I have a friend that I've been trying to get to believe in God and Jesus Christ. She is kind of familiar with the religion, but is very resisent to believe. She doesn't think that a god who has all-mighty power could really let all of the suffering in the world happen. She is a very strong thinker and has amazing arguements that I don't have all of the answers to. She brings up sex, being gay or lesbian, poverty, war, peace, etc. I try to come up with answers to her questions, but somethimes I can't. She has been to church with me once, and I've been trying to get her to go to a bible study meeting with me.
I know that God wants me to bring her to him. If he didn't, I don't know how I could always be her friend. We have been though a large fight, and were fortunate enough to make it out still friends. She can be mean sometimes, even to me. She doesn't really like the all the people I hang out with.
Any ideas or verses that might help bring her to God?
2006-08-11 11:22:38 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, I can be friends with someone without changing their religion. I'm friends with a ton of them. But she wants to talk about it. She wants to listen.
2006-08-11 11:34:41 · update #1
It is very important you bear in mind 4 things:
1.- You cannot convince anybody to believe in God. That is not your task and this is Biblical. The only one who can "convince" the people is the Holy Spirit of God. Hence, as other peson have just said pray to God with real faith and love for your friedn and leave it to Him.
2.- You do not have to be sad or worried if you do not see a change in the life of your friend. A lot of gret preachers and men of God prayed a lot for people while they were alive and did not see the change, but after their deaths it was registered that many of the people they prayed for, started believing in God. Then, do your best but leave the result to God.
3.- As it is written in the Letter of Peter be ready to answer to those who demand the reason of your faith. Nobody was born knowing everything and nobody knows everything that there is to know about God. Then you are not bound to know everything. Hence, if your friend asks a question that you do not know, be sincere and tell him that you do not have the answer in that moment but that you will do some research work and will gine him your opinion in short.
Then do a good research work. Through this work you will show your friend that you are somebody serious and thinking and you will be gathering knowledge for future experiences like this.
Never fight, give good and true reasoning but never fight. If you have done a good research and even like that your friend wishes to hold stubborn thoughts, do not take part in ill conversations. Go back to God and let him vindicate your case.
4.- Be always an example of the right thing. One preacher once said that a good christian is like a beacon by the beach and the reefs. It lights the way of the ships so that they do not crash in the reefs. But the beacon does not talk or shout. It onli lights! The lives of real christians must be so, that even if they say nothing they are lighting with their lives, they are preaching with their sinless lives full of love.
2006-08-11 12:00:08 · answer #1 · answered by Carpe Thoreau 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the best thing you can do is to love her and accept her even if she doesn't believe in your God. Just lead by example... don't force it down her throat. She might decide to believe the way you do, and she may not. You are just going to have to live with that... and you also need to know that if she is fine without God, then that is just how it is for her. You may not be able to live without God... and you may believe that people cannot live a good life, or that they will go to hell if they do not believe in God... but you have to remember that that is YOUR faith which you choose to believe in. It is not a truth to anyone who was not taught it, and it is hence, not a universal truth. It may be your truth, but not your friend's and you need to respect that.
2006-08-11 18:30:28 · answer #2 · answered by Stephanie S 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Seems to me that she is much closer to the Truth than you are. She has every reason to wonder why there is so much suffering, violence, hate, and anger in this world. I suspect that she does not have much respect for the spirit that rules the world and runs things in this physical realm where we dwell. I don't have much respect either for the spirit who runs the world of the dead, the "underworld." I hope she has enough perseverance to find the Way out of it. Of course, if she does, she will also know better than to try to force her Knowledge down someone else's throat. She will then be aware that only those who have had their blindness and deafness healed will ask for the Truth. Only those who seek and ask will find the Knowledge they need.
2006-08-11 18:45:46 · answer #3 · answered by Ninizi 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In this instance, the only thing you can do is lead by example. Stop trying to convince her that God is real. Instead, let God convince her of His might and His power.
Pray to God and ask Him to open her heart and touch her with His love and His presence.
I will join my prayers with yours....
God Bless~*
2006-08-11 18:28:31 · answer #4 · answered by DG 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Back off a while; don't stop all together but give her a breather. The more you shove it the further you push her away. As a christian you should know the most important thing you can do for her is pray for her. Take your concerns to god and he'll know what to do.
2006-08-11 18:30:45 · answer #5 · answered by J P 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the best way to witness is to be an example. live the way God wants you too and let God touch her. Continue to pray for her as well. God bless. go tocbn.com and see if you can find resources to help you along.
2006-08-11 18:26:46 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can't MAKE anyone believe. It is something that they have to do themselves. Just answer their questions to the best of your ability and leave the rest to God. God is obviously working on your friend if she is asking you questions and is genuinely interested. Just don't judge her and be patient. God will do the work in her heart.
2006-08-11 18:44:29 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do not force her to believe, only show her the reasons to believe and hope for the best?
2006-08-12 23:53:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
piece of advice people do not like to be manipulated into believing in something.
but my best advice would be to turn the tables on her.
as her to try to ague for Christianity and find reasons to support it. If she is the debating type this would interest her more that anything you could say.
2006-08-11 18:28:47 · answer #9 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Christianity is the only religon that truely forces it apon people to join. i was in this same situation with somebody but they wanted me to be christian. You guys have to realize that we r free thinkers and we know what we believe and hate it when people try to force us to be something that we dont believe in. i would just stop now. If u have any more questions on what she will do if you press to much this commen sence....
2006-08-11 18:27:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