Being Friends With Unbelievers

[eric]

Good post Axxman, in the course of a day we can't help associate with unbelievers, either at school at work or whatever,even some family members, but that doesn't mean you neen to indulge in their worldly activities. I used to be keen on playing lawn bowls, but after I was saved, I had to give it away because of the language and dirty talk that you could not help but hear. Golf was the same. You didn't know who you were ging to draw as a partner or opponent in a match. I was saved after I gave up golf and before that I could cuss and swear with best of them and over stay in the clubhouse

Mix with the world and you easily slip back into the world. No one can run with the hares and hunt with the hounds You have to be one or the other. Love is worthless without sacrifice. People should read Matt 11:19 properly and stop quoting that Jesus was a friend of sinners and tax collecters. The bible reads that they called Him a friend, which is way different.. He preached to them, because they were lost.

It's not for me to say who you hang out with, but I don't mix with them, but I am civil to them and speak to them, and will witness given the chance, but indulge with them.....no way

[damo1]

damo1

well i work with un belivers and i have raised my son up to be the same when it comes to those he is mixing with at school as i feel kids should not just have one group off friends it should be also up to the person them selves how they take gods word and what it says in the bible for them selves with out christians laying the guilt trip on those that have strong connections with un belivers

i am a very out going person but their is a thin line i draw i do this when i am working with a un beliver i openly say i will not pull you down or preach all i ask is you keep what you hold on to when we are working together to your self and i tell the person openly i am a christian

this new Job i got as a goverment foster carer i had the chance to share my testimony to 30 un belivers as in the last part of the two week course that life with out barriers runs for new people like my self who are wanting to work with them or take a child on and have the child live with their family in their own home you have to share your life story and also write your life story

when we were told this on the last week of the first week course we did that each person will have to stand up and share their life story we were also told to think what we were going to say and their was counsling also on hand for those who have been effected by what has been talked about in the moduals that we were given

i thought what an oppertunity to share as i was one of thees kids my self and i can relate to what these kids are going threw i was dropped of home by the head maneger to life with out barriers and sarah said i am enjoying what you are sharing in the course that we are running for foster carers as my self graham and mitch have our eye on you and you will be good with the kids we get and she thanked me for being brave and holding nothing back

i rang my pastor up i said can you come over he did we talked and i told him i am about to share my testimony to 30 un belivers please keep me coverd so a ph call went out and the people in my church were happy and were praying for me

well i got picked up and come by 11.30am it was my turn i just quietly said lord let your words come out to the way you want me to share to these people and it went very well i had every one come up to me and hug me for some strange reason as these people were all parents had a good education and sevral were wanting change i did not even hold back i shared the full version of my testimony

god will give us oppertunitys to share what he has done in our lives i can also understand what brother eric said in his last post and its true if we read all of gods word but i have never forgotten what christ has done for me and i cant shut the door on those i know i have lost sevral close friendships my mothers side does not want to know me all because i rang my mother we only talk every 2 months with each other this is all she can handle i had to even tell my own mother i forgive you and do not want to blame you for the choice you made when you left us i just want to get to know you and i hope you are willing to alow your son to get to know you

well know i am having to just give this hurt over to god as the insults i got from my mothers side and her brother and his daughter hurt but i have seen were god has had a big impac in my life

as i have seen were the church openly refuses to reach out to those who are not like them

were with me i am happy sitting on gutter talking to a street kid or home less man

i have only sevral christian friends and most of my good friends are un belivers when i say sevral close christian friends i can talk to i mean 5 compared to 12 good strong relationships i have with the un belivers i have gotten to know

thank you kari for taking the time to share this

god bless from your brother in the lord damien stipic

[EricH]

Well...I have no non-christian friends. I think the bible is strikingly clear on those types of relationships. In my youth, I thought I could circumvent the truth and used the good 'ol excuse that I would lead them to Christ by being their friend. Over time though, the truth of the scripture bears out. Light has nothing in common with darkness...being unequally yoked in ANY relationship doesn't lead anyone straight.

I have come to find that my ability to be a positive witness for Christ has NO bearing on whether or not I have worldly friendships. I still meet, and interact, with non-christians on a daily basis. I have also found that I am just as able to share my faith and lead people to Christ without "hanging out" and being friends.

