I got a Question?

[abraham]

I am living my live for Jesus Christ and since I stop all the worldly things, it seem that my old friends do not hit me up and hang out anymore. I hit them up to play sports with. I feel like we are not on the same field. How can a smoker hang with non smoker they just do not go hand and hand.


If I stop hanging with them and ignore them is it wrong as a christian or should I keep hanging with them?

 

[The Robster]

There's never anything wrong with disassociating yourself with people who can influence you enough to be plunged back into the things you don't want to get into again. Don't get legalistc about these kind of things. I still have a few godless friends that I'm still close with but I have to keep them at arm's length. They're into stuff I'm no longer into and speak in a way that bugs me at times. When I limit how much time I spend with them, I'm not concerned with how they take it. I mean its just the way it is in this Christian walk. Be concerned with how you feel around these folks and what you want to surround yourself with, rather than whether they get their feelings hurt. You can never serve two masters. Even Christians that are constantly speaking negative things and doubt and unbelief have to be kicked to the curb sometimes. And they are usually the ones that get most offended because of course no Christian ever thinks they can be a bad influence you know.

 

[Sam Canvas]

Drowning people in Scripture isn't usually helpful! But if you want to do a very short study, have a read at the verses below.

Part of the problem is not wanting to appear rude or making others feel like they aren't good enough for you. It's all in the way you handle it. Your values are in Christ and that means living in a way that honours Him and can even make an impression on others.


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Do not be unequally yoked [awkwardly bound] together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness [a godless lifestyle]? And what communion has light with darkness?
2nd Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)


Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.
1st Corinthians 15:33 (Amplified Bible)


I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts [rules, teaching].
Psalm 119:63 (NKJV)


Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you; but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1st Peter 4:1-5 (NASB)​

 

[Brighthouse]

Let me ask you something Abraham? If you did something they believed was wrong,would they they stop talking to you? Being a light for Jesus means we do not have to judge others on what they do or say,but rather show them Jesus in us.

Did Jesus forsake us when we were like them? Did Jesus say I cannot love you,or save you because you were so wicked? Please read john 8:2-12 We do not have to become like the world,but we cannot hid our light in judgment of it either.

For Jesus always came with love,this is what brought us into HIS light! We are no better then anyone,Jesus in us is.To me,we show his love rather then withdrawing his love. Matt 18:11 says Jesus came to save!! that which was lost,how many would he have saved by condeming others,rather then just loving them,and not the sin?

When we came to Jesus we see so many things that are wrong,we get mad at others now for doing what we ourselves used to do,why? because we do not do them anymore? Because now that we have Jesus we are better then them?

Is this the love that was shown to us? It is easy to judge!What is not easy,is to love through sin,and encourge them.Did Jesus seperate himself from the world? Or did Jesus present himself in a way for others to follow? I do not tell you what to do!! I tell you what love is,it is up to you,to present this,or withdraw it.Just remember this brother Abraham,that which we do,we recive back as well. If they tell bad jokes, do you need to hear them? of course not!( mark 4:24) be careful even for what you hear,you can just say,hey guys,I cannot allow myself to partake of this,not becuase I am any better then you!!But rather because Jesus in me would not want me to hear this. OH!! they will look at you?? scratch there heads,perhaps even make fun of you!!This happened to me!! BUT!! 2 weeks later a guy who I would hang with came over to my house,and said my mother fell sick, , would you pray for her please! That is right!! these same people who laugh and mock you,will not come to the person who did that!! They will come to the person who LOVES!! who believes God!! YOU!! and Jesus in you can do what he would do! Just love them!! And pray for them!! That is who you are now!! ( 2 Cor 5:17 a new creature!!) Not a judge of them! blessing Bro!! I am not being mean,i am telling you the truth in love!

 

[abraham]

Thanks you. You broght many words of encouragement through the bible. I will meditate on it . Love has power and I know it can defuse the hate.

I am going to show them through love because jesus did that for us.

