I am a Christian but my entire group of friends is not. I want to tell them about Jesus or my faith, but I constantly find myself afraid of their disapproval, but I need to because it won't be long before I become tempted to go against my beliefs. How do I make my stand?
[ Answer this question ] Want to answer more questions in the Miscellaneous category? Maybe give some free advice about: Spirituality? Thief answered Tuesday February 26 2008, 1:25 am: well it's good to know that you love jesus but the fact is, is that sometimes poeple who are jesus freaks sometimes tend to be a lil annoying when they just preach and preach about jesus. Now im not knocking on the whole thing or saying it's worng im just saying that im pretty sure everyone knows who jesus is, what miricales he did and what he did for us on the cross. Cept when people just go on and on and on, you might get some guy saying " we know already" All of us are all on a mission from god im sure, i am, you are, and your friends are as well, some know and some don't know. Sometimes it's best to let others know for themselves so they can get the true value of the calling. After all you wouldn't want to ruin the ending of a good movie am i right? hope this helps and keep on keeping on ^^ [ Thief's advice column | Ask Thief A Question ]
BitsandPieces answered Friday December 14 2007, 10:42 pm: Live your faith. Let your actions speak louder than your words..people will know your sincerity without being preached at, and will want to know how and why you are able to do what you do, at which time you can share the testimony of your faith. If your words and actions are not in harmony, you will look like a hypocrate...and while all humans are prone to error and hypocracy at some time, no one likes a full-time preacher who does not practice what she preaches to others. Practice the values you believe in. Be honest, kind, etc.. [ BitsandPieces's advice column | Ask BitsandPieces A Question ]
m_howard_651 answered Saturday November 10 2007, 11:13 pm: just start talking about him. pray to God for the words to speak to them. but im goin warn you of somethin, if you become tempted to go againist your beliefs, do not hang out with those people. bible says in the first verse of paslm dont surround your self with the unjust, and be like a tree planted by the water. that shall not be moved.(thats where the song cam from) hope this helps [ m_howard_651's advice column | Ask m_howard_651 A Question ]
skylalou_1 answered Saturday November 10 2007, 8:54 pm: well, just continue to talk to them about Jesus, and if they choose not to listen, continue to pray for them.. but, we all have to remember that we can't get too close to people that aren't Christians.. it even states that in the bible, i'm not for sure where i found it the other day, but it looks like i'm gonna have to highlight it.. but, try to go against your beliefs.. that'll be the last thing you'll ever wanna do.. but if it does get that bad, then honestly it looks like your going to have to find some Christian friends.. just continue to pray, and God'll help you through everything.. =) hope i helped Skyla [ skylalou_1's advice column | Ask skylalou_1 A Question ]
WittyUsernameHere answered Saturday November 10 2007, 2:01 am: This is where most Christians go awry.
Read the following carefully.
"It is not your job to save people. It is not your job to force your viewpoint or way of life on people. As a christian you should lead by example and love your friends, and leave everything else at the door"
Memorize that. Learn it.
As a fellow Christian, I can say that often things do not necessarily agree with my viewpoint on the world. That doesnt mean that I have the right to change it, or to spend my time trying to make others see the light. If you have a problem with temptations that is a personal battle. Just because your friends are doing something doesnt mean you have to either. If your friends arent mature enough to accept your right to make your own decision, thats when you have a problem.
I know many people who are straightedge and hang out with people who are very much not. I am in my 20s so drinking and such is perfectly legal amongst my friends, yet some of them do and some of them dont. If someone chooses not to partake, thats cool. Personal choice man. Its what this world is all about.
thefish answered Friday November 9 2007, 4:58 pm: Have they been picking on you because of your beliefs? Have they been trying to get you to convert from Christianity?
If they're good friends, the answer is no.
Now, I am an atheist, and some Christians that I know have tried to "tell me about their faith". But it really feels like they're telling me to change my ways! Which I don't want to do, any more than you do. Even if it's completely innocent to them, to me it is rude, and just plain hurtful. It always causes problems in my relationships.
One of my friends when I was little Christian and VERY religious. It sometimes caused minor problems, but for the most part we just accepted our differences. The only reason that friendship didn't last was because I moved away. But now, my very closest friend is Catholic, and we think of each other as sisters. We talk about religion sometimes, but because we're true friends, it never causes an argument. We disagree about some things. Oh well. And even though we spend so much time together, neither of us caused the other to change their world completely. So, it is possible to have friendships with people of different beliefs!
If your friends are really your friends, they won't disapprove. If you want, try talking about it with one friend first, the one you trust most. However, if you approach it the wrong way, you will end up insulting them and causing a fight. Do not make it seem as if your way is better. Do not make it seem like you're trying to change them. Basically, do not PREACH to them!
