Jehovah Witness friends?

Question

If you are a Jehovah Witness, can you have a close friend that is not a Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Answer 1

It is not looked upon kindly. You will never hear that you CAN'T be friends with someone who isn't a Witness. However, it is discouraged. Although I no longer am a Witness, I grew up as one. I, personally, always found it odd that we were encouraged to be friends with other Witnesses, and discouraged to form friendships with "worldly" people (their word, not mine) simply because of possible bad influence. In my opinion, anyone can be a bad influence. We are all human, no matter the race, religion, or orientation. I always thought that when choosing my friends, Witness or not, I picked carefully because that person would have an impact on my life. After all, a Jehovah's Witness could be a negative influence just as much as someone who wasn't a Witness.

Answer 2

You are going to get some very diverse responses to this. Particularly from those who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. To wit: one person posted that 'you cannot even acknowledge a family member who is not JW and you have to disown them.' This canard is repeated incessantly and yet nothing could be further from the truth. I have been a Witness for over twenty years. I am the only one in my family now that my mother is dead. I have disowned no relative. Neither am I expected to. If this has been the experience of some, it is unscriptural at the very least of it and ridiculous at the very worst.

I have a few who I consider to be fairly close friends. They are not Jehovah's Witnesses. It is true that Christians are admonished to be careful with their associates. That is reasonable, is it not? And it is true that 1 Corinthians 15:33 is often quoted: "Do not be misled: Bad associations spoil useful habits." Why?

Interestingly enough, the apostle Paul was here discussing the resurrection hope. Paul cited the resurrection of Jesus Christ and yet there were those who were denying this teaching. Paul warned of associating with some. See how the wrong association can undermine one's faith? A fundamental and important teaching was being denied by some claiming to be disciples of Christ and that denial was threatening the faith of others. Serious, indeed.

It truly matters who your friends are. A person can be affected detrimentally in a spiritual way by those he chooses as his friends. But this is true in other matters as well.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

Yes, any Jehovah's Witness may choose to have a close friend who is not a Jehovah's Witness. Of course, a Christian would also have to respect the direction of his or her head of household.

(Ephesians 6:1-2) Children, be obedient to your parents in union with the Lord, for this is righteous: “Honor your father and your mother”

(Colossians 3:20) You children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.

Answer 4

my closest friends are witnesses. But i have friends that are close to me and are not witnesses.

Rob you speak no truth. My mothers side of the family are not witnesses and we are close. We treat them like family. We dont stop talking to them or dis them. This is not true.

Answer 5

If its just a school friend than yeah its OK because you can't help but make friends there but if you go out of your way to associate with people who do not serve Jehovah example calling them on the phone, emailing them, talking to them through instant messenger than yes it is wrong for us to do that

Answer 6

I don't really know what the Jehovah's Witness take is on this, but I'm LDS and would be happy to be your friend. I hope you find out it's ok.

Answer 7

That is a personal choice.

I have a couple of friends I consider close who are not JWs - however, my CLOSEST friends are all Witnesses.


update:
Rob is incorrect. I have a lot of family who are not JWs and we do not avoid contact with them or "dis" them in the least.

Answer 8

It depends what your view of "friends" is. For us the right kind of friend, then, should be one that encourages the Christian in being loyal to the Most High God. Only lovers of Jehovah can do this.


In selecting friends, the Christian does well to keep those words of the prophet in mind: “Is it for those hating Jehovah that you should have love?” How the servant of God must guard against improper friendships! Whether we will receive God’s favor or his indignation against us depends to a large extent on the kind of friendships we form. It should not surprise us that the Most High God views any of his servants as guilty who associate with persons of whom he does not approve. We cannot associate with those whom God does not approve and gain his friendship.

The corrupting influence of bad friends is something that removes one from the realm of dependability, for it is something that will inevitably produce adverse results: “He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly.” (Prov. 13:20)

If you are interested in making friends with someone you have met, you might want to ask yourself, ‘Who are his or her friends?’ The type of close associates someone has tells much about the person himself. Also, what opinion do mature and respectable people in the community have of him? In addition, it is wise to consider not only how potential friends treat us but also how they treat others, particularly those from whom they have nothing to gain. Unless a person displays good qualities—such as honesty, integrity, patience, and consideration—at all times and to all people, what guarantee is there that he will always treat you well?

Answer 9

They elders don't encourage it. They often recite the verse, "Bad Associations spoils useful habits." They want you to only be friends with other witnesses and Jehovah.

Answer 10

My mother did for over 40 years, but lost her recently to old age. She hopes to see her again in the resurrection.