5 Types of Toxic Christians You May Meet

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There is a quote from motivational speaker Jim Rohn that says: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Think about that for a moment. As a Christian, who are you really surrounding yourself with all the time? Are you sharing your energy with close friends that also love the faith? Or could you possibly be giving up some of your time to those who aren't actually on the right path to God?

The Bible for years has been telling us to surround ourselves with Christians that will help strengthen our faith in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:33, which states “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”

Without even realizing it, you may be friends with toxic Christians. These are the people who are lackadaisical about their faith, are discontent during church service, or use Sunday School only as a means of daycare. They aren't putting God first in their lives, and it could be affecting you.

Here are the types of toxic Christians you may meet, why they are so bad for your own faith, and how to move away from them.

The Political Christian

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These are some of the easiest toxic Christians to spot because they are very vocal. These are the types of Christians who are incredibly involved with how the government is run, and they believe that the Bible is the basis for their political party. They will manipulate words of the Bible to defend whichever side of the aisle they are on, and encourage other Christians to do the same. They believe that if someone votes in the way opposite of how they would, then they must not be a Christian at all.

Jesus does not want us to use Him as the face of our political agenda. He is not to be a tool to further a candidate’s win. Really at the end of the day, both political parties go to church and God views all of them just the same. He loves them all the same. Don't get sucked into a political Christians lengthy monologue, and instead change the subject.

The Filtered Christian

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Some people believe that for Christians some topics of discussion are completely off the table. For instance, one would never discuss sex with another Christian because that is considered "dirty". Mental illness, for example, is another topic that should be kept hush-hush and only worked on in the home. The church is not a place for these kinds of conversations, because God wouldn't want to hear it.

God wants to hear all of our questions no matter how strange or taboo you think they may be. The church should have these types of difficult conversations because it makes the whole community stronger. Don't let another Christian shame you for asking. It shouldn't be uncomfortable because Jesus has nothing to hide.

The Lazy Christian

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You might see these types of Christians only in church on days they deem important; most notably Christmas and Easter. These are the Christians that sit in the back row of the church and doodle on their bulletins as the preacher shares his sermon. They don't participate in church activities yet are quick to be the first ones in line for fellowship brunch.

Being a Christian is not something that should only be important when it's convenient. God should be at the center of your life and you should consistently work to build a relationship with Him. When you surround yourself with Christians that are lethargic about their faith, that negativity wears off on you as well. It’s important that you instead encourage the lazy Christian to be more active in their faith. Maybe you try and invite them to your next Bible study for example.

The Perfect Christian

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You probably know this Christian quiet well. They follow all of God's commands to a T, and because of this they think they are that much better than everyone else. They judge other Christians for their lack or morality and will shame others by saying they will never get into heaven. They think that their good works are so grand that God sees them as the best thing sense sliced bread.

No matter how perfect you are or how many good deeds you complete, God will never love one of His children over the other. You don't have to be perfect to receive God's love. God appreciates those that come to Him and admit their sins, because only then can He make them brand new. Don't worry what the so-called perfect Christian may think of you. It's only God's judgment that matters.