Help! Sinful friends

Matthew 5:29-30:
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

This is referring to "Radical Amputation" in which anything that is holding you back, you must let go or "Cut it off" of your life.

2 Corinthians 6:14:
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

If you don't let go, they will hold you back. Don't let that happen.

My advice is to preach the Gospel to them. (Study it of course first. Gain Knowledge of God and right before each session you read the Bible, pray that you receive an understanding) Witness to them. If they convert, Awesome! Stay with those and continue teaching them. But, if they persecute you for what you say and don't listen, leave. "Shake off the dust from your feet." (Matt. 10:14)

Matthew 10:14:
14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

I suggest praying for them, and witnessing with both words and actions. As FenderElctrc said, they can lead you astray so you need to be very careful. I know you might not be convinced of this, but friends do have an impact on us whether we want it or not. We can't isolate ourselves from the world, nor can we expect unbelievers to live as we, but does that mean we can't be friends? I think all situations are different and we need to follow God's guidance, but I do know that God is more important than any friendship here on earth. The warning about being unequally yoked is for our benefit, not detriment.

If you were in a multi-army, and half the army revolted to follow evil, and the other half fought against evil.

Then what army would you choose?

You are a new Christian, who now have unbelieving friends.

As one poster said for you to make new friends, and I suggest you do that, because if you allow your "old life" to continue to rule or control, then your "new life" will not get started.

You will become confused and be drawn to old ways.

Sorry, my dear sister, ignore your mentor and your heart will lead to "pedition".

Reply:

zorrokass3 said:

I've finally made the decision to accept god into every aspect of my life. But I'm having a few problems.

I have a good number of old friends who simply don't fit with the christian ethic and I don't know what to do about our friendship.

Aimee: an old school friend, used to sleep around but has recently got a new boyfriend Jarrod, he's a Jehovah's Whitness and she's decided to covert! Even started to go to prayer goups etc. What do I do? in some respects she's leading a better life (not sleeping around etc) but i worry about her joining a group like that.

Love God. Love yourself. Love your friend by praying for her. Love yourself by praying for yourself to stay in the right.

Christian: (odd name for a non-christian i know!) he's gay and currently is in a open relationship with a guy named Mark, this means he can sleep with whoever he wants so long as he only does it once with each guy. Do i have the right to tell him off about that? What should i say to him?

Love God. Love yourself. Love your friend by praying for him realize that God has standards for you being a believer....however keep in mind that your prayers are better heard and more potent by you staying right with God. Love yourself by praying for yourself to stay in the right.

Dariya: She's into drugs (extacy, pot, ritalin etc) nothing hardcore but deserves a mention. Plus I lived with her last year, I count her as one of my true friends.

Love God. Love yourself. Love your friend by praying for her. Love yourself by praying for yourself to stay in the right. Don't let the familiarity of the friendship allow you to be dragged into mess. Its like in the Matrix..you are either for or against Morpheus (the regeneration)--if that makes sense.

I really just want some advice, my mentor says i should find new christian friends but I don't want to loose my old ones!!! What should I do??? I don't even know if this is the right place to post this message.

Nothing wrong with loving and caring for your friends. EVERYONE READING THIS pray for the poster and for the friends. God moved you tp post here for the reason that others will pray. But dont feel that you have to go in there and be a hero over and above your head. Pray and let us pray--but focus on your OWN salvation and walk too.

ps. I know i posted this in the new christians forum but after i looked aorund some more i realised that this is a much better place to post this.

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zorrokass3 said:

I'm confused, as I said, I posted this same question in the new christians and got a completely different responce, they told me to stick with my old friends. I should make new ones but also make sure I keep by their side.

How can i have gotten such different responses???

Can anyone help me with ways I could approach/explain to each of my friends where I think they could be more righeous. I'm really worried about Aimee, if I tell her that I am against her religion she'll call me bigoted and say that her religion is christian as well!!!!!

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TransformedByGrace said:

The problem with Radical Amputation in this case is that your unsaved friends are NOT holding you back in your faith. Therefore Radical Amputation is the wrong approach.
You unsaved friends are in fact, strengthening your walk by giving you a desire to minister.
Ministering to the unsaved is something that is undebatably founded in the Bible, something we are commanded to do, and is the right path in this instance.

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Like I said, witness to them. Preach the Gospel to them. If they deny you, say you're wrong, and persecute you, than they are holding you back. Pray for God's guidance through this.

Distance yourself from them (like don't always hang out with them so they do not corrupt your character) while showing love at the same time. "Preach the Gospel- when necessary, use words." Is it your place to tell them they are sinning? No, it is your place to tell them of Jesus- through your actions. Your changed life will speak with much more potency than words.

Can anyone help me with ways I could approach/explain to each of my friends where I think they could be more righeous. I'm really worried about Aimee, if I tell her that I am against her religion she'll call me bigoted and say that her religion is christian as well!!!!!

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Sorry, but Jehovah's witness is not Christianity. Investigate their beliefs and tell her why.

I'm confused, as I said, I posted this same question in the new christians and got a completely different responce, they told me to stick with my old friends. I should make new ones but also make sure I keep by their side.

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Go ahead and keep them, but they cannot be your only friends, you need Christian friends as well.

