Why Its Easier to Make Unbelieving Friends?

I have noticed making Christian friends except in Charismatic circles, is like dating, you gotta put on your best outfit and go on a ton of dates before you even get to be a friend.

In contrast, unbelievers become instant friends. Much like when you were kids, “your favorite color is blue?! We be best friends.” (Seinfield). Only replace blue with anime, fantasy realm, sports, and etc.

Why is it so much easier to make friends with unbelievers? Why do church people act like you gotta attend Bible Study two years before they give you the time of day?

Jesus ate with sinners, and hung with the rejected yet repentant group of Fishermen, Tax Collectors, and Prostitutes. In contrast, Jesus hated the religious caste, giving them many woes (Matthew 23).

Its sad, you want fellowship with other Christians, but the church culture is prove yourself worthy to be a friend like you are dating.. and life is short. So then people wonder why more Christians marry unbelievers and hang with Atheists they ought to consider its because they arn’t willing to go through the worthy examinations to be a friend.

Something’s gotta change.. even Muslim converts to Christianity despair, losing their families for the faith and finding no community and family in Christ so they often fall away and go back to their blood family. (How Islam Plans To Take The World, William Wagner).

Sigh.

1. because in the unbelieving world, it's, "do what you want, when you want & where you want"! "no holds barred"!
2. because the world is on "triple check mode". Christians have to guard individual, family, church, corporation, etc. they righteously need to know!

2. Then the wrong kind of fear has won..
Did not Jesus say,
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28).

I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think that view is entirely accurate. Yes, Christians are sometimes persecuted or hurt by those closest to them—even within the church. However, it’s also true that many believers have found genuine and loyal friends among other Christians. The ones that persecute us are few and far between in the church itself. And though no one likes to suffer, sometimes the suffering or mistreatment a Christian endures can even lead to repentance or change in the person who caused the harm, often after the Christian has passed away. So, while pain and betrayal do happen, deep and lasting friendships are also possible, and God can use difficult situations for good in ways we might not expect.

I was thinking on this last night and came to a similiar conclusion. We Christians judge by an eternal standard, that is we want to invest in relationships that will carry over to the next life, while for Secular people this life is all there is and it is short so they are more open to making friends fast.

My issue though is this nitpicking of Christian friends to see if they are worthy is liable to exasperate many Christians, especially new believers and thus makes them chose Secular friends instead.

I wish it could all be like it is on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where denominations fade away and people are fast friends… sigh.

The denomination I belong to still do that . We have an open to all meeting on a Sunday morning , the we have refreshments , then we have a breaking of bread meeting . None members r allowed to attend the breaking of bread but , we don't encourage it . Our Wednesday evening Bible class is also open to all . Sadly I don't go there any more as I married out of my denomination which they don't allow . I knew that when I joined so it's not their fault it's my own .

I have noticed making Christian friends except in Charismatic circles, is like dating, you gotta put on your best outfit and go on a ton of dates before you even get to be a friend.

In contrast, unbelievers become instant friends. Much like when you were kids, “your favorite color is blue?! We be best friends.” (Seinfield). Only replace blue with anime, fantasy realm, sports, and etc.

Why is it so much easier to make friends with unbelievers? Why do church people act like you gotta attend Bible Study two years before they give you the time of day?

Jesus ate with sinners, and hung with the rejected yet repentant group of Fishermen, Tax Collectors, and Prostitutes. In contrast, Jesus hated the religious caste, giving them many woes (Matthew 23).

Its sad, you want fellowship with other Christians, but the church culture is prove yourself worthy to be a friend like you are dating.. and life is short. So then people wonder why more Christians marry unbelievers and hang with Atheists they ought to consider its because they arn’t willing to go through the worthy examinations to be a friend.

Something’s gotta change.. even Muslim converts to Christianity despair, losing their families for the faith and finding no community and family in Christ so they often fall away and go back to their blood family. (How Islam Plans To Take The World, William Wagner).

Sigh.

Could it be most who call themselves Christian aren't really?

I have noticed making Christian friends except in Charismatic circles, is like dating, you gotta put on your best outfit and go on a ton of dates before you even get to be a friend.

In contrast, unbelievers become instant friends. Much like when you were kids, “your favorite color is blue?! We be best friends.” (Seinfield). Only replace blue with anime, fantasy realm, sports, and etc.

Why is it so much easier to make friends with unbelievers? Why do church people act like you gotta attend Bible Study two years before they give you the time of day?

Jesus ate with sinners, and hung with the rejected yet repentant group of Fishermen, Tax Collectors, and Prostitutes. In contrast, Jesus hated the religious caste, giving them many woes (Matthew 23).

Its sad, you want fellowship with other Christians, but the church culture is prove yourself worthy to be a friend like you are dating.. and life is short. So then people wonder why more Christians marry unbelievers and hang with Atheists they ought to consider its because they arn’t willing to go through the worthy examinations to be a friend.

Something’s gotta change.. even Muslim converts to Christianity despair, losing their families for the faith and finding no community and family in Christ so they often fall away and go back to their blood family. (How Islam Plans To Take The World, William Wagner).

Sigh.

Brethren by any chance?

Nope 😁 guess again 😆😆😆

Not important. I'm nosy.

I could tell u but then I'd have to erase your memory 🥴 I don't attend any more and it's doubtful I ever will but I still believe the same things as I did when I did attend . Also , my faith has increased a lot since the last time I was at a church service . Just because a person doesn't go to church doesn't mean that they don't know the Truth . I
do misss the breaking of bread and singing hymns and hearing a good Bible based sermon but it was my choice so I live with it .
I can't attend another church as so many congregations believe things that I don't and I can't pretend to believe something that I really don't . So , this site is my only fellowship and I'm grateful to b here ❤️

Had a real deep theological discussion with my Atheist friend yesterday. Its a shame I have to have those discussions with them, when a brother and sister in Christ would probably react and ghost me..

Sigh O Church please get back to Jesus’ Rabbi ways where you can ask lots of questions and have different views without “biting and devouring one another.”

As Augustine of Hippo says,
“On Essentials Unity, On Non-essentials Liberty, In All Things love.”
I hardly get love from brothers in debate.. I have had them say horrible things.. when my Atheist friend who doesnt even trust in Christ is civil with me on disagreeing.

Oddly I find it no problem to talk to Christians about just anything. Atheists, now... There are very few cool atheists. There are a few though.

Off the top of my head there are four possible explanations for the discrepancy between your and my experiences. One of them has already been mentioned in this thread, and I consider it the most probable.

Oddly I find it no problem to talk to Christians about just anything. Atheists, now... There are very few cool atheists. There are a few though.

Off the top of my head there are four possible explanations for the discrepancy between your and my experiences. One of them has already been mentioned in this thread, and I consider it the most probable.