"I Don'T Hang Out With People Like That"

[Calm]

when you're a natural introvert bordering on recluse?

It all makes sense now....!

[Calm]

I'd say just do your best to keep the wheat from the chaffe and proceed without giving it a second thought.

Well said....somehow I've managed to use up 50 rep points so must say something instead.

[followerofemmanuel]

I had an experience the other day that was a real eye-opener.

There's an individual in my ward who I had been friends with for quite some time until recently. There was a time when my family stopped being active in the church and she stopped talking to me. I have since began going to church regularly, and she moved on to a single's ward, so she didn't know I had started going to church again. Well, the other day I decided to text her and ask her what was going on -- she stopped talking to me and I wanted to know if we were still friends. She responded: "Well, you don't go to church anymore. And I don't hang out with people like that." She went on to say that she refuses to be friends with those who don't believe the same things she does, because, according to her, those people bring her down.

Why do you think some Church members have this attitude? Anyone who is not active in the Church seems to be looked down upon by some other "worthy" members. That's not meant to be a blanket statement, but there are quite a few Latter-day Saints who act like this (at least in my experience). Have you had similar experiences, and what do you think we can do to help open these people's eyes?

We all "sin and fall short of the glory of God" Roman 3:23

I remember when I decided to follow Christ. I was so excited about my faith but in my effort to try and do everything right and protect myself from potential "dangers" I made mistakes. I cut people out of my life that looking back now I realize could have stayed involved in their life in other ways. Instead I lost my opportunity to be a positive influence and witness to Christ. In my desire to change the choices I made, I threw away relationships because of the lifestyle they lived and because I wanted to walk away from it. Anyway, regardless of her thinking, we know we can all make decisions that can hurt others. Thank God for grace and the opportunity to repent and where possible make things right.

,

[Damien the Leper]

I think it's a good attitude to have if an inactive attitude brings one down. I don't think it should be communicated though, even when asked for such as your case. It would be better if she could move to a point where she could more easily be in the world but not of the world because the injunction is to be the salt of the earth.

If such is a defense mechanism then I want no part of that defense. Christ did not respond as such and neither should we.

[Stargazer]

If such is a defense mechanism then I want no part of that defense. Christ did not respond as such and neither should we.

Something to strive for, yes. When I one day finally do everything in the way Christ would have me do, well, I will probably be writing you guys a postcard from heaven.

[Damien the Leper]

Something to strive for, yes. When I one day finally do everything in the way Christ would have me do, well, I will probably be writing you guys a postcard from heaven.

Amen! But we should still strive toward this.

[Stargazer]

Amen! But we should still strive toward this.

Agree wholeheartedly.