Do we or do we not let go of our bad friends that don’t have a relationship with God?

  

This will be my last question and answers post (for now) 🙂 I’ve had a really good response to this series and I’m so grateful for all you who actual takes the time out to read my posts and comment. I am super grateful. You are amazing!!!

Lets get started…

This is probably one of the most difficult decisions we face as a Christian. Do we or do we not let go of our bad friends (friends that are having a bad influence on you) that don’t have a relationship with God?

The answer to this question in my opinion is yes and/or no. I know you thinking, wow thanks Lynne, that helps! (not!!!) lol. But wait I’ll explain the yes and no part seperately.

Why i say, “Yes”.

I’ll start by sharing my story when i had to make this decision. I made the decision to serve God when i was 16 years old. So you can already imagine all the temptation and things i faced being that age and in high school. It didn’t help that i had friends who would still smoke and drink around me and then offer it to me (knowing that I no longer wanted to do those things). I don’t blame them though because they didn’t experience the God encounter that i had. So they didn’t understand why i needed/wanted to stop. There were many many occasions when i would give into temptation (again, i don’t blame my friends). This went on for about 2 years because i thought i was strong enough to say no but boy was i wrong. And funny enough God warns us about this in the bible.

PROVERBS 12:26

THE RIGHTEOUS IS A GUIDE TO HIS NEIGHBOUR, BUT THE WAY OF THE WICKED LEADS THEM ASTRAY.

–

Here God pretty much warns us that we will not be strong enough to say no. I even had people in my life that tried to convince me that i was still “too young” to be a born again Christian. Even though i knew for a long time that i should let go of some people, i didn’t(because i loved them). But it was just after high school that i did because it was easier as we all lead separate grown up lives.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:33

DO NOT BE DECEIVED: “BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD MORALS.”

–

The question is, why would you put yourself in the centre of temptation? Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can be strong and say no. It’s more likely for bad company to corrupt you than you as a Christian to influence them. This is a really sad reality but it happens more often than we would like. God will reveal to you if you need to let go of people in your life and who you need to hold on to. And this brings me to…

Why i say “No”.

If you look back at the first part of the first scripture i posted it says that, “THE RIGHTEOUS IS A GUIDE TO HIS NEIGHBOUR”. There are people in your life that don’t know the love God like you do. And you might be the only person that can share and lead them to that love. God knew long before we did, who will be in our lives.

Going back to my story, before i got saved there was obviously someone that invited me to church. That person was my friend Kim, she was someone who answered no to the question on topic. Out of our group of friends, she was the ONLY born again Christian. Imagine how hard it must’ve been for her to stay friends with a bunch of sinners. But she remained faithful to God and she definitely was one of the strongest people i knew. She honestly never gave into any of the temptation that we threw at her. She was some kind of super girl lol. She always invited us to youth and church and we always said no! (for a very very long time). She never gave up though and it only took one visit to church to change my life forever.

And this is why i say no, we shouldn’t let go. If you are like Kim, and know that God can use you to influence people in your life and remain strong, then keep being the light in dark places.

MATTHEW 5:13-16

“YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH; BUT IF THE SALT HAS BECOME TASTELESS, HOW CAN IT BE MADE SALTY AGAIN? IT IS NO LONGER GOOD FOR ANYTHING, EXCEPT TO BE THROWN OUT AND TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT BY MEN. “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY SET ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN; NOR DOES ANYONE LIGHT A LAMP AND PUT IT UNDER A BASKET, BUT ON THE LAMPSTAND, AND IT GIVES LIGHT TO ALL WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

–

I hope this post has shed some light on the topic. (Remember that everything i write is in my own opinion and of my own life experiences.) And like i said in my previous post, sometimes God allows those people we have let go, to come back into our lives when we are ready.

If you have any ideas on some questions that i could answer, please drop a comment. I might just keep the series going 😉

Keep shining your light and don’t let anyone try and put you under a basket.

And…

Remember,

You are loved!