How do I tell my non-christian friends that I'm christian?

They will be drawn to want what you have when they see the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

Galatians 5:22-23a "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

When I was a young military guy in my twenties, I did occasionally drink a beer or two. I didn't feel convicted about it as a Christian. I didn't get drunk. This was in the days that drinking was part of normal military life: Fight hard, play hard!

But on the occasion that I went to a new duty station, the Holy Spirit told me very clearly, "Don't drink." I did not gather this to be a universal commandment, but something particular to me. So I didn't drink at the unit parties, I just sipped a soda.

At the same time, I was very successful. I won awards, got promoted ahead of my peers, was very well respected.

When it came time to leave that unit for a new duty station, they had the usual farewell party for me. During that, a younger troop stopped me for a word.

He said that since he'd been in the military, he'd felt pressured to "join in" with the group in all their activities, including heavy drinking. He didn't believe in drinking, but it seemed necesssary in order to fit in.

He'd been observing me, though. He'd noted that I didn't drink...yet I was successful and respected. That had encouraged him to stick to his own principles.

Hello JFitz,
In answer to your question, you just tell them. It is not easy. This evening I talked to my dearest friend who is unsaved. We have not talked for several months. She moved to Florida a few years ago. We did everything together. After she left I got saved. Although I would never desert her. I am not a part of her lifestyle any longer. I try to minister to her but I can only do so much. I chose to distance myself because I have changed the way I live. She has not. I love her dearly. But God comes first. I live for Him. I hope you can find the strength to tell them. Ask Jesus for the right way approach them. He will give you the answer. He knows your heart. I will pray for you.

Your Sister In Christ,
Debbie

Praise the Lord and thank you for your service.

Some will respect your choice and may even be moved to consider it for themselves. Others will turn away. I lost my best friend over 30 years ago. She thought I had lost it. And she never changed about that. It was a very hard thing; but the Lord gave me other and better friends I never would have known before. Mainly you have to trust and also believe the Lord has a better plan for you.

JFitz said:

Hiii

Okay... here's a question: How do I tell my non-christian friends that I'm christian?

Before I gave my heart to Jesus I used to go to parties and occasionally drink with my friends. How do I let them know that I don't drink anymore?

I know these seem like obvious questions but I've come to realize that girls can be pretty ruthless.

Thanks!

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There are plenty of different faiths related to Christianity and if you're ever interested in looking into Catholicism don't hesitate to pm me or simply start a thread in OBOS subforum

As for the drinking, don't combine it with painkillers or driving and you will be fine with a normal consumption if it

The whole idea of alcohol being ''the devils mouthwash'' is nothing but sectarians trying to mix their personal ideas and preferences with religion, so unless you like to stop drinking out of other reasons please feel free to be a christian and substain a normal alcohol consumption.

About coming testifying your faith in Christ among friends I realize that there has gone more than 3 years since your post here so this has already been dealt with.
If not, If I where you I would wait for an opportunity to pas by and then tell them. Don't force the issue.

My only advice is to testify your faith In Christ with pride in his name not awkwardly or ashamed like.
my experience is that when I tell people I'm Catholic most people feel that I'm proud of my faith.
its not easy to pick at someone who see their faith to be the greatest tressure on earth.

Again please stop by OBOB when you have the chance


You are in my prayers.



Pax Christi
aChildOfMary

What kind of a Christian tells another it is okay to drink alcohol in any form? Read your bible. On second thought read The Bible. The KJV. I left the catholic church years ago. I had good reason. Comments like that. Sorry, if this is supposed to be a Christian site I will go elsewhere.

heymikey80 said:

"Um, yeah, I'm a Christian."

"Um, yeah, I don't drink so much now. It gets in the way of me being a Christian."

There's always a silver lining for drinkers -- designated driver.

OK, this last one is just cruel irony, only worth using if your friends really do become ruthless: "Well, Christians aren't as ruthless as you guys can be. Maybe that's what convinced me."

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lol. i needed that smile today!

gc612 said:

What kind of a Christian tells another it is okay to drink alcohol in any form? Read your bible. On second thought read The Bible. The KJV. I left the catholic church years ago. I had good reason. Comments like that. Sorry, if this is supposed to be a Christian site I will go elsewhere.

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Im impressed by how you wrote so much in your post, but still you couldnt provide ONE argument as for why you think alcohol is so horrific.

Since you once where catholic yourself I think you know pretty good how I feel about the KJV.
If one has to look for the KJV explicit in order to supports ones view, well then your opinion is created by the ideology willfully placed in the KJV reather than in the bible itself.
If you want to discuss this further, please refer to the The New Jerusalem Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible or NABRE.

We both know that there is bible passages that support consumption of alcohol too.
Be aware I never wrote get louded or drunk or anything.

