How can I Befriend Others when I Disapprove of their Immoral Lifestyles?

Last time, my friends were inviting me to join them to go for clubbing. It wasn’t a surprise invitation; been there before. It was fun and happening. But for that moment – I have to say ‘NO’. 1) Because I’m tired and I need to rest, 2) I don’t like being in a loud place for a very long time, 3) I can compromise with alcohol smell but not cigarette smoke, and 4) I’m easily tempted by sexy girls! Therefore, after my last wild visit, I resolved not to go to clubbing since then. Take note: I refuse to go to clubbing because I know that, for me, little faith I am, the environment of that place will always tempted me to fall back to my old sinful lifestyles NOT because of the primitive mind-set that says ‘whoever go clubbing are sinners’. That's so not true! [Come to think about it; isn’t church is full of sinners too, even more?]

Here is my stand on this matter; I disapprove my friend’s immoral, sinful lifestyles such as heavy drinking, sex outside marriage, gambling, pornography addicted etc. Yet, for the sake of God’s grace upon them (and how God’s grace have works in me) I continue to befriend because I believe that it is the right thing to do as a forgiven sinner and as a Christian friend. No doubt some have walk away in the friendship; it is unavoidable, but as long as they are still open with what’s right and wrong – there’s still hope. Befriend them.

Do not make a mistake if you thought that Jesus only enjoy the company of ‘good’ people, churchgoing people and hang out with ‘holy’ people only. He sometimes, most of the time, hang out with immoral people. He hangs out with everyone – the good and the bad alike. Jesus, the Son of God, the Holy One of Israel, the perfect man found those who appeared to be the furthest from Him and ministered to their needs. For example, read how Jesus approached Levi (Matthew), the tax collector, who, the Pharisees and the people accused a sinner because of his immoral lifestyle;

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:14-17NIV, bolded mine)

Following Jesus’ example means looking past people’s behavior to their souls. Look at them not as a useless sinners but as someone whom Jesus’ died on cross for. Ronald A. Beers writes, “It takes special effort to love those you disapprove of, but they are the people who most need a godly friend. Your faith in God and your obedience to his ways shouldn’t separate you from the ungodly – in fact, it qualifies you to reach out to them and serve them with love.”

How can I befriend others when I disapprove of their immoral lifestyles?

THINK BIG Look to Jesus and how He befriend you

START SMALL Look to Jesus and start to befriend others

GO DEEP Look to Jesus, really look to Jesus;
befriend others, but never fall into their immoral lifestyles – look to Jesus