A lot of Christians struggle with peer pressure, and when someone asked legendary evangelist Billy Graham what he should do when old friends "tempt me to do things that mess up my life," Graham says it's about time he reassesses the kind of friends he truly has.
"One reason they keep pressuring you, I suspect, is because they don't want to be told that they're actually on the wrong road in life. In other words, they're convinced they are right and everyone else is a fool. But the Bible warns, 'A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good' (Proverbs 16:29)," he writes in an article for The Kansas City Star.
According to Graham, that man has two problems. The first is his "so-called" friends, which Graham sincerely hopes he will be able to face honestly and deal with using God's help.
"Yes, you call them 'friends,' but are they really?" questions Graham. "A true friend wants to help you, not tear you down. But these 'friends' are only interested in themselves. To put it bluntly, you need to leave these 'friends' behind and seek some new friends."
He quoted the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 15:33: "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'"
The other issue, says Graham, is the person's inability to resist temptation and do the right thing. "This is why I urge you to turn to Jesus Christ and commit your life to him. God loves you, and if you give your life to Christ, he'll come to live within you by his spirit, and help you live the way you should," he says. "Then ask Him to lead you to friends who can help you grow strong in your faith."