I never stop hanging with them but it felt like they stop hyanging with me because I stop doing the things that they like since then it seems that all myyyy old friends fleed from my preseynt.


God is love, Abraham

 

[RPAB]

Ok.
I think it's fine to hang out with them, but non Christians might bring Christians down to world again. It says in the Bible that people who have tasted Gods love, but go back into the world again, it's harder to have them get back to God again.
(Sorry grammer structure is off, hard time thinking.)

 

[Brighthouse]

I am glad for you Abraham! Jesus said to his disciples I will make you a fisher of men.( matt 4:19) and in order to do this,we in Christ must be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.( matt 10:16) because we are out there in the midst of wolves! This the Lord has taught me,and as we go out in love to do his will,you will really be surprised how the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say to them! It is so cool! blessing Bro!

 

[Hekuran]

You are the light of the world, Abraham.

Keep your friends if you can. Maybe if they stay away from you, you could ask why. Perhaps they think that you are judging them, or that you believe that you are better than them somehow, and that would give you the chance to set the record straight.

Christian living is not about hiding away from the world in a spiritual gang, it is about receiving and being an agent of grace in a broken world.

You are already a tremendous witness because your friends have noticed a difference in you - even if that looks like a negative thing at the moment.

No doubt, if you hang out with your old friends, you will mess up occasionally, let yourself down, and feel ashamed that you have betrayed your faith. Don't get defeated. To take up a challenge and fail is one thing; to never attempt it is quite another.

"You are the light of the world" sounds close to blasphemous, but it is taken from the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:14-16.

With prayers

 

[David777]

These posts are always interesting.

Abraham, you have a choice to make. In Christ you have no common ground to relate to your friends. You are eternal, spiritual, they are dead in their sin. They do not understand your faith. They never will understand, unless they become like you.

If you leave your friends, how will they here the Gospel?

It's your decision, Abraham. What ever choice you make is the right decision.

 

[abraham]

I agree with you Rpab how non christians intend to bring christians down by saying hateful things. I feel like everyday of my walk is a test and to grow in spiritual is to overcome those who hate me and use it to show them JC love.(My friends were christians when they were kids but fall into the world)

Brighthouse, I was talking to them today and I wanted to go hangout with them. I realized they were trying to push me back and they told me they would call me back but never did. I can not make people be my friend if they have no interest in being my friend. I can not hang with them on a regular basis because what they do does not interested me. I plan to stick with them aslong as they let me but I also have a life to take care of. Romans 13:8 matthew 5:43-44

Hekuran, I like what you say because I read that passage a few days ago and at my church they were saying how you can not let a candle be hidden from the world. It has to shine bright like a star. I am going to live so I can show other the good things I am doing through JC.

David, I agree with you too because we are not on common ground anymore. I am trying to be that wise person and not that foolish person because wisdom and understanding can only come from the creator of heaven and earth. matthew 7:12
Solomon teaching in the book of proverb says foolish people enjoy doing wrong. Proverb 10:23

 

[Brighthouse]

Oh Brother Abraham!! I fully understand!! I lost many who used to be my friends! All we can do is present our Jesus,and never be ashamed of him! ( rom 1:16) If they choose to hang with us,cool,if not,then we love them as Jesus would,but you are correct!!

They will test you! The enemy, like Jesus will use anyone that will allow themselves to be used! The big difference as you well know is that Jesus is love, the enemy is about stealing the love of Jesus from you! This is why it is so inporatant to stay in the Word,and grow! daily! Jesus never begged any to follow,nor do you!

Your job is to become perfect in his love,so they will see the defference between one who says they believe,and one is is like you!! A doer of the Word and not a hearer only!! ( james 1:22)

Even though they may not want to hang with you,they will be watching you!! Believe that! There are enough stumbling blocks in the world as it is,the point is,we never want to become one to another!! AMEN!! Blessing to you!! My prayers for you,are always with you my Brother!! blessing!

 

[abraham]

Thanks Brighthouse and I am very proud of the Good News. I appreciate that you quote those verses because it uplifted my heart. God Bless You Brighthouse