christian vs non-christian friends
Teen Devotions
Should Christians have non-Christian friends?
This is an interesting topic. I personally have people in my life who are both
Christian and non-Christian. I think there are a couple of things to keep in mind
when we consider this topic:
Number 1: The Bible gives us clear instructions on this. Let’s look at 2
Corinthians 6:14. It says,
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do
righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what
fellowship can light have with darkness?
The word yoked means to be “joined” together or to be “attached.” When
people fellowship or when you have a “communion”, there is some type of
common association of which an “exchange” of some sort is happening.
When I look this word up in a Bible dictionary, I find a few types of words
being used to describe fellowship and communion:
Share, community, association, joint participation…here are some deep
ones…intimacy, intercourse (Oooo…)
Based on these words, this scripture is basically asking us, “How can two
people that are unequal have a true, intimate relationship?”
Now when we say unequal, we are not saying that one person is better
than the other. That’s not what this means. It’s asking, “How can two
people who believe differently, have different values, and morals have an
effective relationship”? In a real friendship, you have a give and take
relationship going on. Because of this, it is really important that you are
careful about who is “giving and taking” in your life. If you have made a
decision to live a life according to God’s Word, it’s important that you do
your best to put people in your life that have decided the same. If not, you
may have a harder time, maybe even impossible time, trying to live a life
pleasing to God and one filled with His blessings.
Number 2: Now, on the other hand, if we look at the life of Jesus, we see
Him very often hanging around people that were considered sinners.
Prostitutes, criminal tax collectors, even one of his disciples was a crook!
Why would Jesus hang around these people? Well, let’s see what He
says about this.
Mark 2:16 – 17 (NIV) says:
16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw
him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they
asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors
and ‘sinners’?”
17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the
healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come
to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus is saying here, how could sinners ever come to know who He is if
they were never around Him? How could they ever know God and who
He was if He never spent time with them? This is the same example we
should follow in our lives. I have family members and friends that don’t
live the Word. Some don’t even desire to. But I know the power of my life
being lived out in front of them as an example of God’s Word and love. I
know that my life can be a living testimony of the goodness of God just by
me extending God’s love towards them. Whatever way I can show them
the love of God, I purpose to do. Hopefully, one day, this will draw them to
Christ and they will be born again.
BIG NOTE!!!
Now what this DOES NOT mean is for me to go hang out around people
that I know will entice or tempt me to sin. Do not choose to be around
people that will take you away from a life in God. If you can’t stand the
heat when you are with them, you need to take a some time to separate
yourselves from them. We didn’t see Jesus being pulled into sin when He
was around sinners. He was always in control and always drew people to
Him. This is what we need to purpose to do. Our presence should
demand respect from those around us and ultimately draw others to us.
Then, if the time is ever right, maybe we can share the good news of God
with them.
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