How to Choose Christian Friends

Walking the Christian path can be lonely without like-minded friends to share your journey. Although religious beliefs alone shouldn't dictate your friendships, it's important to surround yourself with people who won't discourage you from practicing your faith. Having access to friends who understand your core beliefs can make social interactions less awkward for you. It can also encourage you to maintain your values and even help strengthen your beliefs.

Instructions

1. Seek guidance in your decisions. Ask your pastor or another religious figure to help you sort through feelings regarding potential friendships. Explain your reasoning for wanting Christian friends and your desire to stay close to your ideals. Pray for an open mind and heart when making decisions that can affect your views and behaviors. Consult the Bible and other religious reading material for inspiration and confidence when choosing Christian friends.

2. Assess your connections on topics other than religion. Think of the common bonds you share outside of Christianity to determine the worthiness of potential friendships. For instance, knowing you're both baseball fans or share an appreciation for the theater can ensure you have a concrete basis for a friendship. Don't let your desire to have Christian friends leave you surrounded by people you don't particularly like.

3. Ask opinions about controversial issues. Engage in dialogue concerning social and Christian doctrine issues. Although you don't have to agree on every subject, it's important to know that you do share some beliefs. When you don't agree, consider how easy it is for you to still respect each other's opinions. Avoid choosing Christian friends who don't take your feelings seriously and think their reasoning is inherently superior to yours.

4. Study a potential friend's public behaviors. Seeing how people act in public can let you know if they take their religious beliefs seriously. Notice how potential friends treat others and how they react to criticism. Make sure their public persona matches with their personal belief system. Although no one is perfect, it's important to use a critical eye to spot unsavory behaviors. This is especially important if you're a new Christian looking for positive influences.

5. Examine a potential friend's interactions with non-Christians. While many people can put on a happy face in the company of allies, it's important to determine how adversity affects their behavior. Avoid choosing Christian friends who are overly judgmental or who don't respect other people's religious boundaries. There is a difference between witnessing for Christ and being a pest. Knowing the difference can help you avoid being associated with this negative image.

Tips & Warnings

• Attend different churches and religious events to find Christian friends. Assess the overall atmosphere to determine if you feel comfortable in each setting. Take overall personality and demeanor into account when choosing Christian friends. Remember that true friendship is based on mutual respect and likes.

• Avoid dismissing potential friends based solely on single actions. Remember that everyone makes mistakes. Avoid picking friends who are afraid to correct you. Sometimes you need a nudge in the right direction to get back on a positive path.

References

• Christian Advice
• Vertical Thought

Resources

• Cool Christian Friends Community
• Bible Knowledge Tips