What do you think about non-believers?

I turn to you with an important question: what do you think of non-believers? I think this is a question we should all ponder! Chuck Colson, founder of the Prison Fellowship in the USA, once answered this question with an analogy: “If a blind man steps on your foot or pours hot coffee on your shirt, would you be mad at him? He himself replies that it would probably not be us, precisely because a blind person cannot see what is in front of him ”.

Please remember, those who have not yet been called to faith in Christ cannot see the truth before their eyes. “To the unbelievers, whose minds the god of this world has blinded, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2. Kor 4,4)But at just the right time, the Holy Spirit opens their spiritual eyes so that they may see. “And may the eyes of your heart be enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” (Eph 1,18)The Church Fathers called this event "the miracle of enlightenment." When this happens, it becomes possible for people to come to faith. They believe because they can now see it with their own eyes. Although some people, despite seeing it, choose not to believe, it is my conviction that most of them will eventually respond positively to God's clear call. I pray that they do so sooner rather than later, so that even in this time they can experience the peace and joy of knowing God and tell others about God.

We believe we recognize that non-believers have misconceptions about God. Some of these ideas are the result of bad examples of Christians. Others have come from illogical and speculative opinions about God that have been heard for years. These misconceptions aggravate spiritual blindness. How do we respond to their unbelief? Unfortunately, we Christians are reacting to the construction of protective walls or even strong rejection. By erecting these walls, we overlook the reality that non-believers are as important to God as believers. We forget that the Son of God came to earth not just for believers, but for all men.

When Jesus began his ministry on earth, there were no Christians yet—most people were non-believers, even the Jews of that time. But thankfully, Jesus was a friend of sinners—an advocate for non-believers. He said, “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick.” (Mt 9,12)Jesus dedicated himself to seeking out lost sinners so that they might accept him and the salvation he offered them. He thus spent a great deal of his time with people whom others considered unworthy and unworthy of attention. The Jewish religious leaders therefore branded Jesus as "a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners." (Lk 7,34).

The Gospel reveals the truth to us: “Jesus, the Son of God, became a man who lived among us, died, and ascended into heaven; he did this for all people.” Scripture tells us that God loves “the world.” (Joh 3,16)This can only mean that most people are non-believers. The same God calls us believers to love all people as Jesus did. For this, we need the insight to see them as "not-yet-believers in Christ"—as those who belong to him, for whom Jesus died and rose again. Unfortunately, this is very difficult for many Christians. Apparently, there are enough Christians who are ready to condemn others. The Son of God proclaimed: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (Joh 3,17)Sadly, some Christians are so keen to condemn non-believers that they completely miss how God the Father views them—as His beloved children. For these people, He sent His Son to die, even though they could not (yet) recognize or love Him. We may see them as non-believers or unbelievers, but God sees them as future believers. Before the Holy Spirit opens a non-believer's eyes, they are closed with the blindness of unbelief—confused by theologically false concepts about God's identity and love. It is precisely under these conditions that we must love them, rather than avoid or reject them. We should pray that when the Holy Spirit empowers them, they will understand the good news of God's reconciling grace and accept the truth in faith. May these people enter into the new life under God's guidance and rule, and may the Holy Spirit empower them to experience the peace that is given to them as children of God.

When we think about non-believers, let us remember Jesus' commandment: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (Joh 15,12)And how does Jesus love us? By letting us share in his life and his love. He doesn't build walls to separate believers and non-believers. The Gospels tell us that Jesus loved and accepted tax collectors, adulteresses, the demon-possessed, and lepers. His love also extended to women of ill repute, soldiers who mocked and beat him, and the crucified criminals at his side. As Jesus hung on the cross and remembered all these people, he prayed: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing!" (Lk 23,34)Jesus loves them and accepts them all, so that they may all receive forgiveness from him, their Savior and Lord, and live in communion with their heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gives you a share in his love for the non-believers. By doing so, you see these people as God's property that he has created and will redeem, despite the fact that they do not yet know the one who loves them. If they keep this perspective, then their attitudes and behavior towards the non-believers will change. They will accept these fellow human beings with open arms as orphaned and estranged family members, who will yet get to know their true father. As lost brothers and sisters, they are unaware that they are related to us through Christ. If you seek to meet non-believers with the love of God, they too can welcome the grace of God in their lives.

by Joseph Tkach