I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 KJV
As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord
In the book of Proverbs it states several times to be careful who your friends are. Several references are made to the idea that you will become like who you associate with. It even says in a different passage "Don't be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits". Usually when someone says something more then once, it means they mean it....LOL.
I had made some comments at one time that were twisted around by someone and they believed I was saying something I wasn't about having friends. My intent in what I said was nothing of the sort, however, people do tend to take something out of context when they don't understand what is being said and don't bother to get an explanation. For that reason, I just overlooked that insult and went about my business. I do think the idea of being friends and just being friendly should be looked at, because some seem to get it confused and think its the same thing.
To me, being friends means to become closer to someone through communication of some sort, sharing stories and information, and spending time together forming a relationship. Being friends involves becoming connected to that person on some level and having common interests. Applying this logic to the verses in the Bible, the conclusion I come to is that God is telling me NOT to form relationships and become connected to those whose lives and habits are destructive, because it could very well hurt me too.
Being friendly, on the other hand, is having a general respect for others as human beings. To treat them with kindness and love. To understand that everyone is different, not everyone will follow the things you follow and to have enough respect for them as a person not to judge them. I haven't seen anything in my Bible speaking out against being friendly. I haven't seen one verse saying only associate yourself with one group of people and snub out everyone else. In fact I have seen quite the contrary...I can't think of the reference right now but I know that one verse says "In as much as is within you, be at peace with everyone". I may have the wording wrong but the idea is to get along with everyone to the best of your ability.
In my life, I have not formed strong friendships with those that get drunk for fun. I haven't formed strong friendships with those that use drugs on a regular basis. I have not formed close friendships with those that break laws and have no respect for authority just because they think they can. However, just because I am not close friends with someone, that does not mean I can't be friendly with them. I will talk to anyone, I will listen to anyone that needs a listening ear, and I will help anyone that it is within my ability to do so. I have chosen not to pursue close relationships with some people because as they say (or maybe it was my father...lol) You can't play in the mud and not get dirty. At one time I did "play in the mud" and during that time I made some very shameful mistakes that I still regret to this day. I made some decisions to do things that were against myself, God, and my family and I still wish I could take those decisions back.
I take Gods warnings seriously, he says to be careful who you hang around because you will become like them if you stay long enough. I have already proven those words once in my life and its with my head hung low that I say, I wish I would have heeded those words sooner!