Is it okay to be friends w. the LGBTQ+ community?
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They said that because friends can influence you for good or bad. But this should be applied to everybody - including Christians - and not just the LBGTQ+.
Proverbs 12:26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character."
When I was a teenager, I made the wrong choices of friends. But God used that horrible situation to turn me to Himself. I got saved when I was 17!
When that happened, I studied the Bible, asking God to help me understand what He is trying to teach from it. These verses are some of the ones that taught me to choose my friends carefully from then on.
I don't know if you're a Christian, but I learned that genuine Christians (not just those who say they are) make good friends. They live lives that please God and are good influences to help you live right.
They're not boring either! Godly Christians friends are actually very active. Besides work/school, they continue to do sports and other fun recreational activities (bowling, roller skating, mini-golf, etc.). They also participate in church outreaches - those are actually pretty fun too. And instead of taking drugs and drinking alcohol, they'll do creative hobbies instead.
In regard to the LGBTQ+, they will try to get you to accept their lifestyle, try to get you to choose that over God and the standards He set for us. And they're very hostile to anyone that opposes their ungodly lifestyle. If you're not strong in Christ, they will try to shame you into accepting their lifestyle. It's especially during the teenage years, when peer-pressure is strongest, that shaming works.
But the way I see it, the shaming only works if you care to be accepted by them and want belong with them. If you had godly Christian friends and if you love God and make Him first in your life (He really does love you!), their shaming won't work on you at all.
I pray that God guides you and protects you as you make new friends in your social network!
🥙
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I had a best friend during most of my teen years. Before we met he was into bad stuff. He got saved, and we met shortly thereafter.
I had already been a Christian for a year. He stayed sober, regularly attended church, etc... when we hung out. He knew I had zero tolerance for anything he did in his past.
But there were times when he backslid and the First thing he did was go back to his old friends, and disappear from me.
He knew if, by hanging out with me, I'd put him in his place for the things he chose. But if he went to his old, non saved friends, they'd be there to help him indulge in his old sinful habits.
The thing is he'd eventually come around to his senses and quit hanging out with his old friends, and come back to hanging out with me.
He did this because he knew by himself he'd just fall right back again. And he couldn't live right and be friends with his old crew. So he called his Christian friend back to help get him back in line.
Now what you need to ask yourself is, which type of friends do you want in this story? The type that will help you to fall away, or the type that supports you to do better?
I had already been a Christian for a year. He stayed sober, regularly attended church, etc... when we hung out. He knew I had zero tolerance for anything he did in his past.
But there were times when he backslid and the First thing he did was go back to his old friends, and disappear from me.
He knew if, by hanging out with me, I'd put him in his place for the things he chose. But if he went to his old, non saved friends, they'd be there to help him indulge in his old sinful habits.
The thing is he'd eventually come around to his senses and quit hanging out with his old friends, and come back to hanging out with me.
He did this because he knew by himself he'd just fall right back again. And he couldn't live right and be friends with his old crew. So he called his Christian friend back to help get him back in line.
Now what you need to ask yourself is, which type of friends do you want in this story? The type that will help you to fall away, or the type that supports you to do better?
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If you know someone who is warring against God (all of the alphabet crowd are warring against God), it is okay to be kind to them and share the gospel with them and to be a good neighbor to them, but it would be a poor choice to make a community that is warring against God the place you choose to go to hang out.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This verse emphasizes the importance of uplifting and supporting one another on our spiritual journey.
Proverbs 27:17 states "Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This means that we can sharpen our faith by being around others who challenge us to grow closer to God.
In Acts 2:42-47, we see how early Christians gathered together regularly for teaching, worshiping God through prayer and singing hymns together. They shared meals and possessions with each other out of love for their fellow believers.
It seems it would be the wiser path to hang out with fellow Believers as you do on this site and there are many other Christian Community Forums.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This verse emphasizes the importance of uplifting and supporting one another on our spiritual journey.
Proverbs 27:17 states "Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This means that we can sharpen our faith by being around others who challenge us to grow closer to God.
