Q&A Home > F > Friendship

• First: I am applying to dental schools and I am so confused which college should I accept. I want to go to a good school in a good state where my dad can find a job and my brother would want to live; and with a good church that has activities. At the same time, my friend lives in another state and I want to apply for a school there to be close to her. However, the church there does not have lots of activities and even my friend has changed so much lately. She is no more a kind loving person. Her parents do not want her to talk on the phone and I think she has put herself into some trouble. She is not open and friendly to me any more as she used to be. I do not want to ruin my academic life because of her. However, I feel sorry to lose her as a friend. What shall I do? How can I recognize God's voice in that matter?
• How can I make friends with people who are far away from God living an ungodly life while still keep myself away from sin and also try to bring them closer to God? Will God work through me even if I'm not worthy because of my many very bad sins and weakness of spirit? Should I just forget about everyone I meet and stay away from them completely without trying to do anything for them?
• I am a very sociable person. A lot of people like me. At my work, there is a small group of girls who have invited me to go to a small gathering at one of their houses. There will be a few girls and a couple of boys. It is hard for me not to be friends with these people. However, I feel that I am doing something wrong. What should I do? Cutting down on bad friends will mean ending up with a very few number of them and I like to be sociable. Please be practical with me when advising me what to do.
• I am wondering how much interaction with the opposite gender is sinful. I am 25 years old but realize that I am not ready for marriage yet because I still have a couple classes left before I have my bachelor’s degree, and after that, I will still need to find a well-paying job. Is it ok to have friends of the opposite gender? Can I see them outside of the church in group settings where our conversations and interactions are always heard and seen by the others? Is it ok to have two female friends if I have four male friends? I have thought that it is ok before, but one of my male friends spoke about the subject with me recently, and now I am re-evaluating the circumstances for my interactions with women.
• I am worried about my friends, who are a big part of the youth group at my church. Lately they have been doing inappropriate things. What is worse is that their parents know, but do not bother. Please tell me what I should do besides praying.
• I have a very close friend of the opposite gender and we love each other as friends; and we've spoken about keeping our friendship pure. We've become very close and we sometimes hug. Although neither of us feels lust, I wonder if what we are doing is wrong.
• I’m going through a very hard time in my life, I feel extremely depressed, and I have been depressed for a while. I feel like I’m not interested in anything in life, even though my work is going extremely well, and everything else is also going well. I feel that I don’t have friends at church because there are no friends that are my age, so I always feel lonely and I don’t like to be friends with people outside the church because their behaviors will push me away from God. I really don’t know what to do; I have been going through this hard time for about 3 years now. Even when I go for vacations, I still feel that I’m lonely and by myself; I only have my parents with whom to talk. I personally like Coptic hymns and I love teaching them, but again, I feel that the kids that I teach do not have any interest in Alhan, and I only have 3 kids to teach. I thought about Immigrating to another country, but I really do not want to leave my parents; also, immigration is not an easy thing.
• My friend always expects me to help her in everything she asks for. When I do not do it she hurts my feelings by saying insulting words. I get so angry, so how do I deal with her?
• My friend is Coptic Orthodox. He thinks that going to a theme park is a waste of time and money. I offered him a free ticket to come with me to the theme park. He says that the money that is spent on tickets should be better used donated, even though this particular place has many charity events, scholarships, job opportunities, etc. What should I tell him to convince him to join me?
• The friends I hang around with are of a different religion and they are great friends. However, I feel that because of our different religions, it's made me lack trying to be more faithful and more in contact with God. With saying that, I have opened up to my close friend about wanting to become more spiritual and religious in terms of reading the Holy Bible, having greater knowledge, attending church more, fasting, etc., and she has been very supportive of this, but I just don't know whether it's still ok to be friends with others who practice different religions, considering they will always believe something that's against my own belief.
• What is your suggestion if someone, a really close friend, is on and off in his relation with me to a point that is really confusing me?
• When I came to the states three or four years ago, I faced the problem of how to make friends. At church, friends my age are cynical, critical and manipulative. Outside church, friends are unchristian, worldly and dangerous. How do I make friends in this new country?
• When you come across people who are not all too good a company, what should one do under the light of Christian teachings?