What do you think about non-believers?

483 like think glibs about non-believersI 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 that people who have not been previously called to believe in Christ cannot see the truth in front of their eyes. "To the unbelievers to whom the God of this world has blinded their minds from seeing the bright light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is in the image of God" (2. Corinthians 4,4). But just in time, the Holy Spirit opens their spiritual eyes to see. “And he (Jesus Christ) give you enlightened eyes of heart, that ye may know the hope to which ye are called of him, how rich is the glory of his inheritance unto the saints” (Ephesians 1,18). The Church Fathers called this event "the miracle of enlightenment". When that happens, it becomes possible for people to believe. They believe because now they can see it with their own eyes. Although some people, despite seeing eyes, choose not to believe, it is my belief that most of them will respond positively to God's clear call at some point in their lives. I pray that they will do so sooner rather than later so that in that time they can experience the peace and joy of knowing God and sharing God with others.

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 - most people were non-believers, even the Jews of that time. But thankfully Jesus was a friend of sinners - an intercessor of unbelievers. He said, "It is not the strong who need a doctor, but the sick" (Matthew 9,12). Jesus committed himself to seek out lost sinners to accept him and the salvation he offered them. So he spent a large part of his time with people who were considered by others to be unworthy and unworthy of attention. The religious leaders of the Jews therefore labeled Jesus as “a glutton, a drunkard of wine, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7,34).

The gospel reveals the truth to us: “Jesus the Son of God became a man, living among us, and died and ascended into heaven; he did this for all people”. Scripture tells us that God loves "the world." (John 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 willing to judge others. The Son of God proclaimed, "For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him" (John 3,17). Sadly, some Christians are so zealous in judging nonbelievers that they completely overlook the way God the Father views them - as His beloved children. For these people he sent his son to die for them, even though they could not (yet) recognize or love him. We may see them as unbelievers or unbelievers, but God sees them as future believers. Before the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of an unbeliever, they are closed with the blindness of unbelief - confused by theologically incorrect concepts about God's identity and love. It is precisely under these conditions that we must love them instead of avoiding or rejecting them. We should pray that when the Holy Spirit empowers them, they will understand the good news of God's reconciling grace and embrace the truth with faith. May these people enter the new life under God's direction and rule, and may the Holy Spirit enable them to experience the peace that is given to them as children of God.

As we ponder non-believers, let us remember Jesus' commandment: "This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I love you" (John 15,12).” And how does Jesus love us? By sharing his life and love with us. He does not erect walls to separate believers from unbelievers. The Gospels tell us that Jesus loved and accepted publicans, adulteresses, demoniacs, and lepers. He also loved the women of ill repute, soldiers who mocked and beat him, and the crucified criminals at his side. As Jesus hung on the cross and commemorated all these people, he prayed: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 2 Cor3,34). Jesus loves them and accepts them all so that they may all be forgiven by Him, as their Savior and Lord, and may 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