Are Christians being honest when they say they can have atheist "friends"?

Question

Are they really your "friends" or are they more like your conquests?

What does friendship mean to you if it has an ulterior motive on your part?

Are you serious saying you are not recommended by church and family not to mix with secular "sinners"?

Answer 1

I like it when Christians, et al say they have gay friends but believe they should have no rights or legal recognition of their relationships. It's much the same way that they view atheists.

With friends like those, who needs enemies.

** I love it too when they say love the enemy.

Good to know we are the "enemy" and we've all seen what "Christian love" can lead to. Just ask the native americans.

Answer 2

Jesus hung out with sinners and tax collectors. An ulterior motive? No, just one very apparent motive. He wanted to tell then the truth.

I have a few friends who don't believe in God. Do I have an ulterior motive for my friendships? No. I really love these people. Do I talk about my beliefs? Sure do. And no one runs way or is annoyed or offended.

So why are you so sour on Christians?

Answer 3

Don't believe all the nonsense you read about Christians not socializing with non-Christians. It simply isn't true.

As for you question about atheist friends, yes, I do have some. My friendship with them is not because of any ulterior motive, I don't spend 24/7 trying to make them a Christian. It will be their head on the chopping block when Jesus comes if they choose not to belong to Him. I answer their questions to the best of my ability and if I don't know the answer, I will get it from someone else and relay it to them. It is their choise, not mine.

Answer 4

I cannot and will not speak for other christians. But, yes I am being honest is saying that friendship is not based on religion or faith of any kind. There is no ulterior motive. The only thing I expect of anyone is to respect me in my beliefs as they would want me to respect them and theirs. I did not say my church and family tells me not to associate with others of different faiths. We are taught to be careful not to allow those friendships to harm us in our faith. In other words, we do not want to be corrupted (as you put it) and do not want to corrupt others. If a friend of a different faith asks about my faith, I will explain it to them. By being friends with this person; I assume that you mean true friendship and not an aquaintance. True friends understand how each other feels and tries not to harm them in any way. It is not a hard concept to grasp, it's called loving thy neighbor as thyself.

Answer 5

As an atheist, I have Christian friends, Atheist friends, Buddhist friends, Wiccian friends, Jewish friends, gay friends, even Republican friends.
As long as that one label does not define YOU as a person and control your entire being at all times, the rest of YOU can enjoy yourself and your friends without having to share the same beliefs as the group. Heck, you don't even have to share the same friends. The guys I play poker with are would not get along with the group I mostly go the movies with. When they met at my bachelor party they did not click at all, breaking into separate groups, but still enjoyed their time together.
I guess, as long as you don't push your agenda into someone else's live by force, people will stay happy.

Answer 6

Yes. But they desire the fellowship of Christian friends first and foremost. We are to shew ourselves friendly, live in the world conducting our daily lives as necessary but not to be of the world. That means that as an ambassador and citizen of that heavenly country that I'm traveling to, I am not to get sidetracked or stuck or distracted by anything or anybody along the way. We are to help the sick, give the gospel to the poor, visit those in prison (physically and spiritually), love our neighbors as ourselves, be the good samaritan but keep our eyes on the goal the whole time. So, come with me if you will. I'll point you to the cross and you can follow in the footsteps of Jesus from there. If you don't want to go, I'll keep traveling.
Friendship means we reach out to hungry souls with the Word of God. Ulterior motives? None. What fellowship does light have with darkness though? I can't participate in the activities of others who may want to go drinking. We have to be careful of spending too much time with those who might tempt us or our families to sin rather than us being able to remain spiritual examples to them.
I think being a real friend to a sinner is just living right in front of them rather than socializing with them a lot. A real Christian friend will let you know you can call them any time day or night for prayer (leave out prayer for hangovers and other such idiocy) when you are sick. A Christian friend will help you out when you are in difficult circumstances like you've lost your job and need food or something and they have it and will keep you from going hungry. A Christian friend will offer you that winter coat to keep you warm if they see you don't have one. Jesus ate with publicans and sinners but you won't catch me in a bar or a rock concert or any such worldly activities. There are neutral occassions I'm sure but the fact is a Christian who has left the weak and beggarly elements of the world can't afford to hang out with folks who care nothing for their souls and they have completely different goals in life and completely different interests. I would say Christians can have limited socialization with atheist friends but that atheists would not accept friends who converted to Christianity. The only reason an atheist would befriend a Christian is because??? I'll guess they either secretly envy what the Christian has and loves being around their sweet spirit or they want to try and de-convert the Christian. We are not to cast our pearls before the swine so if you don't want our gospel message ro our God, that is no ulterior motive but to share with others what makes life wonderful. We have to keep on traveling. A song says "If my kinfolk won't go with me, no turning back, no turning back." That turned Lot's wife into salt.

Answer 7

The problem here is that you are believing what comes out of the mouths of xtians. It's not that they are trying to be deceitful, but they are taught to use circular reasoning, pick and choose what verses in the bible to follow, to use "context" of the bible to justify anything and to be outright hypocritical. Xtians will say just about anything...depending on who's asking and what the forum is. That kind of manueverability is only available when you don't have a spine. Sorry, but it has been my experience time and time again.

Xtians are only true friends to other xtians.

Answer 8

2 Cor.6:14 be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?

Answer 9

I have friends from all backgrounds. God teaches us to love all his children. That includes Atheists.