Sermon Tone Analysis

What the Bible says about friendship with others

 

*Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about who we should have as our friends?

Many people claim that it is perfectly acceptable, even mandatory for Christians to be close personal friends with non believers.

After studying what the Bible has to say about this subject, I no longer think that is true.

Before we start though, I think it would be wise to first determine what we mean when we use the word "friend".*

\\ \\ *This is the dictionary definition that applies to what we're discussing here:* \\ \\ \\ *Quote:* \\ *Friend: a person whom one knows well and is fond of; intimate associate; * \\ \\ \\ *So when we talk about if you could be a friend with someone that is of a different religion, we're asking if you could be really close to someone, know them really well, and they know you really well, enjoy the same things and doing them together, spend a lot of time together, either physically, and~/or over the phone or internet or through the mail.

In other words, be a close personal friend with them.

Conversely we are NOT talking about "being friendly" toward someone.

Of course you can and should be friendly toward everyone, as the Lord says we are to be that way even to our enemies!*

\\ \\ *The kind of friendship we are talking about here is a close personal friend that you see and talk to all the time, that knows you well and you know them well.

That of course means that if they know you well, they must also know Jesus quite well, because you as a believer couldn't spend time with someone without mentioning and discussing Jesus.*

\\ \\ *Jesus defines and is part of everything I think, everything I do, and everything I say.

I could no more separate Jesus away from something I'm doing~/saying~/thinking, then I could remove my right leg.

It's totally impossible for me.

"I" no longer have a life, because I've been bought with a price and it no longer belongs to me.

It is now His life and He makes all the calls.

* \\ \\ *Therefore I could not be a real friend with someone that chose to continue in a false religion, because the other person wouldn’t allow it.

Jesus would insist that every time I saw that person, I would have to talk about Jesus and that person wouldn't want to hear it.

Non Christens can't stand hearing about Jesus for very long.

There is real power in His Name and in His Word and they can't handle it.

They either convert of they get angry and run away.

* \\ \\ *Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

* \\ \\ *John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.*

\\ \\ *Phil 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

* \\ \\ *2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

* \\ \\ *2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. * \\ \\ *2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.**

* \\ \\ *Ok, so what does God say about this kind of friendship?

Does He want us to be that kind of friend with someone of another religion~/faith?

(I am not talking about different denominations here, I'm talking about being friends with someone that is not saved, an unbeliever) Does He care, or does He just leave it up to us, or what?

Let's see what the Bible says.*

\\ \\ *2 Corinthians 6:14-17 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.

For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?

Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?

What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

What agreement is there between the **temple** of **God** and idols?

For we are the temple of the living God.

As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”* \\ \\ \\ *James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.* \\ \\ *Ephesians 5:3-7 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for Gods holy people.

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person- such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the **kingdom** of **Christ** and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things Gods wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

Therefore do not be partners with them.*

\\ \\ *Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.*

\\ \\ *Psalms 1: 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

* \\ \\ *2 John 1:10-11 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

* \\ \\ *Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

* \\ \\ *Prov  8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

* \\ \\ *Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.*

\\ \\ *If we are living according to God's Will, which is revealed in His Word, then we cannot be friends with people who are of a different faith.

We can witness to them, we can be "acquaintances" with them, as in co-workers etc. but we cannot be friends with them.

If we are around someone that is of a different faith, then we are called by God to tell them about Jesus.

When we do that, one of two things will happen, they will either let us know that they want nothing more to do with hearing about Him, or they will express and interest and be open to Him.

If they express an interest, then yes, we can continue with them and tell them the Good News, but if at any point they let us know they aren't taking us seriously, then it is time to move on.

Let me repeat what I said earlier: Therefore I could not be a real friend with someone that chose to continue in a false religion, because the other person wouldn’t allow it.

Jesus would insist that every time I saw that person, I would have to talk about Jesus and that person wouldn't want to hear it.

Non Christians can't stand hearing about Jesus for very long.

There is real power in His Name and in His Word and they can't handle it.

They either convert or they get angry and run away.*

\\ \\ *Those who we speak to who reject us and our Jesus, will not want to be our friend, they won't want to be considered a "holy roller" like us, or a "fanatic" like us.

No, they will run as fast as they can in the other direction and they will ridicule us and persecute us just as Jesus said they would.

* \\ \\ *Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.* \\ \\ *Matthew 10:22 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.

But he who endures to the end will be saved.

* \\ \\ *John 15:18-21 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.

As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

That is why the world hates you.

Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is greater than his master.

If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.* \\ \\ \\ *How can you have a "friend" who rejects your very best friend, your Lord and Savior, Jesus?

You are one with Jesus and Jesus is one with you.

How then can you join with someone that rejects the most important part of you?

When someone realizes just how serious you are about Jesus, they will usually either join you, or come against you, making fun of you or persecuting you in some way.*

\\ \\ *God even told the Jew's to separate themselves from the people of the other countries because if they didn't do so, those people would corrupt them.

The Jew's ignored God's Word, and wound up having to endure a great deal of discipline from the Lord because of their choice.

This is shown all through the Old Testament.

He also forbade them to marry someone from another country, just as we are told not to marry an unbeliever.

God doesn't change, so we can expect that His rules are not going to change either.**

* \\ \\ *Leviticus 20:26 `And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.

* \\ \\ *Psalm 4:3 Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.*

\\ \\ *1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; * \\ \\ *1 Peter 3:15-16 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.*

\\ \\ *John 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own.

Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.*

\\ \\ *1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.**

* \\ \\ *1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.**

* \\ \\ *I hope I've been able to show the reasons we as believers, cannot be good friends with someone of another faith.

It would just be impossible, like mixing oil and water, it simply wouldn't work.

* \\ \\ *We can however, be friendly toward non believers, treat them with love, witness to them, show them by our own lives what it looks like to be set apart by God and be a good co worker, or employer or employee to them.

Our actions speak louder then words.

If our actions, our lives, do not set us apart, then why in the world should they even consider becoming a Christian?

If we act just like they do, there would be no difference except the label, and we know there is much more to being saved then simply having a get out of jail free card.*

\\ \\ *Now before we get off track here, let me answer a question that I'm sure will come up in this discussion.

What about if we are married to an unbeliever?