agnostic friend

[mama2one]

*new related request....post #15...*


a HS friend was an atheist & told me on the school bus not to talk about Jesus
I later became friends with her mom/we're still friends

recently asked "mom" if she believed in God
she said "I believe in science"
tried to question her more & seems she is an agnostic

I'm a Christian & all these years, I've been a friend
I failed to lead by example & help her to believe in God
what if God expected me to help her believe in God?
I have failed
the mom did not seem very open to hearing about God
her voice changed & seemed to shut down

what can I do?

 

[Torah Keeper]

Pray.

And "friend" is a strong word. An enemy of God is not my friend.

 

[jacks]

I've always liked this quote: "Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.” It is often how we live and not what we say that changes people. Be an example to your friend and don't think words are the only way to change her heart, in fact sometimes they get in the way. Also you can't say you have "failed", the people that brought me to Christ have no idea, they did it.

 

[Waymarker]

If people are not interested in becoming Christians, they're spiritually dead, and Jesus said not to waste our time with them."Let the dead bury their dead"..

 

[Tigger45]

All you can do is plant them the Gospel and nurture it with water and God will give the increase.

 

[disciple Clint]

a HS friend was an atheist & told me on the school bus not to talk about Jesus
I later became friends with her mom/we're still friends

recently asked "mom" if she believed in God
she said "I believe in science"
tried to question her more & seems she is an agnostic

I'm a Christian & all these years, I've been a friend
I failed to lead by example & help her to believe in God
what if God expected me to help her believe in God?
I have failed
the mom did not seem very open to hearing about God
her voice changed & seemed to shut down

what can I do?

You did not fail. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to work in people's hearts and give them the grace to accept Jesus. You did what you should have done, the rest is up to God.

 

[disciple Clint]

Pray.

And "friend" is a strong word. An enemy of God is not my friend.

I am glad Jesus did not feel that way, look at who he accepted as disciples.

 

[timf]

Pray

You might be able to have an input if they are seeking after truth.

Satan has done a good job creating an alternative to truth for people. Science started in earnest 500 years ago to be an investigation of God's creation. It has since been divorced from God and used to divert people away from God through evolution, relativity, psychology, and a thousand other ways.

What passes for "science" today is laughable.

 

[EpicScore]

As many others have said, the first and foremost thing is to pray.

Specifically, pray for your friend so that the Spirit will open her heart to the Gospel. Pray also for wisdom and guidance on how to be a witness to her. Sharing Christ doesn't necessarily mean talking about Jesus every time. Be understanding and listen to any concerns she might have about the Bible and Christianity, and take the time to learn about these questions to answer them responsibly. But also pray for perseverance and peace, and don't be too discouraged if your friend closes her heart to the gospel. After all, it is ultimately God who regenerates a person's heart - "neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow" (1 Corinthians 3:7)

 

[angelsaroundme]

The first thing you wrote is her saying she wasn't interested in God. You shouldn't blame yourself if they were never open to hearing the gospel in the first place. That was her choice, not yours.

 

[mama2one]

You shouldn't blame yourself if they were never open to hearing the gospel in the first place.

my high school friend joined Mensa & was super intelligent
I think her high intelligence blocked her openness to God

the mom is a mystery to me
from yrs ago, vaguely remember that the mom had an adult Christian friend but broke off the friendship

think if I try to talk about God, she might break off our friendship, also

 

[angelsaroundme]

my high school friend joined Mensa & was super intelligent
I think her high intelligence blocked her openness to God

the mom is a mystery to me
from yrs ago, vaguely remember that the mom had an adult Christian friend but broke off the friendship

think if I try to talk about God, she might break off our friendship, also

I think if God wants you to present the gospel to her then there would be an opening. Others might disagree, I don't know. Either way, you've probably been a good influence on her.

 

[William J]

Some people will not want to hear anything about God. Praying for your friend is helpful, but you're probably not going to be able to win her over with words. Showing Christ's love to her may be the only thing you can do.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

You've done your part. You've expressed your views and she sees how you are. Not much else you can do expect hope she starts asking questions and seeks Gods. It's her choice now. It's between her and God.

 

[mama2one]

been 3 wks & will be calling my friend again

how should I bring up the subject of God again?
thinking of asking "don't you want to go to heaven?"

however, since she doesn't know if there is a God or not, my guess is she'll say "this life is it."

how do I crack her shell?

 

[Justaman0000]

a HS friend was an atheist & told me on the school bus not to talk about Jesus
I later became friends with her mom/we're still friends

recently asked "mom" if she believed in God
she said "I believe in science"
tried to question her more & seems she is an agnostic

I'm a Christian & all these years, I've been a friend
I failed to lead by example & help her to believe in God
what if God expected me to help her believe in God?
I have failed
the mom did not seem very open to hearing about God
her voice changed & seemed to shut down

what can I do?

You shouldn't feel any regret. You tried to witness to both and they refused to hear. If they go to Hell, it's their fault.

 

[mama2one]

You tried to witness to both and they refused to hear. If they go to Hell, it's their fault.

so I should give up on friends?

 

[disciple Clint]

been 3 wks & will be calling my friend again

how should I bring up the subject of God again?
thinking of asking "don't you want to go to heaven?"

however, since she doesn't know if there is a God or not, my guess is she'll say "this life is it."

how do I crack her shell?

Ask her what is going to happen to her when she dies. If she says "this life is it" ask her if she is so certain that she is right that she wants to take the chance of eternity in hell. Remember all you can do is give her the opportunity to accept Jesus, it is up to the Holy Spirit to convict her.

 

[bèlla]

The best way to minister to your friend is through relationship. Share her joys and burdens. Offer to pray on her behalf when trouble rises. Share your blessings and hardships. Acknowledge how faith carried you through and when you stumbled.

Show her the living faith. And give her space to weigh your comments. Only the Lord can move her heart. We’re vessels. You’ll demonstrate your trust in Him through your actions far more than words.

Many broach this with arguments and counterpoints in hand. Lead with love. Not debates.

 

[Justaman0000]

so I should give up on friends?

If they are friends living a sinful lifestyle and you constantly try to witness to them while getting into conflversations where they cause you to question your faith, you risk falling into the same lifestyle, questioning your faith, and falling away from God. Athiests are not friends of God. Most get hostile even at the mention of God.