In Acts 2:42-47, we see how early Christians gathered together regularly for teaching, worshiping God through prayer and singing hymns together. They shared meals and possessions with each other out of love for their fellow believers.
It seems it would be the wiser path to hang out with fellow Believers as you do on this site and there are many other Christian Community Forums.
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If you are a mature Christian, that knows these are sinners in need of Jesus, and that the activities they engage in are sinful, and your convictions about that won't be shaken, and you want to present the Gospel to them, then I would say it's ok to be in their presence.
But if you are NOT a very mature Christian, there is a distinct possibility they will influence you, and your beliefs.
Do you believe that what they advocate is sinful?
But if you are NOT a very mature Christian, there is a distinct possibility they will influence you, and your beliefs.
Do you believe that what they advocate is sinful?
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the people who said absolutely not may believe this--
He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Prov 13:20)
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Cor 15:33)
choose your friends carefully, child. they exercise a profound influence, whether for good or ill.
Lord bless you, my dear.
ps-- the absolutely not crowd, i hope, aren't saying that because of the particular sin involved. our closest friends, those whom we spend the most time with, shouldn't be rebels against the Most High God in any fashion.
He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Prov 13:20)
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Cor 15:33)
choose your friends carefully, child. they exercise a profound influence, whether for good or ill.
Lord bless you, my dear.
ps-- the absolutely not crowd, i hope, aren't saying that because of the particular sin involved. our closest friends, those whom we spend the most time with, shouldn't be rebels against the Most High God in any fashion.
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Pastors love to preach sermons....
And the church services often make a pastor's sermon the centerpiece of the service over and above everything else.
BUT
Even if you were to listen to a year's worth of sermons it still doesn't change your normal day-to-day behavior much at all. But a day with friends? Your behavior shifts almost immediately to conform to what your friends think and do. Even if you don't do or like the same things your friends do.
Actions from temporary emotions can have permanent life changing effects.
This is something that young people have the hardest time understanding. It's why they indulge in tattoos, piercings, recreational drugs, risky behaviors, and sexual activities. And where not every time immediate effects are perceived....they still are happening. Like a little piece of a dam holding back a reservoir of water. The leaks are coming...and eventually the dam will collapse. It just isn't always immediate.
Things can happen like falling in love with the wrong guy or girl based on the wrong ideals.
Friendships should be more deliberate than organic. School and jobs forces friendships on us....but if you are wise friends should be made with objectives in addition to simply finding a break from the loneliness. Not financial or political gain...but encouragement and expectations of morality.
Seeking friendships among those with obvious moral turpitude is in complete contrast to this. They will constantly barrage you with loosening your morals instead of increasing them in non-direct ways.
And the church services often make a pastor's sermon the centerpiece of the service over and above everything else.
BUT
Even if you were to listen to a year's worth of sermons it still doesn't change your normal day-to-day behavior much at all. But a day with friends? Your behavior shifts almost immediately to conform to what your friends think and do. Even if you don't do or like the same things your friends do.
Actions from temporary emotions can have permanent life changing effects.
This is something that young people have the hardest time understanding. It's why they indulge in tattoos, piercings, recreational drugs, risky behaviors, and sexual activities. And where not every time immediate effects are perceived....they still are happening. Like a little piece of a dam holding back a reservoir of water. The leaks are coming...and eventually the dam will collapse. It just isn't always immediate.
Things can happen like falling in love with the wrong guy or girl based on the wrong ideals.
Friendships should be more deliberate than organic. School and jobs forces friendships on us....but if you are wise friends should be made with objectives in addition to simply finding a break from the loneliness. Not financial or political gain...but encouragement and expectations of morality.
Seeking friendships among those with obvious moral turpitude is in complete contrast to this. They will constantly barrage you with loosening your morals instead of increasing them in non-direct ways.
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Coffee Jelly,
I admire your tender heart that wants to do the right thing. Otherwise you would not have asked . You asked people from your Mom's church and now here too. 🙂👍
I have had more experience working with and being around LGBTQ people than most. I will be brief because I am at lunch.
