Yes I do I am a christian and I have some friends that come from differnt Religions like I have some friends who are Jewish and also with a forgin Exchange Highschool student a muslim which her religion where blamed to be Terrorist because of that they wearred did not know her name but she said I was very sweet. and have some online friends who are Wiccan I knew them from some band fourms I went on and I think they can be nice people Willow from Buffy The Vampire Slayer was pratice wicca. Even have some friends who are Athiest and they respect what I am doing. The reason why I do this is that I think disliking someone if they worshipped a differnt god or did not have one would be like disrespecting Black people. And it's my way of showing my love to god and Jesus I think they would respect me for what I am doing :).

well im homeschooled so most of my friends are from church but i did have one friend who had a diff religious background but i think by me not judging her she will me more open to the truth in the future ;D

I have a lot of different friends from a lot of different cultures. Athiest, Buddhist, Wiccian, Indian, Islamic, Homosexual... I don't single out people because they aren't Christian. I see that too much in the church today. Too many people are like "They are different, we shouldn't hang around with them." I have a funny image that describes this...

http://www.terrasin.com/outcasts.jpg

CJ

"They are different, we shouldn't hang around with them."
Its that attitude that turns an evangelical outreach into a Christians only private club.

I have a lot of different friends from a lot of different cultures. Athiest, Buddhist, Wiccian, Indian, Islamic, Homosexual... I don't single out people because they aren't Christian. I see that too much in the church today. Too many people are like "They are different, we shouldn't hang around with them." I have a funny image that describes this...

http://www.terrasin.com/outcasts.jpg

CJ


I can not tell you how much I hate that. 'They are different...' or 'they look different' or 'they aren't christian'. If we submit to the cookie-cutter christian types, the suits on Sundays, and lukewarmness, have we down anything good? I'd rather invite some odd friends and have them be passionate than to look 'nice' and be lukewarm.

I have a lot of different friends from a lot of different cultures. Athiest, Buddhist, Wiccian, Indian, Islamic, Homosexual... I don't single out people because they aren't Christian. I see that too much in the church today. Too many people are like "They are different, we shouldn't hang around with them." I have a funny image that describes this...

http://www.terrasin.com/outcasts.jpg

CJ


I can not tell you how much I hate that. 'They are different...' or 'they look different' or 'they aren't christian'. If we submit to the cookie-cutter christian types, the suits on Sundays, and lukewarmness, have we down anything good? I'd rather invite some odd friends and have them be passionate than to look 'nice' and be lukewarm.
I agree.

Don't we all???

Don't we all???
Yep.

I agree too. I'd rather be rejected from every church on earth and belong to God than be accepted and be lukewarm.

I agree that we should make friends with anyone we can, no matter what religion. We do need to be clear though in our own hearts and minds as to our intentions.

Jesus made friends with people He could influence. Those who He could not influence, He rejected. Yes, we need to make friends with people of all sorts of backgrounds, but we need to not be motivated by them, rather them be motivated by us. We are a city on a hill. We are the salt of the earth. If we just blend, then the salt of our testimony loses its flavor and we can be of no effect.

It's when we are in the crowd and we are noticed because of Jesus in us, this is what God wants. I will say that our main "circle of friends" should be christians with hearts to spread the gospel (however God shows us to do that with whatever group we are dealing with). This "circle of friends" are how we are encouraged and strengthened along with the reading of the Word, prayer, family (if following Jesus) and church. If we believe we don't need these and we can do it on our own, then this is pride and God rejects the proud. We will be sure to fall.

If our base friends are non-christians and this is who we hang out with more. It is easier for them to influence us over a period of time than us influencing them. This is one reason Jesus sent His disciples out two by two. There are powers in numbers. For us to be truly effective witnesses, then we need to be totally grounded and founded in His Word and Ways. God knows the hearts of all. If we pray and ask Him who we are to be around, He will show us. This is effective witnessing. Being led by Holy Spirit to lead others into a relationship with the All-Loving God we serve!

Most of my friends are Non-Xian. I don't have a problem with that because they respect my beliefs for the most part. I find that I get along with Non-Xians better than I do with Xians as well. Plus, all my friends call me the coolest Xian guy they know BECAUSE I don't try to push my beliefs on them.

Remember, a witness is to tell someone about Jesus, not change their minds for them.

CJ

I'm actually in a similar situation to Terrasin. Most of my closest friends aren't saved and they have alot of respect for me too. That pic I put in Random Pictures the Flash animation was made by one of my unsaved friends.

Some of my best friends are not christians (yet) it was inevitable. And has nothing to do with trying to fit in - but rather people genuinly caring for each other and having common interests...

but rather people genuinly caring for each other and having common interests...


Same here.

I have a friend who is an atheist, and my two other friends are catholics. The one who is an atheist really likes Skillet. Then I have another friend who 'believes in God'; is 'really glad I got her into Christian music', and 'believes in a lot of Christan morals.' ???

One thing that we do at YFC up here, our focus evanglism is 3-story-evangelism. We become friends w/ all these non-Christian ppl, & slowly tell them about Jesus. I am friends with numerous people that are atheists, or other religions, but its key to have close friends who are Christians. Without a core group of Christian friends, your in trouble. I find myself w/ my christian friends @ church, & sometiems at school, & at meetings & hanging out at work. But alot of the times at school & my free time, i'm hangin out w/ non-Christians!

Thats a start

Yes i have many friends who arent christians. God calls us to be lights in a dark world. Jesus hung out with the losers, the stoners, the goths, the postitutes of his day, which werent christians. We are called to follow his example, so loving those who are different and dont agree with you, and showing them jesus through your life style is our mission. We are the alien youth but we shouldn't become eremites and recluses from this world. We should be out there shining for Jesus!

guitargirl, just curious, where do you mean by up here? (the yfc in my area just got into the 3 story evanglism thing..)

to answer the original question, of course i have have friends that aren't c/tian, but i think they still see it as something i'll grow out of. (which is a rather annoying veiwpoint to me..)

as for the looking different in church thing..last year i started spiking my banges down in 'bright, unnatural colors'. you wouldn't believe how many good c/tian's saw it as i wasn't following God anymore. ::)

you wouldn't believe how many good c/tian's saw it as i wasn't following God anymore. ::)


Yeah I wud... Christians today spend more time whinging about the way other Christians dress than reaching out to save people's souls...

Yeah I wud... Christians today spend more time whinging about the way other Christians dress than reaching out to save people's souls...
Now that sounds pretty Ridicolis ::).

Yeah it does sound rediculous but unfortunately it's true... I've heard of churches where after a person responds to the Gospel a guy walks up to them gives em a bit of paper and says "Now you're a Christian... HERE'S a list of things of stuff you can't do anymore..."

Gosh, thats what new believers need. ...Here's what you have to act/dress/be like in order to get to heaven. Here come to know our accepting God... but first stop dressing that way. >:(

The church begs people not to be superficial and yet you have to look a certain way to be a Christian.

Back to topic... I don't have many non-christians in my life right now since I am homeschooled. But let me tell you, I know a lot of lukewarm Christians and people who have fallen away from God. The private school that I am returning to this fall needs a serious revival.

Well, one of my friends doesn't believe in God anymore, and now she's in an asylum, and I can't contact her.
Another one believes things about God which are wrong, but hard to explain.
So it's kind of scary to explain things to her sometimes.

It's kind of complicated, but I'm working on it.

That's what I like being nice to other people that are not even christian because I think it really dose show a good example for being a good christian I was even talking about it to people I know from my bible study at school, and they thought it was very nice what I'm doing and my brother Neil also likes that.