Can a Christian and an atheist be best buds?

[Dave Slayer]

Can a Christian and an atheist be best buds? What is Biblical in this matter?

 

[Nick]

Well they can be friends, and good friends, but in my opinion they can't get too close, becasue there's a massive barrier between them, something that they don't share in common. And that's Christ.

 

[Vic C.]

Best friends? No, it doesn't work out. Friends or acquaintances, ok. We can witness to them, whether it be in deed or word. Of course, we are to love and maybe even embrace urf enemies with the hope of leading them in the right direction. Then maybe they will become a good friend. We are not called to be unevenly yoked.

2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

 

[Jon-Marc]

Such a relationship is contrary to what God says. Besides, you can't have Christian fellowship with an atheist. I would have quoted what Vic did, but there's no sense in repeating it.

 

[Captain Sarcastic]

I grew up as best friends with a professing atheist. Once I came to truly trust in Christ, that relationship (necessarily) became strained. Not that that was my intent...but Christ is a "rock of offense, stone of stumbling" for unbelievers.

Over the years, we really don't have anything to do with each other. Still praying that he finds the One Who found me.

 

[Gabe]

You are more likely to be led astray by a close Christian friend than by a close atheist friend.

Not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

Shouldn't this rule also apply to non-Christian family members? For example; to children, to siblings and to parents etc.

 

[lovely]

I think the verse that says to not being unequally yoked with unbelivers in context is speaking about Judaizers, although I believe the principal applies to many areas.

I think it is hard to be 'best' friends with anyone when they are not a kindred in faith, because as Captain said Jesus is the Rock of offense. I think in some aspects we are to be friends with unbelievers as Christ was, and speak the truth to them. We shouldn't compromise, but if they are willing to continue to be friends with us even though we are people of faith this could be a good way for them to receive the gift the will bring them eternal life. I think we see this principal in marriage as well, if an unbelieve is willing to stay we should stay, because they could be won. I realize that this is a trial, because it is hard to be 'one flesh' with someone who doesn't share your love for God, or understand the truth that He should be the center of our marriages.

We are friends with many unbelievers, people I have grown up with and former neighbors. Some are professing atheists/agnostics, some have no label at all, some are involved with homosexuality, and some are involved with false religions...such as the muslim faith. We feel it is our obligation to reach out to them with the truth, and to serve them when we can, while standing up for the Truth of God and being who we are in Christ. Our relationships had been strained at times, but they know that they can come to us for prayer, help, and the truth. We actually did see one friend, who was as strong atheist, come to the Lord over six years ago...he is now a strong brother in the church, and his whole family serves the Lord. I always thought that was a miracle.

As a child growing up with a single father, it was difficult at times because he was a professing atheist, but because of his love for me he dealt with my faith the best he could. While I love my dad, our relationship would have been a great deal closer naturally if we shared the bond of Christ...my heart longed for it, but I did my best to not feel any discontent...I sure do love my Father in Heaven and trusted Him to save my dad. God used my dad to shape me, to grow me, to protect me, and he used me (along with a believing (step) mother) to win my dad who now professes faith in Christ. It took nearly 30 years, which is another miracle.


As far as confessing believers who practice immorality, witchcraft, and are false teachers, etc., I follow the Word and do not invite them to my home or associate with them in any area if I know. These people are trampling the name of Christ, are calling evil good and good evil in his name, and I do not believe that we should allow them in the church, or in our lives for their own sake and for the sake of Christ.

 

[Carol Lowery]

We're not to be unevenly yoke in marriage, and including "best" friends.......loving, friendly yes to anyone lost or saved....this is the example of Christ's love/mercy/grace/forgiveness.

Good topic Dave!

 

[John]

Some of my best friends are atheist.

 

[Alfonso]

There is a novel, Lord of the World, by Monsignor R.H. Benson that was written in the very early 20th century. It was arguably one of the first dystopian novels (if you are familiar with 1984 by Orwell - which was written after - the similiarities are uncanny). Anyhow, there is a scene in the beginning with two priests. One of them tells the other that he has lost his faith and is leaving the Church (they are both Catholic). When he prepares to leave, he is sad and asks the other "Can we still be friends?", to which the other replies something to the extent of "No". Angry the apostate priest begins to storm away, but his companion stops him with "Will you not at least shake my hand?", the other says "I thought that we could not be friends any longer", the other laughs and says "Is that what you meant? Of course we can be civil!"

 

[Works4Him]

This is one of those questions where laying out some definitions would be helpful.

For example, if by Atheist you mean the sort of atheist that belittles Christ, mocks Christians and Christianity, and likes to troll Christian websites looking to cause trouble, Then no, I don't think a Christian can have that sort of person as a best friend. In all honesty, I don't know how even non-Christians can have people like that as best friends. There's just way too much unresolved anger there.

Now, if by atheist you simply mean someone who doesn't believe in God, then I don't really see a problem with being best friends with that sort of person. As long as they're comfortable with you walking with God, then you should be fine.

When you boil it all down to the root elements, we as Christians are called to do just a few simple things. We're to love God, to love people, to lead people to Him, and to make people like Him. In this process, if we're genuinely out there loving our neighbors as ourselves, we are bound to make friends with people who don't believe in God. Christ didn't say "love your neighbor as yourself, so long as they're good people who believe in me". He preached that we love everyone, awful God-ignorant sinners included.

Look at the people Jesus loved to spend time with. Sinners and tax collectors. Quick history lesson: sinners and tax collectors were the lowest of the low in those days. In the Roman empire, it took piles of cash to keep spreading out, and paying these soldiers to take over towns. When a town was taken over, it wasn't pretty. They would come in, erect a statue to Caesar in the middle of town, and then for days, erect tens of thousands of crosses and other torture devices, and they would slowly and painfully kill everyone who had any opposition to Rome. Tax collectors were members of communities who paid a fee for a permit to collect taxes. Essentially, a tax collector actually paid money to be associated with the army that killed thousands of your people and to collect funds allowing them to keep doing it to others. "Sinner" wasn't a light term as it is today. Being called a sinner meant you were labeled for life. You would never be seen as equal to the average person. If you got this label, your family would disown you. Some would even go as far as to mutilate their "sinner" family member, and they did it as a favor! They saw it as their last good deed for them, because as they were now crippled they could more effectively beg for alms. These people really were less than nothing.

And yet, wherever Christ went, these were the people he hung out with. And it rubbed off on them. More sinners and tax collectors came to Christ in his day than any of the "righteous" who were always looking down at the Lord.

Now, if you are friends with people who aren't Jesus followers, ask yourself: is your "Jesus" rubbing off on them? In most cases, it probably should be. If you've been friends with an atheist for years, and he's no closer to Christ than when you first met him, either 1-He's still not personally ready for Christ, which is fine, or 2-You need to look at how closely you're walking with Him. If you're walking closely with Christ, he should shine through you in such a way that those around you can't help but see him. If they're not seeing the Jesus in you, you need to get a spiritual checkup.

I will say one more thing in closing. If you have atheist friends, and their lack of faith has affected you more than your faith has affected them, RUN. Being a witness to those around you is one thing. But compromising your faith for others is absolutely wrong, plain and simple.

 

[Aero_Hudson]

I see no problem with it depending on the individuals. Best friends by definition should be those folks that will accept you for who you are with no preconditions or requirements. As a result, both an atheist and Christian if best friends should accept each other for who they are.

My two best friends are agnostics and I have a very close relationship with each of them.