SPSA Church Giving (opens in a new tab)

Questions & Answers

Relationships

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Youth, Dating and Friendship › Relationships

The question

Why is it wrong to have a relationship with someone from another religion? Is it the influence? Could Your Grace please explain.

The answer

What kind of relationship do you want to have with this person? Is it just being colleagues, classmates or more like friends? In choosing our friends we need to find those who will help us get closer to God and obey His commandments. In anything we do, we should have our Lord in mind. St. Paul says "do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31). Having a relationship with such a person will entail making compromises. You might come to situations when you have to conform to this person and be influenced by different beliefs or behavior. As a child of God, keep yourself safe and choose your friends from among godly people who will help you grow spiritually in the Lord; without deviating from His path.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1210 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.