How many has lost friends or old friends over accepting Christ?
I am facing this issue right now. I really love to have friends and hold each of them as being very valuable to me. And hate losing one.
But since I have accepted Christ, one thing led to another, until I have changed, to what I think a better person or better servant to God. I by no means am a good one, and ashamed of how bad of a servant I am, but desire to be someone God is proud of.
At first, I thought, sure I can keep my friends, and jsut go to church. Then after a while, I thought sure, keep my friends, just take away the cursing and getting drunk. Then after a while, I thought, ok, the dirty jokes are offensive to me, but hey, they are my friends. Now its at a point, where, we have very little in common, a few in particular love to try to make me stumble and have no respect for my wishes. Its nothing for them to drop the F bomb or take the Lords name in vain. Or sit there and bombard me with "hey mark, look that girl has no bra on, look, we know you want too" with a big laugh.
So now I am at the point where I wonder if I should continue to pray for them and pray for strength to resist thier stumbling blocks so maybe I can bring them over to Christ. Or just explain to them, that this friendship won't work unless they are willing to come closer to my side.
This has vex'ed me for days now. I hate to lose a friend.
Mark,
Your post deeply encourages me. You must be doing something right to write a post like that.
I was invited to a family birthday party last week. I refused to go. I've already put my time in with sowing seeds and ignoring God's name in vain. My wife went and it was worse than I imagined. I lost all of my friends when I became a Christian but I gained a hand full of very sincere ones. We are not of this world Mark." If we were , the world would love us." but they hate who is in us. They no longer have a cloak for their sins. Continue my friend to let your light shine. Great post Mark
But see Chuck, I was like him at one time.The unsaved friend that is.Everytime I think about parting ways, I think about this one guy, Tim a good ole Christian boy, who took me to church last year, and is the same guy4 years before, I used to sit there and give a hard time inviting him out to the nudie bar with my biker friends. I would untastefuly do this also in front of his wife. He would just sit there and put his head down. I even made the statement that I hated guys like him. He never gave up praying for me and working on me.I am truely thankful that he didn't walk away. I would hate to walk away from this unsaved guy if their is a chance for him.
But I know it always doesn't work like that. I have a feeling, I never madeTim stumble, like this friend does me. And thats probably the big difference.
But see Chuck, I was like him at one time. The one guy who took me to church, is the same guy4 years before, I used to sit there and give a hard time inviting him out to the nudie bar with my biker friends. He would just sit there and put his head down. I even made the statement that I hated guys like him. He never gave up praying for me and working on me.I am truely thankful that he didn't walk away.
But I know it always doesn't work like that. I have a feeling, I never made him stumble. And thats probably the big difference.
Sorry Mark, I beleive I misunderstood your post.Each situation is different. . Ittakes alot to make me wipe the dust off my feet and only you will know when that is. I had 2 main friends in Maryland that I partied with daily. They trusted me and we were tight. After I got saved I went back and visited them. My first one said " Chuck I 'm sorry to say this but we no longer hav eanything in common. See ya. That was it for Peepers.
And then there was Billy Joe ..When I met him he was just starting to do crack. He looked very lost and he and I also both agreed we had nothing in common and said our good buys. Oh and then last of all there was Jeff. I wasn't there but he was a Pagan. My mom told him he wouldn't like me any mor efor I was nowa Christian. He tore off down our drive way sendin gloose gravel everywhere. No Mark...I'm free my friend. I witness and sow seeds of love butI don't laugh at nasty jokes and I can't stand to hear God's name in vain. I don't fellowship with such.
C7
"friends" aren't established in a bar..or a church...for both harbor human beings we call aquaintances.That's what they are..aquaintances.You may or may not have anything in common, but they are STILL your Brother, as refered to by Christ. The biggest mistake we make, is believing that there's two sides to the tracks. I Gods' eyes, we're on the SAME side while we walk on Earth, some are just Saved & Blessed. And the SAVED are COMMISSIONED to go to the very ones you describe( Jesus did)as pulling away from. What does the Bible say about "just" praying for the hungry, w/o giving food..or praying fore the shivering, w/o offering your cloke ? He said ya did NOTHING!!!! I didn't write it, but that's the way I read it. Too many "lost" are turned even more against Jesus' church by former friends, than any other means, I'd venture to guess. I fail as much at that as the next guy, but the separation is in conduct(Spirit led).. not the physical. Yes, you are different... but nowhere do I read in the Word to Forsake former friends, just because you've accepted Christ. It does say not to return to your vomit, it sure does.... but should THAT even happen... Grace is STILL available. Christians'; take that "come out & be seperate" to the Nth extreme... Jesus was eatin' with 'em..and we're told we no longer have anything "in common" with these people.....WRONG. WAAAAY WRONG!!! our actions should be exposed to them DAILY, in hopes of salvation.....we shouldn't say "goodbye" to ANYONE(except those that HE tells you..and those will be few). Does anyone see the damage being done, in the name of Salvation?
is this not true: Now that your saved, you have no biz frequenting bars( or other palces that Sinners gather). Hasn't everyone heard this spoke of a Preacher? THAT goes AGAINST what Jesus did.... he did180 degrees the opposite. This is NOT that tough to understand...all it takes is doin' the best that Ya can at being led by the Spirit. Should a recovering alchie go to a bar after being saved? yep... if he's led there for a purpose by Jesus... we forget... Jesus loves those people in that bar,too.... He don't just love the church-goers..and we'd do well to remember that fact!
