My philosophy of life has always been to hate the sin but love the sinner. Many of my friends and family members have made lifestyle choices that are in conflict with my Christian values and beliefs. Does my association with them compromise my Christian witness? Should I be talking to them about Christianity or dare to mention sin or what it means to follow Jesus?
I am a mature adult and have worried about this for years. I'm by no means perfect but I do have good, loving relationships with my family members including siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws and ex in-laws. I try to be kind and friendly to all my co-workers, neighbors and acquaintences .... no matter their lifestyle.
I would like to hear your answers, Christians or not. "Does my friendship condone lifestyle choices?"
2007-07-27 02:54:58 · 18 answers · asked by Miz D 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please understand that I am feeling sad and worried about my own faults! Sorry folks, I didn't know that "lifestyle choices" meant homosexuals. I was trying to avoid details so I would not offend people.
2007-07-27 03:21:55 · update #1
WHAT?! Girlfriend, you be friends with someone--or not be friends with them--because you see something in them you like. "Lifestyle choices?" You need to not worry about what someone else does with their life and worry about your own. Keep your friends, and as far as their "lifestyle choices", mind your own business.
2007-07-27 03:01:23 · answer #1 · answered by grapefruit 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Can you provide the support for the opposing view? I understand there is a rather large study currently underway, in which brothers (one gay, one straight) are providing DNA and whatnot. Perhaps they will find something .. perhaps not. But what, exactly, is the question here? Let's say it is a choice. In a free society, why should that not be an acceptable answer? Let's say it is not a choice. May I say I was born with the propensity to be high-strung and nervous, so, therefore, just deal with it when I fret continuously? I'm a Libertarian and believe in individuals' rights, but I am not sure what you are attempting to accomplish here.
2016-05-20 17:04:35 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't want a friend that was secretly disapproving of my lifestyle. That doesn't sound like friendship to me. I was actually watching a Christian show last night and the guest said something like "as Christians, our job isn't to look at other people and say, I don't like what you're doing, or what you're wearing, but to support our brothers [and sisters]". I think the best thing you can do is to not judge others but support them in the good things they do. Nobody is perfect. I am sure you know you are not free from sin yourself. By the same token, none of us is devoid of good works. Instead of dragging each other down for our sins, we need to lift each other up in our good choices. I am actually not a Christian, but I think this applies to everyone regardless of religious affiliation.
2007-07-27 03:05:14 · answer #3 · answered by CNJRTOM 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
OK, so what are you saying, that you don't condone lifestyle choices? If you are referring to homosexuality, it's not any kind of a "choice"--who on Earth would choose that?! --yes, I choose to be gay because it makes me feel SOOOO good when the majority of the population vilifies me for no good reason--and then tries to use religion to justify their bigotry.
That set aside, I personally would not want a friend who doesn't accept me for who and what I am--regardless of religion or sexuality or political preference or because I like cats better than dogs. My friends love me inspite of my problems and they are there for me when I have problems. I am also there for them. My friends aren't perfect and some of them can really get on my nerves, to be sure. But I love them completely, without strings and understand that they are human just like me. How boring would the world be if we all had perfect "stepford" like friends? --eh.. I would rather have interesting and unique friends who can show me the world from a different point of view.
One last thing, it sounds a little like you're worried about what other people think of your friendships--why would you let someone else's opinion stifle your life like that?
2007-07-27 05:29:34 · answer #4 · answered by Nicky C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny, I read the words "lifestyle choice" and my mind always goes to homosexuality. It's like it's some kind of code or something. Same with "love the sinner hate the sin". People never say that about rapists, child molesters or axe murderers.
Obviously your friendship has only minimal effect on your friends behaviors and zero effect on their genes and any other conditions of their birth.
2007-07-27 03:01:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The best Christians lead by example. They don't preach. Everyone has heard it all before and getting preached at is just annoying. When you try to change a person's beliefs, it makes it seem like you think you are better than they are and they just tune you out. It sounds like you are already doing the right thing by being kind and friendly to everyone, just keep that up.
2007-07-27 07:09:16 · answer #6 · answered by myassisdragon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I definitely think you should keep your relationships with your family and friends. Everyone has differences of opinion, but we still love them and associate with them. (Or they could be led to the mistaken belief that you don't want to associate with them because you think you're better than them. I've seen lots of non-believers who feel that way on Y!A). And look at what a great example you can be for them!
If they don't know you're a Christian, then you can discuss it. Otherwise I'm sure they know how you believe. But your call; you'd know how they would feel about it. God bless.
2007-07-27 03:08:14 · answer #7 · answered by kaz716 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No your friendship doesn't condone their lifestyles.
In fact I think it's good to have friends that don't yet know Christ. Make your life an example.
It's great to talk to them about your faith but let your very life be a witness to who God is and what he can do.
Don't compromise your faith and sooner or later they will come and talk to you about it.
Also, if you stopped being their friend because of your faith what kind of witness would that give them.
-B
2007-07-27 03:02:58 · answer #8 · answered by The Brian 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity conflicts with pure love and human kindness. Christian love is conditional, one has to conform to a accepted set of standards to be deemed worthy. You are beyond that. You love your friend as God would, for who and what they are. I don't think of it as a compromise to love another human being, isn't that the main reason we're here?
Why did our Creator make homosexuality so prevalent in society? Was it a mistake? No, we just haven't learned to understand or respect the value of these beautiful, talented people. Our Creator made them just the way they are supposed to be. I don't think our creator was as hung up on sex as humans are.
We need to welcome gays into our hearts with pure love. We have successfully managed to push them to the outskirts of society. When we abandon them and they are more like to to have indiscriminate sex and avoid long term relationships. This is how hetero Christians have failed gays. They're judged, then neglected or bullied into switching sides. Nothing is sadder than living your life as something other than what God created you to be.
We all have to manage our own sexual persona's. Don't let his sexuality be the most important aspect of your relationship.
2007-07-27 03:56:56 · answer #9 · answered by Equinoxical ™ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No--real friends don't base their friendship on that. Jesus dined with sinners. And--if you'll remember--it was the hypocritical Pharisees and such that were the only ones who had a problem with it.
And said "judge not, lest you be judged in like manner"--nor did he condemn the woman whom the self-righteous hypocrites of thetime wanted to stone.
You should--since you CLAIM to be a Christian, start showing some real maturity. Try being a friend--and stop casting mental stones at your friends. Spend your effort correcting your own sins--starting with the sin of pride.
2007-07-27 03:05:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a Christian, so maybe my answer isn't appropriate to your beliefs, but I say no, your friendship doesn't condone their choices.
If your friends are rational adults, they too understand and accept your beliefs are yours and theirs are theirs. If you were my friend and started to proselytize, I'd be really offended and eventually wouldn't want to be your friend. Maybe living by example is good enough!
I have friends that don't live the same way I do, I accept them for their diversity and love them for who THEY are. Why would I want to hang out with carbon copies of myself? I live with me everyday. It would be boring!
2007-07-27 03:04:17 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