What Should You Do If Your Friend No Longer Wants to Be a Christian?
What should I do if my friend doesn't want to be a Christian anymore? Should I speak up or stay silent? James has some advice.
These final words in chapter 5 bring us to the close of James’ letter. In them, James lays out some practical advice to leaders in the church and also reveals his heart behind the words he writes.
He does not correct the rich rulers and challenge the poor who are dispersed abroad for the purpose of elevating himself and bringing others down. He does so because he fears for their souls. He is modeling exactly what he calls his readers to do.
It is a difficult thing to see someone wandering away from the faith. Once, they were excited to follow Jesus. Now they seem to have little use for him.
They have stopped praying, attending church, and have distanced themselves from other Christians. Because this all tends to happen rather gradually, it’s often hard to know how to respond.
What Should You Do?
What do you do when the person who used to sit next to you in church is no longer there? Is it your place to speak to them? Will they get mad at you if you do?
The reason we have these fears is that we have probably seen this happen in the past and do not want it to happen again. We’re caught in an uncomfortable situation. But here James calls us to do what is not easy and reach out in love.
If you know the person well, it might be a simple coffee invite where you are up front with them and say something like, “Listen, I love you as a brother or sister in Christ, but here are a couple of things I have noticed. Talking about this is not comfortable for me, but I felt I needed to check because I care about you. I also want you to know that regardless of any decisions you make, I’m still your friend.”
Something like that.
Love, Love, and Love
Sometimes these meetings go well. Other times, they do not.
But if we do our part and preface them with a lot of prayer, speak out of a heart of love, and continue to be their friend regardless of their life choices, it is amazing how God can use us to speak into someone else’s life.
The key is to keep focused on James' main point and have a love for others that is dynamic, not just theoretical. One that is action-based and that cares for others when they stray from the faith.