Honestly, the chances are, they already know all about Christianity! They might have parents who were or are Christian, they may have been Christian when they were kids but after much thought decided to take a different path. And I don't know if you are in the US or not, but it's a VERY Christian country. Non-Christians do not live under rocks! We are exposed to this religion every day, many of us have been to Church, read the Bible, etc. We also have pretty much the same morals that you do, we just believe in them for a reason other than "Jesus says...."
However, I also know how frustrating it is when the people you love don't understand you! If you can't talk about this with your friends without it turning ugly, you need to find some new friends. And I don't necessarily mean Christian ones, just nicer ones. I think it's great to be friends with people outside of your own faith!
I think you'll be fine if you remember that it's not all about you. If you want to share your beliefs, you need to be able to listen if they choose to share theirs! You will end up learning a lot more about each other, and understanding each other in new ways. I probably could have just told you that without typing out the rest, but oh well. :) [ thefish's advice column | Ask thefish A Question ]
orphans answered Friday November 9 2007, 4:36 pm: Honestly, I'm very big into the "atheism," and I wouldn't want my friends trying to convert me. If someone was constantly trying to, I wouldn't want to hang out with them anymore, and I would think they were so rude.
Now I'm not saying this is the case for youuu, but you should just keep that in mind. You need to loike respect their boundaries. Anyways, don't worry about going against your beliefs, because if your friends are good friends, they wouldn't do anything that would make you comfortable.
Finally, if religion IS really important then you, then you should just try to find friends that share your Christianity. That would be easier than trying to convert them.
But if you feel like you need to convert them (I suggest strongly against it thoughh...) just slowly tell them about jesus and god or whatever, but not in a forcing way. And especially don't say things like "jesus and god are SO great, and better than any other religion" Being condescending like that is a sign of ignorance and rudeness, so steer away from that. Also, be respectful of other religions. For example, never say "god and jesus are better than Bhudda" or anything like that. Thats the same thing as respecting their views. Like I completely don't believe in jesus or god, and I think the whole idea of religion is kinda ludicrous since there is no proof of it, but I'm not going around saying that =]
Oh yea, and also, having friends like this with different views makes up good debates if you like that. I kinda like that haha.
Hope I helped youuuuu. [ orphans's advice column | Ask orphans A Question ]
mylordwon answered Friday November 9 2007, 12:52 pm: First of all, the fear of man is a powerful tool the enemy uses, so God bless you for recognizing this and for realizing your need to witness. I hope you find the witnessing method below to be helpful. It's the best and most productive method of pointing people to Jesus that I have found.
If they become offended, just remember, 2Co 2:14-16 "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life."
So just do your part by introducing them to Jesus and the Holy Spirit will do His part of convicting their hearts.
Okay...In the natural, it would be correct to say that before someone goes to a doctor they need to know they are sick. It works that way in the spiritual too. Before someone can genuinely embrace Jesus, they need to know they are spiritually sick and actually need Jesus.
The best way I have found to witness is to point out why they need Jesus. I ask them if they think they are a good person. Most people will say yes. Then I ask them if they had ever lied. Again most will say yes. If they say no, that alone is a lie. I ask them if they ever stole something regardless of value. Most will say yes. And you can go through any of the ten commandments. Then you point out that by their own admission, they are a liar, a thief and whatever. Then point out that the Bible says lairs and thieves will go to hell. HOWEVER, there is a way for them to be forgiven...that's when you lay out the gospel. Below is a link with video clips of this method of witnessing. Give it a look and I pray the Holy Spirit to work mightily through you.
LuckyLeo answered Friday November 9 2007, 11:42 am: If they are really your friends they will understand and accept your religion as long as you're not trying to "convert" them (then people tend to get offended.) And sometimes, some things are just better left unsaid. BTW, don't worry about going against your beliefs because if you truly believe (not just because that's what your parents force you to believe) then you will not go againt your beliefs.
Hope this helps! [ LuckyLeo's advice column | Ask LuckyLeo A Question ]
SmoothKalyn414 answered Friday November 9 2007, 11:30 am: This is something I came across when I was about 11 or 12. In middle school, we had this club that I was active in called the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A lot of my friends were a part of it, but some weren't. When I would ask my friends why they didn't go to the meetings, they said that they didn't believe in God or that they had another religion.
Everyone has and is entitled to their own religious beliefs and some will compliment/clash your own.
If you are afraid of being shot down, why not start by asking your friends to church with you one at a time. Do it nonchalantly, so they won't feel uncomfortable or disrespected. And if they say no, don't worry! Sometimes it takes a while for people to open up to new things.
Telling them about your faith and welcoming them into the fellowship that is Christianity takes a lot of emotional and physical work.
If all else fails, let them borrow a Christian Rock CD and hear the music for what it is.
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