Of course male/female friendships have the potential to be complicated, compromising or unhealthy. Sadly, all human relationships have this potential. Why? Because they are relationships between sinful humans.

Friendship is no exception. And of course, close male/female friendships between two people who are not married to each other have the potential to develop into something ungodly and unloving. None of us should be complacent about the way that sin crouches at the door to our hearts, minds and relationships, eagerly chomping at the bit to master and control us. (More on the implications of that later).

However, that a particular friendship has the mere potential to become sinful is not a reason to automatically avoid, prevent or flee from the very possibility of that friendship. After all, for those who have been united to Christ, whose hearts have been renewed, who are in-dwelt by the sanctifying Holy Spirit, the potential for sin does not inexorably lead to the inevitability of sin.

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