IS it okay to have friends that arent saved?»

[Quila]

I have friends from my past that arent saved is this okay ??? I telll them about God but they still continue to live in sin

[Carla]

Hi Quila,

Since you are saved, you will likely find yourself being less interested in the things that they are doing. Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften and open their hearts. We can talk to people about God and Jesus until the 'cows come home', but it won't make one bit of difference if the Holy Spirit is not already working in their hearts to draw them in. Having said that, make the most of every opportunity, but do not push them away by being too 'preachy'. Make sure they understand why you have the convictions that you do, and why you stick to them. ..do not sway from your Christian convictions.

Love your friends ..as I am sure you do, be there for them. When things come crashing down for them (as they do for everyone in this world) be the first to be there for them .....to serve ....whatever their needs are. Show them the Love of Christ.

Let them 'see' the difference in you.. Love, acceptance for them as the people they are...do not try to change them. Do not judge, and do not hold the high standards for them that Jesus holds for us... Ask God to give you a supernatural Love and compassion for them....I am sure you are doing all these things already.

Use Caution here to not fall into their tendencies.. I think you must know this already.

so..yes it is okay to be friends with nonbelievers..but you won't be as close. It is two different Spirits. Perhaps you can try to see them on neutral ground.. things that you know would honor God, and at the same time not make them uncomfortable....You may be more comfortable one on one with each of them...rather than a group setting.
Bless you for loving them.
In Him, Carla

[Michelle Thompson]

Great response Carla. I agree with you as I have experienced this. Friends and family both see the changes in me as a Christian. We don't have the same interests as we might have had once. The key is "Prayer". Pray for them that Spirit of God will touch them in a mighty and miraculous way. Just as Jesus did in the Bible when he sought out the sinners for they were the ones in need.

Mark 2:17 (King James Version)

17When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

[Theresa]

Matthew 9:10-13 10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

Dear Quila,

According to God's word, Jesus is not forbidding us from being friends with unsaved friends, the fact and the truth are that Jesus came for them, for all of us, we all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God, none of us is righteous, none is holy but the Lord. The way to witness to them is to keep your attitude aligned with God and His word and to thank Him for what He did for you and how He saved you and that He can and is able to do the same thing for your friends.
Get involved in your local church, surround yourself with Godly and wise friends, read your bible and honor God by keeping a humble spirit always that acknowledges where would any Christian be if it was not for the grace and the blood of Jesus who saved them?

You are blessed,
Therese,

Footnotes:

[KnowHimBetter1]

of course...We can love them and be good to them and pray for them and communicate to them and share our God sensitively with them.....Just keep on being a true friend to them. accept them unconditionally and pray for them...God is big enough to draw them ......soon they will come to God when they see how good He is and how much He loves them.

[Nora Ewington]

Hi Quila,

Of course it's ok. As long as you don't allow yourself to be influenced by them, but rather BE the influence they need. You are saying stuff to them, that's great, keep it up. They may still be living in sin, but you don't know what battles are going on behind the scenes or in their hearts. Just keep doing what you are doing and keep praying for them, and they will eventually come round (in their and God's time) :)

[Anthony William Curtis]

Yes it is, but you don't want to be really super close because bad company corrupts good character. you want to make sure you have good christian friends to keep you in your walk, but if you used to do drugs, for instance, and all of your old friends do drugs, you're going to eventually do drugs. just be careful. if your friends are a bad influence you might have to spend a lot less time with them. God will send you different friends that will be a better influence

[Mary O]

I wouldn't partake in their sins, but I wouldn't give up on them either. You never know when something you said or did will hit home. One person plants and another waters.

Friends of mine Violet and Rose (twins) were reunited with a friend Victoria. Vicky called a Christian radio station talking about Vi and Rose (childhood friends) how they weren't saved and how she had prayed for them and how she still prayed for them to this day. She had lost touch with them. Vicky was wishing she knew what had happened to Violet and Rose. Vi was listening and called the radio station. Vi and Rose had gotten saved, and they were all reunited.

If my friends had given up on me, I wouldn't be typing this comment. And I know I wasn't that pleasant to be around. They knew I wasn't a Christian. They would give me a book to read or say hey let's go to this movie. Next thing I knew I was at their church watching Christian movies. All of it worked in my heart to help me know Jesus Christ the way to salvation. When we speak the word, it never comes back to us null and void.
God bless,
Mary O.

[charyn]

Its the work of the Holy Spirit to touch their hearts... And dont feel guilty about it... U've done your part... Let God do His part too...

[GAD_578]

Not everyone is at the same stage in their spiritual journey all the time. A Real Christian is concerned for all and hope all grow closer to God, yet the word teaches more than one Christian tactic. the number one virtue is Love and with the use of Love we are also told how and when to use many tactics such as Spiritual discernment, Rebuke, and patience. The Masses dont seem to have such knowledge and the hole concept seems foreign to them. i have blogs on such and perhaps already posted here if not then in due time.

It doesn't take long to tell weather one is interested in God's Word or not,& if you can spark an interest or not. Some aren't ready and keep in mind some have the spirit of slumber for a good reason. Some people you just cant reach. A child of God is given discernment on so many levels so that they know how to mature spiritually and to embrace debates, bad company, and divisions and strifes can stunt ones growth. Christ came to save the lost and was often amoung those who had much sin and yet had Much interest.