Why fit in?

I have a friend. He's got some issues. He's stunningly attractive and comes from a wonderful home. He's got everything every guy wants to be and every girl wants to be with. But he's wasting his precious time doing things he doesn't benefit from. How do I tell him it's not getting him anywhere? That he'll look back, and wish he'd stopped himelf? He comes from a beautiful Christian family and truly has some great beliefs and sense in him. But it's being buried under so much dirt that's becoming his life. How do you bring someone back from that sort of thing? If you jump on his case about it, he'll be likely to get defensive and do it even more. But you can't consider yourself a friend if you let it happen. Something that's seemed to work in the past for me, is to ask questions. Why? What are you getting? Do you really think it's right? Whether they answer or not, the person thinks and relfects on the questions. They answer for themselves. With any luck, they come to their own realization about what they're really doing. From personal experience I know that once caught up in sin, the devil takes over your mind and builds a wall prevent any true senses and knowledge from crossing your mind. Which is what people become defensive when you confront them. They're afraid of accepting what they're doing is wrong because of the guilt that normally follows. By asking questions, though, they tend to reflect for themselves and break down the wall. Although I can't say it happens all the time, it's pretty much the best you can do. Always assure them you'll be there when they need you.

I have another friend. He's absolutely incredible, and I adore him. I have unbelievable respect for him, and yet I'm terrified for who he may become. From the people he hangs out with and his character, he would easily fit in with the (for lack of a better term) wrong group. I know he hangs out with people who could wrongfully influence him. I also know how daring he is. Sometimes he's like my brother and I want to protect him as one, but sometimes he's so much more, and it would absolutely break my heart to see him stumble. I'm not sure about his faith. He goes to church, and comes from a wonderful home, but that doesn't make you live a Christian life. He's never done anything horrible; he's a great kid. But he's been very tempted and led by the devil. I know it shouldn't bother me what he does and doesn't do, but I honestly care for him more than anyone I can think of on so many levels. He's a beautiful person with an uplifting attitude, and I would hate to see any of it go to waste. The problem is, I don't know how to keep him out of trouble. I've tried talking to him, but he's shut me out, or just blown it off. How can I really get him to see the beautiful person he is? So he's comfortable being himself and can rest assured he doesn't need anything to make him better?


More to come on this topic.