Should Christians be friends with non-Christians?

[jc4ever]

My question centers upon the issue of friendships between Christians and Heathens. I know that we, as the chosen people of God, should love those that are not as smart as us for believing in the grace, mercy, and ever-lasting love of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Ghost. However, how far should this love extend? Friendships with non-believers can lead to dangerous things in life: drugs, alcohol, pre-marital sex, and, even worse, doubting the Truth of God and his mercies that extend forever. Should Christians chance the loss of salvation by spending time and being exposed to the soul endangering immoral lifestyles of the un-enlightened? I think not. As 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (Taken from Biblegateway.com)

[Insomniac]

***

As Christians, wouldn't you hope to guide non-believers to the path of God? And, to do so, wouldn't you need to extend some form of friendship?

[Corvus]

My question centers upon the issue of friendships between Christians and Heathens. I know that we, as the chosen people of God, should love those that are not as smart as us for believing in the grace, mercy, and ever-lasting love of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Ghost.

Don't forget that some Christians are also really very humble

However, how far should this love extend? Friendships with non-believers can lead to dangerous things in life: drugs, alcohol, pre-marital sex, and, even worse, doubting the Truth of God and his mercies that extend forever. Should Christians chance the loss of salvation by spending time and being exposed to the soul endangering immoral lifestyles of the un-enlightened? I think not.

The way I see it is that one must ask themselves, which Christian is the better example, the one that locks himself away from the reality of the world because, should he be exposed to the dangers of temptation, he is weak enough to give in; or the one that goes out with the world and resists temptation, not quivering like a child at something that it wants but its mother has forbidden. Hiding from sin is not resisting it, and I cannot have any respect for such a craven example of faith. This notion of "I shall keep myself innocent", really means, "I shall keep myself ignorant".

Furthermore, it was my understanding that, amongst most protestant sects at the very least, the statement that there is not one righteous man was more than just the title of a Bob Dylan song, and, since both unbelievers and Christians are diseased by sin, only the grace of Jesus Christ is capable of saving a person, not their acts alone. So though sin may be resisted, it should always be expected.

As 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (Taken from Biblegateway.com)

EDIT: I originally wrote that this verse was actually about marriage, but all indications point to it really referring to the ministry, since this is what the entire chapter deals with.

Though my own personal belief is that a Christian should welcome an unbeliever, I do not know if there is a definitive biblical perspective on this matter, so I voted "unsure".

[Jose]

My question centers upon the issue of friendships between Christians and Heathens. I know that we, as the chosen people of God, should love those that are not as smart as us for believing in the grace, mercy, and ever-lasting love of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Ghost. However, how far should this love extend? Friendships with non-believers can lead to dangerous things in life: drugs, alcohol, pre-marital sex, and, even worse, doubting the Truth of God and his mercies that extend forever. Should Christians chance the loss of salvation by spending time and being exposed to the soul endangering immoral lifestyles of the un-enlightened? I think not. As 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (Taken from Biblegateway.com)

I think this sounds extremely dangerous, both for the Christians and for the Heathens. It is dangerous for the Heathens because the isolated Christians will do what isolated religious zealots do--egg one another on until we have Crusades, or a Christian Taliban. It is dangerous for the Christians because the Heathens are likely to be the scientists and physicians whose new--albeit "immoral" and un-Christian--discoveries are essential to human well-being as the world becomes more populated and more complex. It turns out that many people have discovered, too late, that they can't cure diseases of their own or their family members just by praying. Understanding what to do, and how to prepare for the future, requires a sound foundation in evolutionary theory. The bacteria and viruses aren't Christians, so they haven't discovered that evolution isn't allowed--and they'll go ahead and do it. And, if we pretend evolution doesn't exist (since it leads to immorality, from what I hear), we'll just keep selecting for more-and-more resistant pathogens. "Ignorance is bliss, and then you die."

[perfessor]

I know that we, as the chosen people of God, should love those that are not as smart as us ....

If you're so smart...

Friendships with non-believers can lead to dangerous things in life: drugs, alcohol, pre-marital sex, and, even worse, doubting the Truth of God and his mercies that extend forever.

... can't you figure out for yourself who your friends are??? Is thinking for yourself really the most dangerous thing??

Should Christians chance the loss of salvation by spending time and being exposed to the soul endangering immoral lifestyles of the un-enlightened?

Oh, puh-leeeze! I'm glad for you that you are perfect, free from sin and temptation. It must be lonely up on that high horse.

You make it sound like all non-believers are drug-addled alcoholic degenerates, while all Christians are squeaky clean. Speaking from my own experience and observations, neither is the case.

[ENIGMA]

Oh boy, here I go about to be obnoxious again...

Time to get out my trusty funhouse mirror for this one:

My question centers upon the issue of friendships between Christians and Heathens. I know that we, as the chosen people of God, should love those that are not as smart as us for believing in the grace, mercy, and ever-lasting love of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Ghost.

[mirror]
My question centers upon whether atheists should associate themselves, be friends with, or generally "hang around with" Christians. I know that we, the enlightened few who understand the severe unlikelyhood of some anthropormorphic "God" entity running the universe, should give our sympathy and support to the bulk of humanity that cannot get such an intellectually confirmed notion through their heads. I mean after all, as their supposed "Saviour" supposedly put it, "They know not what they do".
[/mirror]

However, how far should this love extend? Friendships with non-believers can lead to dangerous things in life: drugs, alcohol, pre-marital sex, and, even worse, doubting the Truth of God and his mercies that extend forever.