When I was a young child I was assaulted by a "gay" man while simply walking down the street and in front of my house, he smashed my head against a steel water meter and nearly killed me. That was my first experience with a flamboyant jovial adult homo. The attack was unexpected and unprovoked. I didn't do or say anything to even make him mad from what I could tell.
My best friend told me that another one of them did unspeakable things to him. This was a trusted young man in the neighborhood who liked to dress up as a woman for Halloween. He molested some of the boys and girls in the neighborhood. That's what the LGBTQ community does.
In highschool I was offered a full scholarship to a college of acting. It would have saved tens of thousands of dollars but I turned it down .
Why did I turn down the free college tuition and fees, the chance to become a famous actor some day? I was grossed out by the men who hit on me growing up and in my teens. I never wanted to go near them, but school, work you have to be around the LGBTQ s. They will smile and act friendly around you and then lie about you to others to make them look better. This is normal for them. Why? They are morally depraved beyond the average person. They made decisions in life that were so over the top that eventually God turned them over to a reprobate mind. Instead of agreeing with God's truth, they decided to turn to Satan's lies.
What's extremely dangerous is that we tend to be influenced by those we hang out with.
We don't change them or influence them. Human nature is that the individual conforms to the group. That is why we must seek good Christian friends in a church that preaches hard against these LGBTQ sins.
I could give a dozen more examples of different LGBTQ coworkers and business experience, but I think that's enough for now.
All I can say is that sooner or later, every one of them had such serious moral character flaws that I never want any of them hanging around me. That doesn't mean that I don't treat them properly in casual work/ shopping situations. I will try to lead them to Christ before any of those fake Christians that have attacked me for my bias on this and another forum. You will find someone who thinks you should hang out with them online or in person. They are absolutely wrong and that person is not right with God.
I'm not preaching to you my friend. I'm just trying to be a blessing to you so you don't experience the trauma that millions of other girls have experienced from those kind of people. Remember Eve in the garden?
The Devil was friendly and convincing. So are his followers. They don't even know that they do his will.
What they do has been confirmed by the Bible in every case. From the violent attacks, drugs use, rejection of God and hatred for His people, stealing, gross discussing perversion, these are not the kind of friends I want to ever have. If someone is a perv and wants everyone to know so he makes it obvious, I don't want him to touch a glass or coffee cup in a restaurant where I go. I'd rather turn around and leave than get some awful disease from him serving food or touching silverware. I don't care how friendly and gay they act, they know they do vile things and people don't like them. That's why they constantly try to gain acceptance. Because what they do and identify as is a major sin.
If what they did was ok with God and normal, then they wouldn't have fought Christians so hard to be liked and accepted, would they?
The link is a chapter that describes what the LGBTQ community is like. It starts in Verse 17 through the end of the chapter.
If I were you, I would do what you already know is right. Then you need to find a good church that has a preacher who preaches against these sins and others. That actually leads to good friends and happiness in the long run.
I hope this helps and feel free to ask if you have any other good questions like that. Ok?
Have a great day!
🍵🙂👍
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On any issue we need to know what God's word has to say:
"You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God." James 4:4
'Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”' 1 Corinthians 15:33
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts," 1 Corinthians 6:9
Would you be friends with a crime gang that robbed people in their homes? Would you be friends with drug dealers, brothel owners or those who proclaimed that Christianity is evil? Sin is sin. Don't fall for the lies and deception of the alphabet soup of sinful lifestyle choices. They won't fool God, that's for sure. Don't let them fool you.
Everyone is a sinner and God loves sinners. Jesus seeks to save them from their sin, not save them so they can continue in their wicked lifestyle. He forgave the adulterous woman, but also said she needed to not sin again.
