That’s it!

The question is, how do you live with unbelievers?

Unbelievers, that is, those who do not consider Jesus as Savior, come in all kinds: Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jains and more, plus agnostics, atheists, and some who just never had any religious exposure while they were growing up.

People who do not yet know the good news are beloved human beings whom Jesus was willing to die for. If they are that valuable to Him, we had better regard them as just that valuable. We are called to love them and help lead them into the Kingdom.

What unbelievers do not desire from us is unsolicited advice on how to behave in a Christian manner. What has often happened is that we Christians have brought out the elements of sanctification and tried to give them to, or force them upon, unbelievers. That is not what they need.  What unbelievers need first is that miracle, that extraordinary invasion by the Creator into a corrupt and broken world—the sacrifice of Himself for all, with the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. That is, they need salvation.

Believers should strive to be better conformed to the image of Christ, which is to be sanctified. Having such a goal and lifestyle is a good thing. But pushing it on the unbeliever in some vain hope that they’ll thank you and begin acting like a believer is not only ineffective, but it drives people away.

Jesus said people should know we are His followers because of the way we love each other.

And Paul said,

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to 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.”(Ephesians 4:1-3, NKJV)

The way we often fail with unbelievers—or not-yet-believers—is that we get the “grow in holiness” before the “God forgives.”

It is easier to be self-righteous and condemning than it is to love people into the Kingdom. But the truth is, Jesus loved us into the Kingdom, and that is what He wants to do through us for those who don’t yet know of God’s love and forgiveness.

So back to the question, “how do we live with unbelievers?”

We love them, love them, love them.

That’s it!

We don’t share our religion. We don’t compete with other religions. We share this extraordinary gift from God, that while we were yet sinners, God loved us. Jesus died for us, so that the forgiveness of sin is free to us and others, though of great cost to the one who made us. This love, this sacrifice for us, this forgiveness, is available to anyone, anywhere on the planet, right now! All anyone has to do is say yes.

We live with unbelievers the same way we live with believers: We love them as Christ loved us.

In Him,
Pastor George