Heyhellohi17: Hello friends! I am seventeen years old and relatively new to the faith. I converted to Christianity about three months ago. Now that I’ve introduced myself, I honestly just need advice about how to go through high school without stumbling too often. I have started to be encouraged to do certain things (drink, smoke weed, have sex, etc.) by all of my friends. When I express discomfort or say that I don’t want to do these things, they laugh in my face or tease me. I realize that I’m not hanging out with the best people for growing my faith, but I just started at a new high school and was basically alone until I met these people. I don’t know how to make friends in high school or deal with all the social pressures. Obviously I don’t want to participate in these things, but sometimes it feels like the pressure’s too much. I feel a lot of pressure to be accepted by my peers and do what everyone else is doing, even though I know it’s wrong. Any advice on how to avoid stumbling or falling into these things? Thanks! High school is just so confusing to navigate, I could honestly write a million posts on here.
Daniel:
I have started to be encouraged to do certain things (drink, smoke weed, have sex, etc.) by all of my friends.
None of these things are inherently wrong to do. Drinking and smoking cannabis are not condemned by Scripture. And sex is only wrong to do if it's outside of marriage or with someone of the same sex.
I don’t know how to make friends in high school or deal with all the social pressures.
Don't be friends with unbelievers. (James 4:4)
Any advice on how to avoid stumbling or falling into these things?
Yeah, fear God, and believe His word.
SammyArtichoke: Agree with you on the first point, disagree on the second and third.
Daniel: You disagree with me on not being friends with unbelievers and on fearing God?? I'm not saying you can't hang out with unbelievers now and then, but why would you want to call them friends? Why would you want to spend substantial time with them? And why do you have a problem with fearing God? Scripture is clear: the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10 i)
SammyArtichoke:
You disagree with me on not being friends with unbelievers and on fearing God??
Um, ya?
I'm not saying you can't hang out with unbelievers now and then, but why would you want to call them friends?
Because there are people worth being friends with within every ideological group? Because you don't want to live in an echo chamber? [Seriously]?
Why would you want to spend substantial time with them? And why do you have a problem with fearing God? Scripture is clear: the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10)
I cant imagine fearing something that apparently loves also me. There's an issue there.
Daniel: James 4:
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Job 23:
13 “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him. 15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him. 16 For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me;
SammyArtichoke: Uh the bible is also pro-slavery and anti-women. You don't have to take everything at face value.
Daniel: It's not "pro-slavery" but rather it does not forbid slavery.
It's not "anti-women" but it is sexist.
SammyArtichoke: [Haha], what?
Daniel: Believers are not encouraged to become slaves or to take slaves, but they aren't prohibited from such either.
Scripture is not against women, but there are different rules and roles for women. The world calls this misogynistic, but the world is passing away. (1 John 2:17 ii)
SammyArtichoke: Ya, that's called being pro slavery. Ya, that's called being anti women.
Daniel: You're of the world.
SammyArtichoke: Better than being pro slavery and anti women.
Darwin: "He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed." (Prov. 13:20)
"The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray." (Prov. 12:26)