Can Jehovah's Witnesses be friends with someone who isn't a Jehovah's Witness?

Question

I had a Jehovah's Witness come to my house for a few months and I thought we were friends. We talked for about 20 minutes twice a week when she came over. We talked about God and I even went to one of their meetings. I am Penecostal and go to my own church. I told her this and she seemed cool with it but always invited me to their church and their meetings. My husband recently decided to go back to church with me and told me that he doesn't want the Johovah's Witnesses to come back over anymore. So being the obedient wife that I am I had to tell her that she can't come over anymore to do bible studies. She seemed to be ok with it and said if I ever decided to come back to call her. I was heart broken to tell her that she can't come back anymore and I was hoping that she would want to be friends but she acted like she didn't want to be a friend unless I continued their bible studies. Can't she be my friend without studying their ways or is it that she just doesn't want to be friends?

Answer 1

She is only interested in friendship if you convert. YOur husband is truly wise.

Answer 2

Yes JWs can be friends with non JWs, just not too close so as to pick up bad habits or discouragement from the Christian way (2 Corinthians 6:14-18. 1 Corinthians 15:33)...but if someone's husband tells his wife not to see her JW friend it's hardly the JW’s fault (lol).

Answer 3

We Christians aren't allowed to have close association with non believers, something the Bible states.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17"Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."
18"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."


Sure theres non-Jehovah's Witnesses family members and and long time friends, but when associating with them, you have know whats right and whats wrong.

For example, I hang out with my non-JWs family members, but I know when not to associate with them when they're doing something bad.

Answer 4

Yes, you can be friends. I am the only Witness in the area where I live and I do have friends.

I just avoid being too close to the really immoral people- I'm scared their attitude might rub off on me. But I still help them out with schoolwork and stuff.

1 Corinthians 15:33- Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.

Answer 5

I have had a few years associating with JWs. I do not like the organization, but the ones I knew had no problems associating with non JWs, other than dating or marriage as stated prior.

Answer 6

Well I'm dissapointed that she didn't seem more sincerely interested in a continued friendship with you. The Bible teaches to love one another. Someone else mentioned something about conditional love. I have to tell you, I don't believe in conditional love. Jesus loves unconditionally. We should too. Regardless of her denominational label, she studies the Bible and should realize that her way about things was not a godly example, and left out certain things the Bible teaches just to justify the point shes trying to make. I'm sorry, Jenn. I'll still be your friend. And if i can help it, I'll try and make my friends be your friends too.
Do you remember when I took my old other friend of the same name everywhere with me? I'll just do the same with you. Come along now, come along.
You're doing the right thing by honoring your husband.
in christ

Answer 7

My 14 year old daughter has a friend at school that is JW and they seem to get along fine. We go to an REC (Reformed Episcopal Church) ourselves.

Answer 8

So let me get this rite....

''My husband -- told me that he doesn't want the Jehovah's Witnesses to come back over anymore.''

''being the obedient wife that I am I had to tell her that she can't come over''

''I was heart broken to tell her that she can't come back''


And 'your' complaining that she isn't coming back?

To me it sounds like this JW is complying with you and your husbands wishes.

Answer 9

I have a neighbor that I am friendly with. she has handicapped children and so do I. when she needs help or I need help, we are there for one another. Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves. she knows that I am a Jehovah Witness and many times I talk to her about Jehovah. we respect each other. I told some in my kingdom hall that I am friendly with her and they said I was doing the right thing

Answer 10

I had a JW teacher...and she was friends with other teachers in the school(I would see them out eating places) so yeah...

Either they can, or she's a bad example for JW.

Answer 11

No, she doesn't really want to be your friend, she was just doing bible study with you because she thought you were going to join. It really depends on the person, if they want to be friends with a "worldly person", that is what they call us non-Jehovah Witnesses, Worldly. Had you became a JW, then she would probably be your best friend. A lot of JW's pride themselves on being a better person. Maybe you should write her a letter telling her how hurt you are and that you thought she was your friend. Maybe she will come around, but most likely like I said she was only doing it because she thought you were gonna join. Sorry.