"You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God." James 4:4
'Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”' 1 Corinthians 15:33
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts," 1 Corinthians 6:9
Would you be friends with a crime gang that robbed people in their homes? Would you be friends with drug dealers, brothel owners or those who proclaimed that Christianity is evil? Sin is sin. Don't fall for the lies and deception of the alphabet soup of sinful lifestyle choices. They won't fool God, that's for sure. Don't let them fool you.
Everyone is a sinner and God loves sinners. Jesus seeks to save them from their sin, not save them so they can continue in their wicked lifestyle. He forgave the adulterous woman, but also said she needed to not sin again.
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The way I take it when it comes to the LGBTQ community is that God tells us not to be judgemental because that is up to Him. Now, yes, the Bible does say not to be a part of that community. So, I would say respect it, but do not support it. The Bible says when you are around people you become like those people. So, I would say that being friends is okay only if you preach the Word of God to them and tell them the truth about all that gender stuff. Just remember that when doing that, you must not be judgemental and you must be kind and compassionate. I once had a friend who was secretly part of the LGBTQ community because she did not want to disrespect me. I eventually found out and I was very sad, because I know that it is in the wrong, but I guided her in the right direction and now she is not a part of that community any more and has given her life to Christ! I hope this helps! God bless!
Dear Coffee Jelly,
I think that is a really great question. I absolutely understand why you might be confused and unsure about what to do here. Since you asked for an opinion, I will do my absolute best to give you my full and honest explanation. Please be mindful: I am a Christian who is based in the Netherlands. The Netherlands have a very open view towards the LGBTQ+ community. I, myself am a Christian lesbian. I do understand how that might confuse people. I was saved before realising my sexuality. I try to the best of a man's ability to live by the word of the Lord Himself. Everyone is allowed to have their own interpretation on Christianity, this is always based on people's upbringings and personal preferences. I sincerely hope no one is offended by me. If so, I deeply apologise indeed. My personal interpretation is that Jesus wants us to love and be pure of heart. And I promise you with every humble cell in my body, i will never love a woman in a sinful way. If I happen to fall in love with a member of the same sex, I always make sure this love is fully consensus, pure and respectful. Of course there might be cases of people in the LGBTQ who are sinful, that counts for other people as well. It is not up to us humans to judge eachother on what is right or wrong. Only our almighty Father in heaven has the right to do so. We humans are to be loving and respectful to anyone who crosses our paths.
Much love, BJ
I think that is a really great question. I absolutely understand why you might be confused and unsure about what to do here. Since you asked for an opinion, I will do my absolute best to give you my full and honest explanation. Please be mindful: I am a Christian who is based in the Netherlands. The Netherlands have a very open view towards the LGBTQ+ community. I, myself am a Christian lesbian. I do understand how that might confuse people. I was saved before realising my sexuality. I try to the best of a man's ability to live by the word of the Lord Himself. Everyone is allowed to have their own interpretation on Christianity, this is always based on people's upbringings and personal preferences. I sincerely hope no one is offended by me. If so, I deeply apologise indeed. My personal interpretation is that Jesus wants us to love and be pure of heart. And I promise you with every humble cell in my body, i will never love a woman in a sinful way. If I happen to fall in love with a member of the same sex, I always make sure this love is fully consensus, pure and respectful. Of course there might be cases of people in the LGBTQ who are sinful, that counts for other people as well. It is not up to us humans to judge eachother on what is right or wrong. Only our almighty Father in heaven has the right to do so. We humans are to be loving and respectful to anyone who crosses our paths.
Much love, BJ
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The Netherlands view is simply irrelevant in view of scripture. The bible makes it clear that what the LGBT group stands for is sinful. Believing ones love is 'pure and respectful' doesn't make homosexuality acceptable.
This is not a matter of personal interpretation, either.
Also continued promotion of this would could potentially get you banned from the site, especially teaching it to teens.
Here's a link to a variety of scriptures speaking on homosexuality.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/homosexuality
This is not a matter of personal interpretation, either.
Also continued promotion of this would could potentially get you banned from the site, especially teaching it to teens.
Here's a link to a variety of scriptures speaking on homosexuality.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/homosexuality
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