Befriending non Christians?
Q: Can you be friends with someone that doesn't have the same beliefs as you?
I have been thinking back to high school and all the friends I had.. and got to missing them. I reached out to one of my closest friends in high school that I haven't seen in over 10+years... I miss her and would love to meet up and see how she's been and what she's been up to.... But I do not think she's a Christian... Idk I haven't seen her in 10 or so years but I mean this girl was pretty goth and if I remember correctly is pagan...
Is it a bad idea to meet up and see how she is, see if she is changed? I mean I am definitely not the same person I used to be... Thank Jesus.
I'm so terrified of doing anything against God.. and idk why but when I go around people their personalities rub off on me while I'm with them, so I'm just worried I'Il "try to hide my faith unintentionally to make her comfortable". It's something I've noticed I did in the past. And I don't catch that I'm doing it until l've left the person and l'm like "what was that?!"
Appreciate godly advice.
A: It sounds like you need to mature more in your faith and the Faith before engaging unsaved people. Surround yourself with the brethren at and from your church.
If you need discipleship in the basic foundations of Christianity you should start there. Contact the church office to find out when the next class course on Foundations begins, or if they have it or a sermon series on that so you can study it.
Then move to evangelism course/equipping. Every believer should be able to share the Gospel; articulate it well, snd have a testimony prepared to share, showing how God transfirmed you and through sanctification still continues to. Evangelism training to share the Gospel (and Apologetics to support it) are a progression of study that increases your understanding in time.
Remember to read through the Scriptures daily. Stay close to God by it, as you grow.
We are not to have fellowship with the world, they are in darkness. We do not tie Jesus to Satan; not unequally yoked in friendships, marriage, nor business partnerships. Those who gather to bad company are drawn away from God into sin, and are influenced by them. It is a big no. Do not intentionally yoke yourself to unsaved people.
*Theres a diff between being friendly and being friends. Remember that.
Here's my general recommendation depending on where one might be -
◇Not seeking her out: Best is to pray for her leave her with God, and hope God saves, Other servsnts are in the world ministering to others for Him.
◇If you run into her: share early in the chat that you are Christian, doing that gives you a segway to ask "BTW Cheryl, have you ever well understood the Gospel before?" and then as you say that have your phine out already wuth the video there. Show it to her, (being alongside her) NeedGod.com vid explains it easily in video. After you can ask her "Have you ever heard it explained that way before?"
If not interested: say, Well it is important to me that I share my Faith so people can ckme to know Jesus as their Savior, esp since tomorrow is not guaranteed. If you have any questions feel free to contact me about it. >Then move on in the chat.
If she has an open/positive response to the video Gospel content:
Say, "Has it explained the Gospel well?, to compelling you to get right with God, today, Placing your faith in Jesus?" If yes, tell her "Jesus said in Mark 1:15 "Repent & believe the Gospel'. Simply pray to God and ask him to cause you to be born again today." After, pray over her, and then quide her to a bible focused church nearest her for discipleship, baptism and membership.
◇If you already met: If she is interested in meeting up again... Call her out for a beverage, and let her know you care about her & that it is important to you to openly share that you are a Christian, ask her "Have you ever really understood the Gospel before?" Do this as you lean your phone over to her, with NeedGod.com video cued up to show her. It explains it easily and in video. After her viewing it you can ask her "After seeing that, do you see your need to get right with God, today?, through faith in Jesus." If yes, tell her "Jesus said in Mark 1:15 "Repent & believe the Gospel. Would you like to pray to God right now? Once you surrender and ask to be born again today, I would be happy to pray over you". Afterwards, guide her to a bible focused church nearest her, for discipleship, baptism and membership. And check in with her by phone once in a while. Remembering, like the Ethiopian who got saved and went on his way, God will lead and guide her if indeed she got saved. Leave her in the care of the Shepherds of her church. They'll guide her in holiness and disciple her in the Faith. If you never or hardly ever see her again, that's ok.
By doing that (sharing and sending her) you show you care about her, and shows that you serve God, and glorify him as you testify to your faith. 🙂
Def do not hide your faith from her for comfortability. That idea is foriegn to believers. It is as if shes in a house on fire and your chilling in the fire truck outside listening to music, knowing shes going to burn/die. No believer should delay nor avoid Gospel convos. Tomorrow isnt guaranreed. It would be arrogance to think she has another chance. She might die in 15 minutes, on her way home. Our love for God and towards others compels us to share. Don't have fear, go trusting God. God promises to give us what to say. If youre well equipped or at least understand enough to have basic convo, (like above), you can be confident God will lead you. Leave the rest to Him. It is all in His hands anyway. The ones open are open cuz God opens their heart. Those closed are closed cuz they close their heart (out of "love for their sinful life" that they love). No one seeks righteousness unless God draws them. Pray before and after meeting if you cross paths, that God will use it to plant seeds, and call you to become increasingly more faithful to our commission to proclaim the Gospel that saves. 😊
Q: Jesus said in Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
We are called to share him with those who don't know him. But how would we do that staying among only like minded people; believers?
A: Befriending those in darkness and witnessing to those in darkness are two diff things. We fellowship w the brethren (our godly community that surrounds us) but go out into the world to share the good news with those who are lost (the community around us).
The Apostles both in their interactions with others in intentionally witnessing & on missions didnt befriend unsaved folk. They met folk and found places to share the Gospel. Same as with when they worked jobs. They engaged those around them and customers to share Christ, and their lives shined Christ. By their godliness and integrity. But how they spoke too in that God permitted every area of their lives. They saw it, Christ shined through them. Those regulars, those who worked at the next still, and in the nearby areas of the marketplace.
We need to be equiped to be able to witness well (apologetics) but it is always with the intentional goal of getting to the Gospel. Every convo should be focused on the path to get there, even if they take detours to lead you off path- circle it back.
These resources here can further help you with evangelism. And in convos. You can pull it up to find an answer to discuss (and pop the Q link over to them for further look). That way you can get back to the goal of sharing the Gospel, and calling them to obey it.
*This covers Evangelism, Apologetics, FAQ, false religions and more. It is comprehensive.
Please save the above page link as it covers all these areas, so you can go through it completely, to get equipped. And may God use it and you to reach folk for Christ, and glorify Him. ✝️
God bless