[mirror]
However, such sympathy and support does bring certain risks and costs to those who have reasoned their way through the religious gauntlet. Such relationships with Christians can lead to dangerous things in life: An inability to hold oneself accountable for one's actions, possibly even requiring the state to do it for you, a detrimental effect to one's ability to critically reason, and quite possibly the horror of forgetting that this life is your only one, and that blowing it in exchange for a craps shoot at eternity is a bad idea.
[/mirror]

Should Christians chance the loss of salvation by spending time and being exposed to the soul endangering immoral lifestyles of the un-enlightened? I think not. As 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (Taken from Biblegateway.com)

[mirror]
Should we or our unbelieving bretheren chance the loss of our only life in pursuit of a phantom as our time with Christians may cause the less well reasoned of us to do? No, for is it not written that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"?

...No I'm not sure where exactly it's written..... But it is... So there...
[/mirror]

[Corvus]

Just a quick note, my friends in infidelity; let's try to restrain ourselves just a little, even if the post is highly inflammatory. And may anyone posting in the future hereby understand the effect undiplomatic wording has on others, especially when if it is a first post.

[ST88]

My question centers upon the issue of friendships between Christians and Heathens...
As 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

It is my belief that Paul was writing about the ministry with this line. There is further evidence that Christians need not fear contact with unbelievers:

1 Corinthians 5:9
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat.
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (KVJ)

This passage says to me that it is the Christians who are behaving in an un-Christian-like manner that should be shunned. if any man that is called a brother, i.e. a fellow Christian. He further states that he has no business judging those who are outside -- i.e., unbelievers -- Christians can only judge other Christians.

But I think the Bible makes a distinction between a Christian being friends with a non-Christian and having fellowship with a non-Christian.

1 Corinthians 10:27
If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience's sake...

1 Corinthians 10:32
Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God

I think this says more clearly that Christians should not remove themselves entirely from the lives of unbelievers, rather that Christians should be gracious in dealing with them. The passage refers to eating meat that has been sacrificed at a pagan altar, but unless the unbeliever tells you specifically that the meat served at dinner was, in fact, a pagan sacrifice, then you are free to eat it and enjoy the party.

In other words, if there are people who do not accept God, it is not necessary to proclaim judgment upon them, because this is something God will do later. Christians only need judge and punish one another as a family might. Christians are therefore free to associate with unbelievers but not accept their counsel, and be on guard at all times because...

1 Corinthians 15:33
...Bad company corrupts good character.

[chrispalasz]

Well... the main questions have already been answered!

ST88... that is a brilliant observation! That is the very same point I was going to make. I'm glad I read your post (as I did not read them ALL... I just skimmed them). For a person of agnostic belief... I am quite impressed! Many Christians do not pick up on this... and you even used scripture. Awesome.

So, my statement is the same as ST88's. I agree. Not only is it OKAY for Christians to have non-Christian friends... it is our obligation AS Christians. We are to love our neighbors (EVERYONE) and be a light to the world.

We should have fellowship with Christians and feed off of eachother. We should NOT have fellowship with non-Christians and feed off of them. THAT is where the trouble starts. Non-Christians are the mission field.

I do, however... have a couple corrections to make.

should love those that are not as smart as us for believing in

I'm sorry... this is incredibly offensive. On top of that, it is erranous on so many levels. First of all, Christians are not "smart" for believing. God brought us to Him through the foolishness of the world. We are by no means smarter than a non-Christian for believing... since it was God who brought us to Him. We figured nothing out!

1 Corinthians 1:20-21
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

Please... please try to excersize more caution in your words.

Should Christians chance the loss of salvation by spending time and being exposed to the soul endangering immoral lifestyles of the un-enlightened? I think not.

Christians cannot lose salvation.

Ephesians 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a promise and assurance of salvation. Literally - this is how we KNOW that what God has promised us is true! He has already begun to fulfill His promise by giving us the Holy Spirit as the first step!

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Also, you yourself say:

I know that we, as the chosen people of God

Does it make sense that we could be "chosen" yet lose salvation? Can God really lose His children? No.

And to make a similar point... if God "chose" those who are Christians... how can we say we are "smarter"? Did God only choose the smartest people? Why wasn't Albert Einstein a Christian? Why wasn't Ghandi a Christian? Why isn't Stephen Hawking a Christian? God does not call those who are the smartest. We are not smarter for being Christians.

As 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

I fully agree with this passage... however, you have misinterpreted it. The word "yoke" in Greek is the word used for marriage (to join together - to yoke). Christians should not marry non-Christians. This makes sense. Can you think of a worse torture, than having a husband/wife that does not know the love of Christ and live according to His Word?

When you examine the context of this passage, I believe it is clear.

jc4ever: I'm very very sorry if what I said sounds like an attack or sounds harsh. Please accept my apology... and also pray about these things. Also, here is a good verse to meditate on:

2 Timothy 2:22-25a
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents with gentleness.

You make it sound like all non-believers are drug-addled alcoholic degenerates, while all Christians are squeaky clean. Speaking from my own experience and observations, neither is the case.

I know what you mean. We are all evil sinners. Christians aren't flawless... and we aren't perfect (yet. We are being made perfect through Jesus Christ). We all sin.

But technically, Christians are squeaky clean. Our sins have been washed away by the blood of Christ. Praise God!

[Corvus]

As 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

I fully agree with this passage... however, you have misinterpreted it. The word "yoke" in Greek is the word used for marriage (to join together - to yoke). Christians should not marry non-Christians. This makes sense. Can you think of a worse torture, than having a husband/wife that does not know the love of Christ and live according to His Word?

When you examine the context of this passage, I believe it is clear.

This was brought up in a separate thread on Christians marrying non-Christians. I invite you to post their to clarify how this passage refers to marriage. I happen to share ST88's interpretation of it, and it is interesting what you say about examining the context of the passage, since to read it as a reference to marriage it would appear almost as a non-sequiter in a chapter entirely about the ministry.