A Christian being friends with a non-believer with a lying problem

[peaceful-forest]

Would you be friends with a non-believer that has a lying problem?


I have a personal experience related to this that I think about on and off. On a different website, I wanted Christian friends; there were certain Christian individuals that I wanted to be friends with (that didn't happen). These certain people were friends with this one non-Christian person who clearly had a lying problem.

I didn't understand then and I still don't understand how these Christian individuals can be friends with this particular person. How do you trust the other person if they lie so much? How is friendship possible?

I would like to hear your thoughts, explanations, experiences, etc.

 

[jacks]

It might depend on how you define "friendship". I have known compulsive liars, that I enjoyed socializing with. The two I'm thinking of were both entertaining, funny and good to talk with. Knowing they had a lying problem, I never got really close with them, but on a superficial level I didn't mind hanging out with them.

 

[stevevw]

Would you be friends with a non-believer that has a lying problem?


I have a personal experience related to this that I think about on and off. On a different website, I wanted Christian friends; there were certain Christian individuals that I wanted to be friends with (that didn't happen). These certain people were friends with this one non-Christian person who clearly had a lying problem.

I didn't understand then and I still don't understand how these Christian individuals can be friends with this particular person. How do you trust the other person if they lie so much? How is friendship possible?

I would like to hear your thoughts, explanations, experiences, etc.

The the person is truely lying to a point where it makes it hard to trust them. Then these other Christian friends will not be true friends in the sense that you may be thinking. As in a close relationship where you can depend on a friend and who may as a Christian even save you.

I think there are levels of friendship. I mean as a Christian I have relatives who are not Christian. But I still love them as famility in that sense. But I would not trust one in particular lol.

You can also have accquainences who are sort of like friends. Sometimes in that moment they are like good friends but you may not have an ongoing relation. You can sort of get to know people and determine if they are trustworthy. Though that can be assumed as well.

Sometimes I think being a friend when the other person cannot be a friend on that same level is being a friend. I mean you will know that you may not be getting the same back in return and there is a line that has to be drawn sometimes. But you can still sort of be a friend and not give fully of yourself at the same time.

In some ways its that destinction where your still offering to be a friend and be there if they really need help. Rather than allowing the person to get away with the lies that can make the difference. When the person really needs someone to talk to when ready they may see that you cared all along and were really showing love.

 

[timf]

There can be a spectrum in what one calls a "friend". Obviously trust is inversely proportional with lying. However, if one asks the person if he is aware of his lying and if he is is he interested in working on fixing it, you might offer to help him work on it.