Mark, of course I know who you're talking about. He's a tough one. From what you've told me, he's 180 degree polar opposite of you now. Obviously, you need to pray for him, but if you're going to continue to get together with him, then he needs to be told flat out, what bothers you about his behavior. Let him know that if he cannot be more adaptive to your Christianity, that you won't be able to hang out anymore.
I know he's been a friend for some time, but, if it's a matter of him destroying your testimony, then he'll have to be shown the door. If he's not willing to change, then he's not getting anywhere anyway.
__________________
Today' s small bucks are tomorrow' s trophies.
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Well, unfortately, its a few of em Dave. I guess I feel very guilty because I have tested the patience of Christians before. And now know how it feels to be on the other end of the stick.
"friends" aren't established in a bar..or a church...for both harbor human beings we call aquaintances.That's what they are..aquaintances.You may or may not have anything in common, but they are STILL your Brother, as refered to by Christ. The biggest mistake we make, is believing that there's two sides to the tracks. I Gods' eyes, we're on the SAME side while we walk on Earth, some are just Saved & Blessed. And the SAVED are COMMISSIONED to go to the very ones you describe( Jesus did)as pulling away from. What does the Bible say about "just" praying for the hungry, w/o giving food..or praying fore the shivering, w/o offering your cloke ? He said ya did NOTHING!!!! Whoa Remington. he went to Jerusalem. They did not recieve Him ...so he left . He wiped the dust off his feet and moved on. Jesus said to go and preach. If your peace is recieved stay if not "WIPE THE DUST OFF YOUR FEET and LEAVE.I didn't write it, but that's the way I read it. Too many "lost" are turned even more against Jesus' church by former friends, than any other means, I'd venture to guess. I fail as much at that as the next guy, but the separation is in conduct(Spirit led).. not the physical. Yes, you are different... but nowhere do I read in the Word to Forsake former friends, 2 Corinthians 6 :14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? just because you've accepted Christ. It does say not to return to your vomit, it sure does.... but should THAT even happen... Grace is STILL available. Christians'; take that "come out & be seperate" to the Nth extreme... Jesus was eatin' with 'em..and we're told we no longer have anything "in common" with these people.....WRONG. WAAAAY WRONG!!! our actions should be exposed to them DAILY, in hopes of salvation.....we shouldn't say "goodbye" to ANYONE(except those that HE tells you..and those will be few).And this is what Chuck 7 said I said Sometimes ..not very often I feel led to wipe the dust off my feet and move on.Does anyone see the damage being done, in the name of Salvation? the only damage I've seen done has been the opposite. We have catored so much to be non offensive that we have conpromised our values in church. I've broke up youth making out in pews. I've seen adults playing kick the can with hymnals, I've listened to way too many humanistic sermons in order to tickle ears. and ' not to offend.'
is this not true: Now that your saved, you have no biz frequenting bars( or other palces that Sinners gather). Hasn't everyone heard this spoke of a Preacher? THAT goes AGAINST what Jesus did.... he did180 degrees the opposite. This is NOT that tough to understand...all it takes is doin' the best that Ya can at being led by the Spirit. Should a recovering alchie go to a bar after being saved? yep... if he's led yes if he's led there for a purpose by Jesus... we forget... Jesus loves those people in that bar,too.... He don't just love the church-goers..and we'd do well to remember that fact! We all know that Remiongton. The concept I was making is that there may be a time when God tells you in your heart it's time to shake the dust. And by the way..if your walking the talk most sinners won't want to be around ya anyway. I fish sometimes with a pot smoker. He tells me to stop preaching to him.And...I ain't even said a word to him. It's my actions. He's offered me a joint a few times this year. I've said no. Now if we get pulled over by a cop Remington.. is it God's will thatI lose my job because I had pot n my truck. No ...God's will was spoken in 2 Cor. 6 to separate myself from this fellow. Ive witnessed to him and I'm kind at work but I'm not to be unequally yoked with him.Not only that he could catch me in the right mood and I could give in...and that would be horrible. I've come to far to let my life go up in smoke.
I remember one guy in the neighborhood that was ignored by the churched. The motto was his wife is a nice person, but he's an animal. He was a pretty rough biker, beer drinking pot head that most people were afraid of because of his Viet Nam flash backs.. But one day a little Baptist preacher came an invited him to church. The crazy biker started going and stopped drinking and smoking pot. It didn't happen over night. But eventually this crazy out of control long hair, bearded guy came around. People in the neighborhood started talking to him. He got involved in children's sports and in the community. And as he grew in the Lord he went on to Bible school and got ordained, and nowhe (The Rev) istelling youdon't give up on your friends... You be the example to follow. Okay they use nasty language, drink beer. You don't have to participate in those things. As my signature says,, Witness always if necessary us words. Just be an example, and let God take care of the rest.
How many has lost friend over faith
