Bible Question: Is it okay to be friends with a false teacher?

Bible Question:I have a friend who is a Jehovah's Witness. She knows the Bible better than I do. Is it okay for me to be with her even if I believe my faith and she believes her religion? What does the Bible say about being with others that don't believe in Him, or are contrary to Him.

My Companions. Now the question that we need to ask, "What is bad company?" God has answered our question in several places in the Bible. First, He has told us not to associate with those who gossip (Prov. 20:19), those who get angry quickly (Prov. 22:24), and even those who claim to be Christians and are immoral in their conduct (1 Cor. 5:9).

He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip. (NASB) Prov. 20:19

Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man. (NASB) Prov. 22:24

. . . I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one (NASB) 1 Cor. 5:11

That sounds okay to most of us. Those who "hang out" or associate with such people will become like them. For example, it is hard not to gossip when your best friend or others are gossiping. Therefore, we should not be surprised that God warns us not to spend time with them.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. (NASB) 2 John 10

That is, we should not invite false teachers into our home. We should not even give them a greeting. We are to avoid those who do not believe what we believe and who attempt to teach us their religion. The message is simple, stay away from false teachers. King Solomon disobeyed and eventually the wives that he married pulled him away from God.

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.” (NASB) 1 Kings 11:1-2

Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that only God the Father, or Jehovah, is God.[1] They do not believe that Jesus Christ is God.[2] They teach that Jesus is Michael the archangel.[3] They teach that the Holy Spirit is a force and not a divine person.[4] They teach that Satan created the concept of the Trinity.[5] They teach that a person is saved by being faithful and not by believing in Jesus Christ as God and Savior. They teach that faith is not enough. Salvation comes through faithfulness or works.[6] They teach that one can be saved only by belonging to their organization.[7] They also teach that Satan created the doctrine of hell and call it a "God-defaming doctrine."[8] They teach that everyone will die a physical death, except for a small number of people known as the 144,000 who will spend eternity with God in His kingdom.[9]

But the Bible does not agree with them. The Bible teaches that God is a trinity. Jesus has always existed as God and still is God, and the Holy Spirit is also God. The scriptures also teach that there is a real Lake of Fire and that everyone will live eternally either with God or in the Lake of Fire. The Bible also teaches that salvation is only by faith and not by works or faithfulness. It is important to notice that it is a lie from Satan himself to say salvation comes through faithfulness. The following passage reveals that anyone who teaches something contrary to what the Bible teaches is to be "accursed."

. . . there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (NASB) Gal. 1:7-8

Unfortunately, your friend does not know the Bible very well. She has been taught a distorted view of the Bible. The Jehovah's Witnesses have a distorted, false understanding of the Bible. We would encourage you to read "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Walter Martin. It will explain the teachings of this cult on pages 79-178. Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult which claims to be Christian.

Conclusion:In summary, there is nothing wrong with sharing your faith in Jesus Christ with others, even false teachers, and people of different religions. But God warns us not to spend very much time with them if they do not believe in Jesus Christ or teach false doctrine.

2. The Truth Shall Make You Free., Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Track Society, 1943 ed., p. 47; "The Word," Who Is He?, p. 20.

4. Let God Be True. Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Track Society, 1946 ed., p. 108.