There are certain Christians who do things that really grate on my nerves. I have a very difficult time being around them and find it very difficult being nice to them. Is it okay to avoid them?

It's true that we are going to have certain people who we are closer to than others. Jesus had a closer, more intimate relationship with three of His twelve disciples; yet He still loved and spent time with the others. Notice these two sections of Scripture that I feel apply to your situation:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(Eph. 4:1-3 NKJ)

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
(Col. 3:12-14 NKJ)

The phrase, "bearing with one another," is referring to putting up with the faults of others. We must not only forgive people who offend us, but we must also be willing to spend time with them.

Remember, Jesus sees more faults in us than we see in other people, yet He loves us and spends time with us anyway. It is good to have best friends, but we must be willing to accept everyone in spite of their idiosyncrasies.

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