with them, and you have no stumbling, then to god will be glory. Do not let others judge you for hanging out with them. Im sure you know, but jesus hung out with unbelievers and was questioned by the Pharisees. Those legalalistic religous people of the day. And dont think its gone away. Make sure conviction is from god and not peoples bias.

Edited January 1, 2008 by DjZed

[Axxman]

I am able to hang out with drunkerds, worldly parties, those who use drugs, perscription and illigal. I am not uncomfortable. I used to be. but i came from that realm and i identify well there.

I think you have taken the idea of eating or drinking with unbelievers to an extreme. Not only is there no scripture telling us to befriend the unsaved...but there is certainly no scriptures telling us that we should put ourselves into illegal situations to do so.

In my opinion, you should be uncomfortable around blantant sin, and illegal activity.

[DjZed]

I am able to hang out with drunkerds, worldly parties, those who use drugs, perscription and illigal. I am not uncomfortable. I used to be. but i came from that realm and i identify well there.

I think you have taken the idea of eating or drinking with unbelievers to an extreme. Not only is there no scripture telling us to befriend the unsaved...but there is certainly no scriptures telling us that we should put ourselves into illegal situations to do so.

In my opinion, you should be uncomfortable around blantant sin, and illegal activity.

perhaps you misunderstand. Paul says not to even eat with them. I assumed this was a part of the original post givers mind set. I merely pointed that jesus hung out with sinners and the religous people judged him for it. We should not be judged for this. My own personal ministry sets aside what is legal or not. Im not concerned with others breaking the law, only thier soul. Thats not saying i would not encourage them to obey the law. I dont suggest all belivers should put them in those situations. If somehow you think i shouldnt hang around things illigal for the sake of christ, i would say to hang around them for the sake of christ. Do you speed, do you not wear a seatbelt, do you not come to a full stop at a stop sign. Have you ever broken these laws. If you have did it somehow glorify god. The question would be to me. do i sin when in these situations. Is god glorified? because i am preaching the gospel he is..I can identify with these types of sinners. That was the world in which i was bought out of. Now that i am a new creation and i came from there i go back for the sake of partaking in calling out the sheep.

[Massorite]

I am able to hang out with drunkerds, worldly parties, those who use drugs, perscription and illigal. I am not uncomfortable. I used to be. but i came from that realm and i identify well there.

I think you have taken the idea of eating or drinking with unbelievers to an extreme. Not only is there no scripture telling us to befriend the unsaved...but there is certainly no scriptures telling us that we should put ourselves into illegal situations to do so.

In my opinion, you should be uncomfortable around blantant sin, and illegal activity.

So I guess your saying that what the bible says is unacceptable and extreme? I came from that realm also. I have sold drugs in two countries, been a drunk for 30 years while I was selling and doing drugs. I have done things that most people think about but don't have the guts or stupidity to do.

Literally hanging out with abusers of drugs while they are abusing of drugs of all kinds and going to their parties does nothing for the good of them or you. Nor does it glorify Christ in their eyes because they are to whacked out to know anything else. Going to a party to preach Jesus to a bunch high people is the same thing as casting your pearls out to the swine. Knowing them and talking to them when they are sober gives them a chance to hear the gospel through clear ears instead of clogged ears

The rules or regulations that God has set down for us is to protect us from falling prey to temptation or going back to the old man.

[patricia1]

i don't want to sound horribly crass...is that the word. Familiarity breathes contempt .. If you truly have been delivered you should fell comfortable as Jesus did but with great reservations.

I find that many remain still feel comfortable around the good old spirits they played with. Be careful. I do not go anywhere unless Jesus is invited also. And I do ask If I can bring Jesus.patricia1