Alcohol is only bad when it leads to near occation of sin.
There is nothing that implies that drinking one or two beers will lead to adultry or other sorts of sinful actions.

Why you left the Catholic Church is a buisness between the Lord and you and none of my buisness.
I trust youre familiar with Catholic teaching on the subject.
Btw there is no good reasons to leave Christs church.

And who decides what it means to be "Christians" you? me? some sect?

Remember that even though you have your issues with the Catholic Church, Rome still considers sects who believe in the Holy Trinity to be Christians.
So please, in the name of charity dont lash out on someone who disagree with your opinion that they are bad Christians.
It only underminds any points you try to make.



Out of curiousity, which sect do you belong to?






Yours in Jesus and The most holy Theotokos
- aChildOfMary

I would just own it. It is a powerful testimony for Jesus when a Christian just stands on their own beliefs. Yes, maybe half of your friends may think that you are whatever they think you are, but the other half will see that being a Christian is part of you. The you that they loved before you were a Christian is the same you.

I consider my Christianity 'part' of me in the sense that it defines part of me as an individual. It is nothing to be ashamed of. You are you. Some will like you, some will not (you also may find out some of your friends are Christians but haven't told you).

Don't be afraid that you will loose some of your friends, because the friends you 'might' loose may not be that much of a friend to begin with.

Use this as part of your testimony. God bless you as you move forward and I respect you a great deal. Be you!

JFitz said:

Hiii

Okay... here's a question: How do I tell my non-christian friends that I'm christian?

Before I gave my heart to Jesus I used to go to parties and occasionally drink with my friends. How do I let them know that I don't drink anymore?

I know these seem like obvious questions but I've come to realize that girls can be pretty ruthless.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

I am a Christian and I love the beer and the wine. Just do not get drunk ya.

And, I love parties. Even children go for discos. What is wrong with that?

Do you think that it is wrong to party and drink beer?

Go out there and tell everyone who you are and give glory to God by your behaviour.

laconicstudent said:

What does becoming a Christian have to do with not drinking anymore?

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Oh I'm sorry. My Baptist denomination does teach that it is a sin to drink beer, although the Catholics for some reason still do drink beer (we don't know why).

Everyone in my family are Christians and we refuse beer because it is against our religious beliefs. We believe that it dishonors God.

On the other hand my parents are conservative, so that might also explain some of the beerlessness away....

The only instance the Bible gives that it is OK to drink beer is when you are extremely ill, then the Scriptures permit you to take a little bit to try and heal your sicknesses. Otherwise in my study of the Bible I have not come across any Scriptures talking about or supporting the consummation of beer/alcohol/booze/whiskey. The wine that Jesus gave in the New testament was actually grape juice, my church teaches (it has something to do with the translation of the original Greek and the original languages), and it was not actual wine.

As for telling your friends you are Christian, I might be a bold person and I do not scare easily or experience fear that often (God has taught me how to be courageous) because I've just come right out and have loudly proclaimed it. And with pride. Then I tell them to put away their worldliness.

(You should know that as I wrote this message to you I wrote it in the spirit of boldness and I was not the least bit concerned with what you would think about me because I don't really care what others think about me)

Jesus has often asked, "Why are you afraid?" and "Fear not!"

Fear is not from God. The Scriptures say that perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment.

You shouldn't be scared of telling your friends you are a Christian. Let them gasp. Let them wither. I welcome the looks on their faces with glee. Jesus said if you are ashamed of him then He would be ashamed of you in Heaven! If you deny Him He will also deny you. Being denied by God is worse than any earthly friendship you could ever lose, especially if it costs you your salvation.

Jesus also said, "He who looses his life for My sake shall find it." Which is why you should never be afraid of persecution. To that effect I am kind of like the character Seto Kaiba from the cartoon Yugioh, when he said "Do it, and see what happens." He was daring his persecutor to persecute him (not that swift retribution would follow). I am quoting Seto of course.

If you really are afraid of persecution you might want to take a self defense class and learn how to fight and use weapons. I am getting into Kung Fu in a few days here, and I look forward to what they have to teach me about combat. It discourages bullies if you know how to fight back. Bullies only prey upon the weak. If you are strong and you stand up to them they may actually run away from you...just like the cowards they really are.

BlueLioness said:

The wine that Jesus gave in the New testament was actually grape juice, my church teaches (it has something to do with the translation of the original Greek and the original languages), and it was not actual wine.

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How on earth are you landing on that conclusion?
How do you resonate your way into concluding that it was grape juice instead of wine?
Hmm, to me it sounds like ''creating'' excuses in scripture to support your personal views.

Have you ever heard of grape juice served in weddings?
Do you also believe that Jesus made ''Grape Juice'' out of water at Cana? Really?

Curiouser and curiouser...






Pax Christi
aChildOfMary

Folks!

The Original Post was written FOUR YEARS ago, and the poster has not made a single additional post since 2011.