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, NKJ)

There is no neutral zone. A person cannot pursue his self-centered, worldly ambitions and still remain loyal to God. James 4:4 "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God"

What is the context of the passage you quoted. Is it addressing friendship?

[Axxman]

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, NKJ)

What is the context of the passage you quoted. Is it addressing friendship?

Yes sir, I believe the context is ANY relationship. As it says at the very beginning "For what fellowship..." Fellowship is kinship, or friendship. The next verse says "And what communion..." Communion is co-mingling, or religious fellowship. Then "And what accord..." Accord is agreement, unity, or harmony. I think it covers a vast array of relationships that we have the opportunity to make, and it squarely says to "come out" of those relationships and be seperate.

I also understand that many people narrow these verses down to simply imply marital relationships (and I would agree those relationships apply)...However, I think it would be short-sighted to limit the context in that way. Especially in light of the fact that there is NO WAY to make the Christ and Belial reference imply a marriage-only context.

[stan4257]

God bless your beautiful feet!

My feet are as ugly as sin!

But, thank-you!

Better not to argue with God:

"Isaiah 52:7 How Beautiful are the Feet of those who bring good news, proclaim peace, bring glad tidings of good things, proclaim salvation, and proclaim to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

[patricia1]

You live in this world but are not of this world .. I look at all nonbelievers as potential brothers or sisters.

How many are in the pews possibly sitting next to you? Jesus sat with whores, wine bibbers, the dreaded tax collecters, lepers, and dumb apostles for some time. Lol

He fellowshipped ,as you say with them, yet did not live their lifestyles.

Fellowship means sharing together. I cannot be a partaker of unfruitfullness.

I share in the fellowship of His sufferrings as well in His kingdom to bring Good tidings to a dying and lost world, I need to be around as Jesus was, for sinners in need of Him.

patricia1

[Guest Biblicist]

How does one witness to un-believers if they have no emotional attachment?

Does this mean one must quit their job if they work with or for un-believers?

What of family members, do we cut ourselves off from them, too?

Faith without works...is ineffective.

[patricia1]

Amen bibs ... this is a thread that lost its way and needs help...You know those frayed threads... lol

[Guest]

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11-12

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9

LIGHT IT UP!

Let It Shine

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

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

Matthew 5:14-16

Love Your Enemies

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Pray For The Restoration Of Israel

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

Romans 11:12

Walk With The Holy Spirit

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

Sow In Tears

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalms 126:5-6

Rejoice

Rejoice evermore.

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Merry Christmas

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Your Brother Joe

[Guest Biblicist]

Good post Axxman, in the course of a day we can't help associate with unbelievers, either at school at work or whatever,even some family members, but that doesn't mean you neen to indulge in their worldly activities. I used to be keen on playing lawn bowls, but after I was saved, I had to give it away because of the language and dirty talk that you could not help but hear. Golf was the same. You didn't know who you were ging to draw as a partner or opponent in a match. I was saved after I gave up golf and before that I could cuss and swear with best of them and over stay in the clubhouse

Mix with the world and you easily slip back into the world. No one can run with the hares and hunt with the hounds You have to be one or the other. Love is worthless without sacrifice. People should read Matt 11:19 properly and stop quoting that Jesus was a friend of sinners and tax collecters. The bible reads that they called Him a friend, which is way different.. He preached to them, because they were lost.

It's not for me to say who you hang out with, but I don't mix with them, but I am civil to them and speak to them, and will witness given the chance, but indulge with them.....no way

eric, my brother,

what costitutes friendship?

Is it someone who prays with you when you are down?

Someone who has a meal with you?

Someone who is willing to touch you when other's are repulsed by you?

Someone who talks to you, even when no one else will?

Someone who knows everything about you, and still wants to be with you anyway?

Is it someone who loves you unconditionally and would give up their own life for you?

Jesus was considered a friend of sinners because he acted like he was. He acted like a friend when most chose to be simply acquaintences.

And...Let us never forget, we are all sinners, redeemed by the GREATEST friend ever!

Proverbs 18:24 There are "friends" who destroy each other,

but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.