Light to the Light and Salt to the Salt?

Who ever turns on their high beams while driving at noon on a sunny day? Christians, well, figuratively speaking. I learnt from one of my Church's 
teaching pastors that within 2 years of being a Christian, most people have 
ONLY Christian friends. AKA, a little Jesus club of sorts. I know some people 
who would chime in and say: "I spend time with a lot of non-christians on a regular basis" aka.....they are viewed as projects; little corners of darkness 
in their otherwise shadowless world. They aren't really "friends", they are co-workers that are put up with, friends of friends that are avoided, ex-friends that are merely a stinging reminder of a life lived pre-Christianity. They are looked upon with sadness labelled "love" or "my heart goes out to them". It's as if we 
go around and advertise how salt of the earth, or light of the darkness we are without really showing it. It's like going into a home store to look for a lamp that is labelled: "Brightest lamp ever!" but you can't ever turn it on and experience it's warmth- there's no sample light out anywhere; you're intended 
to stand back and wish JUST WISH, you could somehow be as warm and lampy as that- and when you are...well.....as if you're own light isn't enough, THEN you get to experience theirs'. 


What is going on? Who said it was a good idea to be light to light and salt to salt? Why can't Christians be friends with non-christians? And not: "I'm only you're friend so I can lead you to Christ and feel like a better Christian" version of friend which is not genuine at all- but a true friend. You actually hang out, listen to their stories even if they heaven forbid-curse. It doesn't mean conform to a style of life you're not comfortable with, it means truly taking the chance to invest in someone that isn't a youth group leader, or former vbs go-er. A lot of people might disagree with me, and if they do I beg of them: show me the biblical evidence. There is nothing wrong with being a genuine friend to someone whose worldview differs from yours. Be blessed by a different perspective, and allow them to be blessed by yours. Keep your friends with common views close and lean on them when you need to- but don't succumb to the false ideaology that you and your friends are really a club- and only Christians are allowed.

Saying too much, meaning too little

I often overlook the meaning of simple vows. At Church we have been going through the book of Ecclesiastes, and the guidance in chapter 5 has left me stricken with reality. I often vow, and am vowed to, in a manner now worthy of the title vow; it should rather be called "a fleeting, brown-nosing, way of agreeing to something so you shut up and leave me alone". How often does this occur to one another, and to God?


I won't dive into details, because I believe every person does comits this act of "empty vows"; but I can quickly identify areas where I have given empty vows simply to seem agreable, or to avoid questioning or conflict. Maybe I should just say no. "No, I don't want to do that" as opposed to the usual: "Yeah, that sounds good....". I do it all the time, not even in situations where I don't want to, but in situations where I know I can't- because I fear the way I might make someone feel rejected. When you experience this yourself, you learn that an empty vow is much more displeasing than no vow at all. 


Where do I get all of this from? "It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. ⁶ Do not let your mouth lead you into sin." -Ecclesiastes 5. 


Obviously God has really sealed these words into my mind. I am looking at my life, my society, my view of things and realizing how disgustingly empty every vow seems to be- and how horribly backwards the vows we stick to seem to be. I often stick to vows I think will make me appear more presentable and void the vows that mean the most- the vows I make to others. The small ones, and the big ones. So here's my latest vow to everyone:
         if I commit to something, I will to hold to it; the big things, the small things. If 
         If I cannot, will not, or do not want to do something, I will not say I can or will           
         or might. I will try to make my vows that are emotional mean something, if I tell 
         you I love you- I will try to show it and not just say it and leave it visibly void.
         I will not write checks my ass can't cash. :-)