You may have to let them go if they start holding you back. But at first witness to them. Let them see you not willing to condone or participate in their ways. Let them know you love them no mater what they do, but you won't condone their actions. Learn why Jehovah's witnesses are in error and if you're asked, share. Tell your gay friend that there is no difference in his sin and yours if it comes up. Then share how you were set free from yours. And after the love and the sharing if they still won't believe then you've done your part.

zorro--

Its nice to have a variety of friends. But the ones who arn't christians I would pray for and be an example before them in actions. Just love them with Gods unconditional love. As I grew in Christ my desires radically changed and I desired to be around christians like me much more. Why? Because they were more inspirational and helped me with my christian walk.

I kept my other friends but I'm not as close to them and I want this because my desires and values changed. Also, if anything they could hinder you in your christian walk and not help.

True JW's arn't christians because their fundamental beliefs are very different. This isn't being a bigot but reality. Just like a horse isn't a duck.

TransformedByGrace said:

The problem with Radical Amputation in this case is that your unsaved friends are NOT holding you back in your faith. Therefore Radical Amputation is the wrong approach.
You unsaved friends are in fact, strengthening your walk by giving you a desire to minister.
Ministering to the unsaved is something that is undebatably founded in the Bible, something we are commanded to do, and is the right path in this instance.

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There is an opporunity to turn their lives around but a newbie in the Christ has to realize that it might be quite a task. Pray for them, show them love but draw the line--Acts 26:18 came to mind for some reason. Draw the line on not letting old friends be a catalyst for you backsliding. That is why I suggest prayer, its something you can do to get the right answers. And the right answers could manifest via this forum or through other ways. For example, start with your gay friend, fast drinking only juice or water for a day concerning what to do about him. Then when you can fast again a few days later do it about the other friend. The JW friend might be a bit more of a challenge for you--that would be one where I would gently witness in love. I dont htink new believers should underestimate the importance of praying that God protect themselves, to give them unfailing faith, to give them the right direction etc. That you be led by the Spirit of God. See some people try to legalize so many things but when it comes to motives, ask: 1) is this loving to God, 2) is this loving to myself, 3) is this loving to others? If #1 and #2 isn't in the equation ... I mean ya know.

I once fasted for 8 days--no food only juice/water--and after it was done, the target of my fasting had a yoke broken over her...believers flowed into her life and her finances changed--she got work she hadnt expected, she got money she hadnt' expected. She had no idea that I was fasting and praying concerning her. The fasting broke the yoke over 7,000 miles away. But one thing I've learned is to not only pray for something, but to pray to that it be protected AND guarded. Like praying for a plant and getting the plant only for example compared to praying for the plant and praying that when you have it that it flourish and grow. That is, I realized that I ought to pray in a very well-rounded, wise manner.

zorrokass3 said:

I'm confused, as I said, I posted this same question in the new christians and got a completely different responce, they told me to stick with my old friends. I should make new ones but also make sure I keep by their side.

How can i have gotten such different responses???

Can anyone help me with ways I could approach/explain to each of my friends where I think they could be more righeous. I'm really worried about Aimee, if I tell her that I am against her religion she'll call me bigoted and say that her religion is christian as well!!!!!

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Most probably New Christians are more liberalised advisors than the advisor here.

I remember your posting, and I can't remember my response.

Circumstances are similiar and JWs are a false relgion, and I can assure you that when it comes down to Christianity and a false religions you need to be very careful, because you are unequally yoked with unbelievers.

Now I mix with many, and I have no choice, but I don't allow them to corrupt me in their way of thinking, and the one who suffers rejection is myself.

Their false religion is trying to destroy me, and that is what will happens if a Christian believes that they can mix the two.

Sorry, but it doesn't work at all.

zorrokass3 said:

I'm confused, as I said, I posted this same question in the new christians and got a completely different responce, they told me to stick with my old friends. I should make new ones but also make sure I keep by their side.

How can i have gotten such different responses???

Can anyone help me with ways I could approach/explain to each of my friends where I think they could be more righeous. I'm really worried about Aimee, if I tell her that I am against her religion she'll call me bigoted and say that her religion is christian as well!!!!!

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Keep your friends and let them know the decision you have made to follow Christ. Ofcourse, you know not to indulge in whatever sinfull things they might be doing being that you are a new person.

You cut them off when they are detrimental to your walk with God. When your association with them causes you to compromise your faith, you then put some safe distance between you and them. Depending on how bad they're being to you, you can then decide to cut them off. You love them, you just don't hangout with them.

Ask God for godly friends. There's nothing like friends in the faith who can encourage and pray for you and you do thesame for them.

zorrokass3 said:

I'm confused, as I said, I posted this same question in the new christians and got a completely different responce, they told me to stick with my old friends. I should make new ones but also make sure I keep by their side.

How can i have gotten such different responses???

Can anyone help me with ways I could approach/explain to each of my friends where I think they could be more righeous. I'm really worried about Aimee, if I tell her that I am against her religion she'll call me bigoted and say that her religion is christian as well!!!!!

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I agree with them in in the new Christian thread.I don`t think you shall force you faith into them.When it come up natural then you can speak careful.Remember that love them but hate the action.Jesus didn`t went from sinners Matthew 9:12 - 13
Of course you must be more with you christians friends so you get good influnce then you can help your friends more