Well, please don't be offended, but I have a lot of mormon, atheist, muslim, ect. friends. I also have a couple of gay friends. But I still love God and I've accepted him as my savior. I can't ask my parents because I'm afraid they'd make me stop hanging out with all my friends of different religion. My question is...
Is it ok for me to have those kind of friends, gay/different religion friends? As long as I don't let it interfere with my religion? Does it say somewhere in the Bible that it's wrong, and if it does could you tell me the verse because I'm confused. Some people are telling me it's ok and others are saying it's totally wrong. I really don't want to stop being friends with them, but religion is important to me.
PS. This question was not intended to offend ANYONE. I really do want to know.
2007-12-27 08:13:19 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
OK, most of you are getting my question, but a few of you aren't. I'm not prejudice against ANYONE. And one of you said you didn't believe that I'm a Christian because I'm religious, but let me tell you first hand that I do have a relationship with god...and another one of you said that I shouldn't ask this question over the internet...then what is this site for? I'm certainly not going to ask my parents because I don't know what they would say and that scares me. And if I asked my friends, they would most definately be offended. But I've decided to take the majority advice! You guys are right I wish I could choose more than one right answer! I shouldn't stop being friends with them, and Jesus was friends with sinners too, I'm a sinner! So as long as I have a strong relationship with Jesus, it won't hurt a thing! I love and care for ALL of my Friends and God wouldn't want me to stop, I should be a good example and not a poor one.
Thanks! =]
2007-12-27 10:05:21 · update #1
Jesus said the most important commandment of them all is to love your neighbor... and to not judge lest ye be judged. I think that God smiles on you for being accepting of anyone and not judgemental because people are different than you.
Furthermore, if any of your friends are lost, it was Christ who said that he will use the saved to lead the lost to him. Just be the vessel that God has called you to be... and do not conform!
.
2007-12-27 08:17:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 14⤊ 1⤋
Ok check this out:
You're in clear waters to be friends with such people. Though, i'm not strong enough to befriend gays and i have no patience for Atheists - You can be friends with Muslims, Mormons, Gays, and Atheists. The thing to do is not lose sight of your faith because of their influences. Though, in Islam, the Koran says that Muslims can be friends with Christians because we are both "people of the book". (Whatever that means). I have a Muslim friend so, he told me this.
Remember that God gave us free will. I will warn you though, Atheists have a knack for denying anything that has to do with God - if you are offended by these things - i wouldn't get too chummy with an Atheist - unless you vow never to talk about religion, you shouldn't clash with the Atheist.
Ciao
2007-12-27 08:25:10 · answer #2 · answered by Angelita Amante 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You're worried that your friends are a different religion? That's horrible that you feel that you're doing something wrong just because your friends practice a different faith than you do. I can see having a problem with hanging out with people who steal or are drug addicts but....a different religion!? Society and it's backwards attitudes towards people who happen to think differently than "the norm" is making me sigh a lot lately.
Be a friend based on the quality of the person, not on what group they belong to.
2007-12-27 08:20:37 · answer #3 · answered by apples_ll_apples 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It can depend what you mean by being friends with them. Here are some verses to check. Galatians 6:10, Colossians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 15:33.
Best wishes,
Debbie
2007-12-27 08:49:10 · answer #4 · answered by debbiepittman 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am not a Christian but there is an essence of Jesus I like...the stories of his love of people and his lack of judgment. I think as long as you respect yourself and your friends you are on the right path.
Your way of experiencing spirituality will evolve with experience and education. In my opinion that is a good thing. Your parents may feel differently because they fear they will loose you and that you will have different beliefs than they want you to have.
I teach my kids to seek their own answers and think for themselves....I admire that in others and wish my children to be free thinkers.
2007-12-27 08:27:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Friends are a strong influence on each other. Your parents may worry that a friend influence you unto a cult, ideas, or other things that are harmfull.
Just be alert to gain them for Christ and not that they drive you out from Jesus' way. Keep always in mind that Jesus is your #1 friend, do not let any other friend set you apart from Jesus.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (KJV)
John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (English Standard Version).
2007-12-27 08:38:19 · answer #6 · answered by Darth Eugene Vader 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What kind of Christian are you? Catholic? Mormon is a type of Christianity too, you know...
Why don't you read the Bible and find out?
Learn everything you can about your religion. Don't ask other people for help, especially not about Christianity...there are so many false beliefs out there that just passed around through word of mouth and forgotten sources.
I think if your current religion says you can't be friends with people of other religions, you should find a new one, because that one is not worth sustaining in society.
2007-12-27 08:24:16 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
All your friends will have an influence on you and people who are insecure will be afraid of what they don't understand or approve of.
It's your life and if you can justify your friendships as an act of love and an extension of your faith then you have nothing to worry about. Don't be dragged down by other people's prejudices and problems. Stay who you are.
2007-12-27 08:22:21 · answer #8 · answered by brianjames04 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It is absolutely OK to be their friends. I also have all those religious, atheistic, agnostic, gay, bi-and all colors and race friends. Be respectful of them and stand firm on your conviction.
Even Jesus hung around with sinner, prostitutes, tax collectors (the Jews viewed them as low life), foreigners...
2007-12-27 08:19:56 · answer #9 · answered by Traveler 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
WWJD?
it seems Jesus (in the storybook version) was like Mother Theresa and had all manner of friends
it was the religious right that saw this and plotted to kill him for his crossing the line and loving more than their country clubs and loved his actual neighbors
2007-12-27 08:21:51 · answer #10 · answered by voice_of_reason 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