Hello Kay. I can't think of anywhere in particular that forbids us having friends who do not believe in the true Jesus or His Word. Every friendship, unless one is weak in faith & might easily be led astray from truly following the Lord, has great potential to minister the Gospel of Grace to the hearer. Their lives might be touched with your love, your prayers for them, & your Spirit-led counsel.
The one Scripture that comes to mind is 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers...". Here, the command from the apostle is to not enter into a union, contract, marriage, or partaking of anything ungodly that they do. And I believe that believers are well able to maintain that stance of love & friendship, while their friend should understand that we also have a directive to follow, from our Lord. And with a very close contact with an unbelieving friend, the Gospel is often best preached by an exemplary life of the believer, an overflowing faith in the Person of the Godhead, & an abundant life of victory & joy when things around you might be coming undone. Any friendship, especially with an unbeliever, must be ungirded with the genuine love of God & concern for their well-being. They will notice this rather than always feel that you have ulterior motives for that friendship, i.e. to try & convert them. Of course, you can't convert them, only the Holy Spirit can; but your life & answers from the Word of God will have the greater impact. So friendship with all people, of all persuasions, should be good & encouraged - you might be the only light from God that they see & the place God wants you to be.
2John 1:5-11, James 4:4-5, I'm reminded of 2Kings 20:12-18, Isaiah 39:1-7, Micah 7:5, Proverbs 19:4,= Job 19:14, Proverbs 14:20, Psalms 38:11,
Proverbs 19:7, Luke 21:16, Proverbs 19:6, Proverbs 18:24, Proverbs 27:6,
Even Jesus friends : Mark 3:21, Zechariah 13:6, Psalms 41:9, Luke 7:34, Matthew 11:19, Matthew 26:48-50
John 15:14-26, Job 42:10, -after = ( Job 32:3 ), Mark 5:19, Luke 14:12-14,
Hopefully these are helpful for wisdom in your love & wisdom towards GOD, your friends & close friends
The one Scripture that comes to mind is 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers...". Here, the command from the apostle is to not enter into a union, contract, marriage, or partaking of anything ungodly that they do. And I believe that believers are well able to maintain that stance of love & friendship, while their friend should understand that we also have a directive to follow, from our Lord. And with a very close contact with an unbelieving friend, the Gospel is often best preached by an exemplary life of the believer, an overflowing faith in the Person of the Godhead, & an abundant life of victory & joy when things around you might be coming undone. Any friendship, especially with an unbeliever, must be ungirded with the genuine love of God & concern for their well-being. They will notice this rather than always feel that you have ulterior motives for that friendship, i.e. to try & convert them. Of course, you can't convert them, only the Holy Spirit can; but your life & answers from the Word of God will have the greater impact. So friendship with all people, of all persuasions, should be good & encouraged - you might be the only light from God that they see & the place God wants you to be.
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