Friends who wont become members of the church...how do i handle this?

Question

I've tried to convince them to join the church. They wont put the effort up to be baptized or attend church regularly. So do I stop being their friend...tell them that I cant be friends with someone like them....or do I just keep trying???

For all you "haters" the bible tells us not to assoicate with ppl who arent of the faith...because frankly i dont wanna know that my friends are in hell BURNING while im in heavan....they already belieive in jesus, i just need to get them to stop denying his family and be baptized and come to church....

I wont HATE them...and if they ever need to talk ill be there for them.....God tells us to forgive 7x70! (in other words...never stop forgiving) but if need be, kindly tell them, i forgive you, but you're no good for me. we cant be friends.....so please stop harassing me.

Answer 1

You've misinterpreted the Bible about who not to associate with. Here is what Paul wrote about it:

1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one.

Consequently, unless your friends are pulling you away from the faith you shouldn't feel you need to dissassociate from them.

Answer 2

You respond with, "kin member, you're hypomanic. the two see your pdoc and cope with your episode, or get out of my face." communicate over. there's a distinction between being amped up with your techniques racing, and attacking yet another for exciting and the sake of argument. you ought to no longer ought to take being made to experience undesirable. on the comparable time, being overly under pressure w/o putting others down desires some compassion. i'm bipolar. What you're describing feels like subthreshold mania, and a sparkling indication that meds ought to be adjusted. If the guy is BP sort a million, s/he's probable on the thank you to mania. The obnoxiousness isn't the guy's fault according to se, yet no longer searching for therapy is. do no longer worry arguing. do no longer anticipate actual rationality. the former is futile, the later an unrealistic expectation. the ultimate you're able to do is know the indicators, and tell the guy whilst s/he's clearly swinging. in element of actuality that because of the fact the guy gets older, s/he will discover ways to renowned the preliminary indications of an episode. whilst youthful, it fairly is not such an consumer-friendly element to do. no count if or no longer the s/he chooses to preserve the episode as quickly as known is a distinctive count. Btw, in the adventure that your loved ones member continually is an argumentative jerk regardless of temper, it has no longer something to do with being bipolar.

Answer 3

Maybe your trying to hard, Try and give them a bit of room.
Just let Jesus shine through you, what they see you do and how you handle things will set a better example than to stay on them about church. Why don't you have some friends over from your church to have a cook out- kind of a chip in thing and invite your other friends over, not to harass them about church but to try and build a relationship so they feel more conferable. some people take more time, remember God only wants you to plant a seed it is up to God to water it.
So have a cook out and just enjoy- build your relationship and friendship first and see if they follow.(and pray even before you eat have all your friends join hands in prayer just to give God thanks). Then just make them feel welcome and find the things you have in common, don't have everyone gang up on them about church,you may push them away.

Answer 4

You've witnessed to them, and given them the message, now all you can really do is pray every day for their conversion. It says right in the Bible (Acts) that if you preach Christ's message, and it is rejected, just knock the dust off of your sandals and move on.

In your particular case, I wouldn't quit being friends with them, but just witness in another way. Make sure that the life you lead is an exemplary one, and one that would show them how a true Christian lives. You've planted the seed in their minds and hearts - sometimes it may take months or years for that seed to germinate and sprout. Don't give up on them. Intercede with God on their behalf for their repentance and conversion, but at the same time, don't bring up baptism or church at this time as it might be counterproductive. Always pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance on how to proceed.

Edit:

When Scripture mentions not to associate with unbelivers, I believe what is meant is do not associate with people of low moral standards, or outright haters of God - people who are adamantly opposed to God and His Will. You didn't give any indication that your neighbors are like this, only that they just didn't seem too interested at this time. If they are basically good people, but just not very God-oriented (which is what I gather from reading your question) they may very well be in that area of someone who may someday find Christ, so in my opinion, if this is the case, you may want to just change your approach (let the Holy Spirit guide you) but don't quit witnessing to them - as I mentioned earlier above, there are many different ways to witness to people, it's not a "one size fits all" type of thing.......

Answer 5

If you are sincerely concerned about them and their well being, I would say, pray for them. This is more beneficial than bugging someone to the point of hating you and God Himself.
Love is in actions, and is more convincable than trying to push someone to a point of no return. Let their hearts guide them to the place they need to be. So, that they will see for themselves the love God has! It's all you can do.

Answer 6

Do not stop being their friend. You're the kind of friend they need the most right now. Pray for them. Pray that God will break their spirit down enough that they will want to come to church with you. Don't pressure them to come. Just talk to them about other things. God will pressure them. If they don't ask after a while, ask them again. Just leave it up to God, but continue being their friend. Remember...God wants us to love everybody.

Answer 7

Why? It's none of your business. I've attended the same church for 10 years and am not a member. You aren't responsible for their religion....as I see your questions are Wicca related and pertaining to tarot and the like...I assume you mean your coven. I didn't realize that they baptized. If you are just trying to play "bad-christian" for fun on Answers you are going to find that the Karma comes back to bite you. If you are trying to force people to join your coven, I don't think that is in the spirit of Wicca any more than it is in the spirit of Christianity.

Answer 8

Yes, please, stop being friends with them. Stop it now and never talk to them anymore.
Because they surely don't ned a "friend" like you, who questions the friendship because they're not of the same religion as you! You should be SO ashamed of yourself! Who the hell are you to have the right to demand of your friends to change because of you? If you were a real friend, you would accept them and love them as they are, not demand them to change.

Your friends deserve better.

Answer 9

Respect their choice as they respect yours.

How would you feel if they tried to convince you to leave the church, told you they couldnt be friend with you anymore as you are churchgoing or harassed you because you believe in different things to them.

Christianity is about respecting differences, tolerance, compassion and acceptance - it is NOT about trying to force your opinion on others

Enjoy your christianity and let others make their own choices

Answer 10

Churches are usually imperfect institutions run by fallible humans. If your god is as holy as you believe him to be, then he is far too great to be limited by human institutions.

If your god is sought, he will be found, with or without the benefit of a church.


Remember the words of your Christ in Matthew 18:20
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."