Do Christians make friends with non-Christians?

[Fatally Yours <3]

Most non-Christians seem to find it mildly amusing.
Different cultures maybe? There seems to be many more anti-drinking people in the US than here.

 

[theLords]

Usually when I meet new people I'm under the influence.
Which is why I'm a little uncomfortable talking to Christians, I figure they may not approve and it makes it awkward.
Although it's swings and roundabouts, because I will consequently probably not remember the conversation in the morning so it removes the awkwardness a bit.

Its interesting how a non-Chirstian can say something like this, but the minute a Christian does we get jumped on! Such a double standard

 

[Cheyenne K]

I have a lot of non-Christian friends and love them all dearly, but I prefer to have Christian ones.

I'm not a very strong Christian in behavior and tend to act out more with non-Christians. Also, they tend to make me more uncomfortable than Christians. I've had social anxiety/awkwardness since I can remember. God has led me out of a lot of that now (praise the Lord) but I still feel it with non-Christians to an extent to where I feel as if I am being constantly judged or that I have expectations to live up to as a Christian. Or even just that they don't like my personality. Not that this may be the case, but this is just what I tend to feel.
With Christians, there's always that common factor that is a love for God. If I get out of line, they will tell me so with Scripture in mind; (hopefully) not personal taste, because I'm "weird," or with pointless cruelty. And there is a lot to learn from them as well.
Also, admittedly, most of my Christian friends are much, much older than I am.

 

[Danus]

Its interesting how a non-Chirstian can say something like this, but the minute a Christian does we get jumped on! Such a double standard

Well, when I meet non Christians I'm usually under the influence as well, which can make my new non-Christian friends seem very nervous indeed. Then that's when the judging starts! .....we are talking about being under the influence of Christ right?

 

[theLords]

Well, when I meet non Christians I'm usually under the influence as well, which can make my new non-Christian friends seem very nervous indeed. Then that's when the judging starts! .....we are talking about being under the influence of Christ right?

:biglol This is exactly why I gravitate towards Christian friends

I started laughing cause I understood your joke before I even finished reading your post. Ahhh, that was a good one...

 

[Danus]

:biglol This is exactly why I gravitate towards Christian friends

I started laughing cause I understood your joke before I even finished reading your post. Ahhh, that was a good one...

Glad you liked it.
In truth though I get along well with most non-Christians for that type of humor. I think many non-Christians feel relatively comfortable around me, and I like that.

My Christian friends are often the last to tell me their problems or ask for direction. When they do, often all I can do for them is encourage their efforts in their already correct path. Sometimes I can add insight for them. That's always good. They are easier in that respect, but my secular friends I've found I can positively influenced a little more. Having been a "non-theist" (That's the new word for Atheist or Agnostic these days) for quite a few years also helps me to understand them a little better.

My favorite people to know are agnostics. When Jesus said; "In this life you will have trouble." He was dead on right. I think we should always remember that, make friends and wait for the trouble.....wait for it....Then embrace others with the truth right when they can use it the most. I find that works better than whopping them over the head with the bible on the street corner HA HA HA

 

[Pard]

Danus, if I could have fallen out of my chair I would have, that was hilarious.

Being 19 it is not such an issue at the moment, but I predict that down the road the biggest problem for me making non-Christian friends is that I plain on never drinking. That tends to be a big social aspect for many people and I have family who do not drink and people get uneasy around them.

Although... it does mean I have a lot of free concerts in my future, if I decide to play the role of the designated driver!

 

[theLords]

Glad you liked it.
In truth though I get along well with most non-Christians for that type of humor. I think many non-Christians feel relatively comfortable around me, and I like that.

My Christian friends are often the last to tell me their problems or ask for direction. When they do, often all I can do for them is encourage their efforts in their already correct path. Sometimes I can add insight for them. That's always good. They are easier in that respect, but my secular friends I've found I can positively influenced a little more. Having been a "non-theist" (That's the new word for Atheist or Agnostic these days) for quite a few years also helps me to understand them a little better.

My favorite people to know are agnostics. When Jesus said; "In this life you will have trouble." He was dead on right. I think we should always remember that, make friends and wait for the trouble.....wait for it....Then embrace others with the truth right when they can use it the most. I find that works better than whopping them over the head with the bible on the street corner HA HA HA

I know what you mean about secular friends coming to you for advice. I see that alot in my life. I'm happy to have ears that listen that don't know the truth and are eager for it.

And at church a few weeks back the pastor said:

"there are 3 levels of trouble. 1) you're in trouble. 2) you're getting out of trouble. 3) you're going into trouble."

lol, i know exactly what you mean

 

[theLords]

Danus, if I could have fallen out of my chair I would have, that was hilarious.

Being 19 it is not such an issue at the moment, but I predict that down the road the biggest problem for me making non-Christian friends is that I plain on never drinking. That tends to be a big social aspect for many people and I have family who do not drink and people get uneasy around them.

Although... it does mean I have a lot of free concerts in my future, if I decide to play the role of the designated driver!

Obedience comes with a blessing! Enjoy your free shows lol :guitar

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Well - I certainly do -

I'm just curious about this.

Non-Christians are just people like everybody else. No reason I can't be friends JUST as easily with a Non-Christian - and through the friendship show him Jesus - in me.

They may DO some things that I can't follow him on.

As a matter of fact the Bluegrass Band I'm in now is all Hard-Line Church of Christ folks. I've got my doubts that THEY'RE "Christian".

