A True Friend?

Friends.  We all have them.  There are different types of friends - old friends, new friends, work friends, childhood friends, imaginary friends, and best friends.  And there are "church" friends. 

Lyra Kate has friends at church.  She asks everyday if it's church day so she can see her friends.  She's only three, so we don't have a lot of play dates yet.  She only sees these friends at church and small group meetings.  She loves spending time with her church friends.  She talks the rest of the day about them. 

Lots of church people are like this.  They have "church" friends that they see on Sundays and at small group meetings.  They really like these people.  They enjoy being with them...for the most part.  But they keep these "church" people at arms length because it's hard to be "themselves" when they are with them.

The mark of a true friend is someone who accepts you no matter what stage of life you are in - and that includes your spiritual life as well.  Your church friends should be like kin - besides, we are all blood kin through the blood of Christ.  We should focus on building each other up, encouraging each other, and praying for each other.  Your church friends should be there when you need them, in times of celebration or in times of need.  We should be real with them and we should be accepting of them.  We should be quick to forgive and restore.  We should not gossip or be divisive among our church friends.  And we should be honest. 

So, what type of friends do you have - "church" friends or true friends?  And what type of friend are you?