Are we as Christians not to have friends who are not members of the church? In other words, can we only associate with Christians?

Pam

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"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NKJV

Hi Pam...

Paul wrote about associations...

1Co 5:9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people--
1Co 5:10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
1Co 5:13 God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."

If you read this in context, Paul was referencing a brother in the church who was sexually immoral and the members were doing nothing about it. He explains that we should not be associating with this brother, but should actually disfellowhip him from our congregation. Hopefully he will realize his sin and repent... then he is welcomed back.

However, this also does not give us permission to have fellowship with non-Christians. It simply means we are not going to be able to avoid associating with non-believers in all cases. This is why Paul said, "...since then you would need to go out of the world." Obviously if you are trying to win a soul for Christ, if you are trying to plant that seed, you are going to be associating with an unbeliever. You may eat with people occasionally that are unbelievers, work with unbelievers, do business with unbelievers, etc., but you would not want to become so close to an unbeliever as to allow them to believe that you accept their way of life. You must project that Christian attitude and life, so that they can notice you are a Christian. We are a peculiar people and we should not fit into the world. You also have an obligation as a Christian to defend the truth at all costs.

Paul later explains that we cannot be unequally yoked or have fellowship with unbelievers...

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
2Co 6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

Notice God said, "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them,".

Isa 52:11 Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD.

Again, occasional association cannot be helped, but too close of an association might cause us to be in the midst of them.

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In Christ,
brother Sonnie