Information Related to "Friends Don't Let Friends..."
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On
a recent trip, the slogan on a T-shirt caught my eye. It read, "Friends
don't let friends eat farmed salmon." The phrase grabbed my attention.
I, too, prefer to eat wild salmon, and I think it tastes even better
when I catch the fish myself. But it wasn't just the fishing connection
that hooked me. It was also the concept of friends looking out for each
other.
Perhaps you've also seen or heard the phrase about friends not letting friends do bad things. I've heard "Friends don't let friends drive drunk" and "Friends don't let friends do drugs." Perhaps you can add to the list. The underlying concept behind these phrases is that each of us has the responsibility of helping our friends keep out of trouble and harm—to stay on the right path and avoid the wrong.
But telling friends that they are doing something detrimental is hard
to do, and many believe they should support their friends no matter
what their choices. Furthermore, most people don't want friends who
will tell them that they are doing something they shouldn't be. According
to motivational speaker Andy Andrews, "When asked what they want in
a friend, 80 percent answer, 'Someone who accepts you as you are'"(The
Seven Decisions video). Most simply want friends who will support
them no matter what they do.
What all of this means is that slogans about friends not letting friends do something they shouldn't are asking people to go against the majority opinion. So which is it? What should a real friend do? Rather than looking to human opinions, let's see what the Bible says about friends correcting friends.
God's Word tells us that friends are supposed to support each other. As Job explained, "Those who withhold kindness from a friend forsake the fear of the Almighty" (Job 6:14, New Revised Standard Version). Almost everyone can agree that being kind to a friend is important, but how do we do this?
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