 

[Fatally Yours <3]

Its interesting how a non-Chirstian can say something like this, but the minute a Christian does we get jumped on! Such a double standard

I wasn't implying Christians weren't uncomfortable with non-Christians.
Christians generally seem very friendly and sociable, I'm just very nervous around new people to begin with let alone those who don't share the same views as me.

 

[theLords]

I wasn't implying Christians weren't uncomfortable with non-Christians.
Christians generally seem very friendly and sociable, I'm just very nervous around new people to begin with let alone those who don't share the same views as me.

I understand what you're saying, but you didn't say it that way to begin with.

 

[Danus]

Danus, if I could have fallen out of my chair I would have, that was hilarious.

Being 19 it is not such an issue at the moment, but I predict that down the road the biggest problem for me making non-Christian friends is that I plain on never drinking. That tends to be a big social aspect for many people and I have family who do not drink and people get uneasy around them.

Although... it does mean I have a lot of free concerts in my future, if I decide to play the role of the designated driver!

Ah, good point, free concerts. I like it.

Your right about the drinking aspect. Problem with drinking is that when you start you seem to want to find where your limit is. These days I know 2-3 beers or maybe two small glasses of wine are about it for me and even then I'll need no where to go for a couple hours. But, back in the day when I did not care about being in control, or practicing temperance, my limit was when I passed out, threw up or what ever. Honestly I was not that bad. In fact I did not like to drink that much....little trick.... college at parties. You grab a beer, take a sip, then pour it out here and there when no one is looking. That way your cool and sober without being a prude.

Seriously though, I think being 19 is a big deal right now, and as you get into the young adult years. You have to be more careful now. You'll meet all sorts of folks out there, and I'm sure you have. So, staying sober will help you make better decisions when your around the "crowd." Good choice not to drink. Try to stay within that as much as possible, as you get older, you might indulge a little more responsibly perhaps, but also keep in mind that alcoholism can sneak up on a person so much so that one can find they can not be anywhere around it.

Keep safe my friend,

 

[Danus]

I wasn't implying Christians weren't uncomfortable with non-Christians.
Christians generally seem very friendly and sociable, I'm just very nervous around new people to begin with let alone those who don't share the same views as me.

I bet you have way more in common with Christians then you might know. I think when we meet people, we tend to ask ourselves; "friend or foe?" So, while we figure this out frantically we ... 1. forget their names right off and 2. try to see what we have in common so we can feel better about knowing them.

 

[jasoncran]

Ah, good point, free concerts. I like it.

Your right about the drinking aspect. Problem with drinking is that when you start you seem to want to find where your limit is. These days I know 2-3 beers or maybe two small glasses of wine are about it for me and even then I'll need no where to go for a couple hours. But, back in the day when I did not care about being in control, or practicing temperance, my limit was when I passed out, threw up or what ever. Honestly I was not that bad. In fact I did not like to drink that much....little trick.... college at parties. You grab a beer, take a sip, then pour it out here and there when no one is looking. That way your cool and sober without being a prude.

Seriously though, I think being 19 is a big deal right now, and as you get into the young adult years. You have to be more careful now. You'll meet all sorts of folks out there, and I'm sure you have. So, staying sober will help you make better decisions when your around the "crowd." Good choice not to drink. Try to stay within that as much as possible, as you get older, you might indulge a little more responsibly perhaps, but also keep in mind that alcoholism can sneak up on a person so much so that one can find they can not be anywhere around it.

Keep safe my friend,

being sober in a room full of drinks aint exactly a good time. even if its in an mma match.

 

[Pard]

Thanks Danus. I made the decision well before being a Christian. My parents gave me a glass of wine and I was walking down the hall (we were in a hotel) and I felt weird and not totally in control. I decided in the hallway I'd never drink again because I could not stand that feeling, it scared me. It helps that my mother is the only one in her entire family that drinks and the other side of my family is full of ex-alcoholics.

Jason, I do not surround myself with those situations.

 

[Fatally Yours <3]

You got drunk off a glass of wine? How old were you at the time?

 

[Pard]

You got drunk off a glass of wine? How old were you at the time?

Not drunk, I began to feel the effects is all. I was probably 15 or 16. I'd never actually felt any effects of alcohol before this, of course my history with alcohol is limited to a beer with my dad and a few sips of wine here and there.

Oh... when I say a glass of wine I mean a glass, like a water glass, not a wine goblet thing. We were in a hotel... they do not have wine glasses in their rooms, so it was more than your ordinary wine glass. Point is, though, that I could feel the effects and I did not like where they would inevitably end up.

That and I really don't need alcohol or drugs to have a good time. As my friend likes to say about me, "Ian, ya he's the only kid I have ever met that gets high without a joint and gets drunk without a beer."

 

[jasoncran]

hard not put yourself there when you are the designated driver, just sayin.

 

[lamplady]

I haven't any real friends of any persuasion because of events.

If anything though I'd like a lot of Christian friends but my experience so far has been they're hugely judgemental. I can handle it now but when I was baptised at 19 I really felt under massive pressure to be 'good' all the time and I was always worried if I was a positive Christian or not.

But with non christians even now the pressure comes from them not understanding how what they see as cool is not really the remotest; like they simply don't understand how I could condemn gays acts/fornication/adultery as 'bad' when as they would say, 'it has no impact on my life personally so why should it bother me what others do?'.

I just started a new Church, (though I missed a few weeks), and so far the people have been very nice.

I don't think I'd go out of my way to make friends with non christians because while we tend to understand THIER point of view since we are sinners and we come and are still part of the sinful world, they, in the main, do not attempt to understand ours.