Expecting Righteousness From Those Who Do Not Know The Righteous One?

[Tressa]

Here is something I have been thinking about lately...

Should we expect those who do not know Christ to be kind and considerate towards us? When we run into those who do not share our Faith, we can get offended when they are rude or "spit" on us with their words. Then we seek to avoid such people, or have such people removed from our lives. It happens in real life and online.

But I can't help but think of the early church....those early Christians who went from city to city - often running into mobs and other (often violent) opposition....if they had left in a huff...would the Gospel have spread as far as it did?

And God revealed to us already the state of the unsaved. Romans 1:28-32. It's not pretty. The only reason we are any different is because of Christ. He is the one that saves us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It seems strange that we expect those in darkness to behave as if they were in Light (John 1:1-5).

I myself have let myself be hurt and offended by unbelievers responses to the sharing of my Christ. I have needed to remind myself that they do not know Light. Instead of getting angry back.....are not such cases a chance to really show Christ as He is? A few might come to salvation....

Just some thoughts on our interactions with unbelievers. Do ya'll have anything to add?

 

[Major]

Here is something I have been thinking about lately...

Should we expect those who do not know Christ to be kind and considerate towards us? When we run into those who do not share our Faith, we can get offended when they are rude or "spit" on us with their words. Then we seek to avoid such people, or have such people removed from our lives. It happens in real life and online.

But I can't help but think of the early church....those early Christians who went from city to city - often running into mobs and other (often violent) opposition....if they had left in a huff...would the Gospel have spread as far as it did?

And God revealed to us already the state of the unsaved. Romans 1:28-32. It's not pretty. The only reason we are any different is because of Christ. He is the one that saves us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It seems strange that we expect those in darkness to behave as if they were in Light (John 1:1-5).

I myself have let myself be hurt and offended by unbelievers responses to the sharing of my Christ. I have needed to remind myself that they do not know Light. Instead of getting angry back.....are not such cases a chance to really show Christ as He is? A few might come to salvation....

Just some thoughts on our interactions with unbelievers. Do ya'll have anything to add?

When we respond with anger towards anger two things are taking place.

1.
Through our re-actions we are allowing someone else to control our feelings. They in effect have us right where they want us.

2.
We show our ignorance when anger overpowers our lack of knowledge.

Notice any friend that you have who cusses a lot. The perfect example is that person uses profanity to cover up his lack of intelligence. Same thing happens rite here on this site. Some will get blustered and come across as mean spirited and angry when in fact they are just not able to communicate with the same level of knowledge as are some other people. It is really a type of "bullying"
If you think about it.

 

[autumn oddity]

"Should we expect those who do not know Christ to be kind and considerate towards us?"

absoultley not, but still there are some who are still polite.. and regardless of what you believe, if you were raised well, I think it will reflect in how you treat others. I also think , you don't neccessarily have to know Christ to be kind to others..some of the most kindest people are unsaved. And usually, its those that are holier than thou that ,"sancitified and saved' that treat people the worst... there are pastors out there that treat their congregation like crap..and these are pastors,people who are supposed to be closest to him

But I understand what you're saying though, in a way I don't expect it but they end it being the kindest people.

 

[God calls me Olivia]

Here is something I have been thinking about lately...

Should we expect those who do not know Christ to be kind and considerate towards us? When we run into those who do not share our Faith, we can get offended when they are rude or "spit" on us with their words. Then we seek to avoid such people, or have such people removed from our lives. It happens in real life and online.

But I can't help but think of the early church....those early Christians who went from city to city - often running into mobs and other (often violent) opposition....if they had left in a huff...would the Gospel have spread as far as it did?

And God revealed to us already the state of the unsaved. Romans 1:28-32. It's not pretty. The only reason we are any different is because of Christ. He is the one that saves us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It seems strange that we expect those in darkness to behave as if they were in Light (John 1:1-5).

I myself have let myself be hurt and offended by unbelievers responses to the sharing of my Christ. I have needed to remind myself that they do not know Light. Instead of getting angry back.....are not such cases a chance to really show Christ as He is? A few might come to salvation....

Just some thoughts on our interactions with unbelievers. Do ya'll have anything to add?

Hi Tressa,

Often a person who reaches out in anger is really seeing if there is any true love. If they will be loved at there worst, then they will know that they are truly loved, which will be more powerful to them than a million words because what they are seeking is to find genuine love. As believers our first concern should not be convincing someone. Rather it should be loving them because when we love we will know by the Spirit of God what they really need. Out of love is just acting in the flesh and the words will be without power. We can use God's words from his Spirit which is realizing that "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). When we talk and write out of God's love we can express the life in God's words because we are living in His life for when we walk in love we know God.

If an unbeliever asks a question and we answer with love they will be more likely to listen and hopefully get saved. Our main goal should be helping people to salvation, rather than stopping an offense. Thank God Jesus didn't come down to condemn us. Otherwise no one would be saved. Rather he came to save us.

When we talk with other believers as well we must also talk from God's love. 1John 4:7-4:8 says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." To really be speaking truth therefore, we must speak from love for God is truth and the truth is that God is love.

 

[Tressa]

"Should we expect those who do not know Christ to be kind and considerate towards us?"

absoultley not, but still there are some who are still polite.. and regardless of what you believe, if you were raised well, I think it will reflect in how you treat others. I also think , you don't neccessarily have to know Christ to be kind to others..some of the most kindest people are unsaved. And usually, its those that are holier than thou that ,"sancitified and saved' that treat people the worst... there are pastors out there that treat their congregation like crap..and these are pastors,people who are supposed to be closest to him

But I understand what you're saying though, in a way I don't expect it but they end it being the kindest people.

I hear you. There are many kind and unsaved people - I have run into several. I am referring though to that small percentage that is rude or angry or brash....the vocal ones who may be unpleasant in general or to Christians specifically - and how we are to treat them.

And as for those pastors....sounds like a case or religiosity instead of Spirit filled Life in Christ!

 

[Tressa]

Hi Tressa,

Often a person who reaches out in anger is really seeing if there is any true love. If they will be loved at there worst, then they will know that they are truly loved, which will be more powerful to them than a million words because what they are seeking is to find genuine love. As believers our first concern should not be convincing someone. Rather it should be loving them because when we love we will know by the Spirit of God what they really need. Out of love is just acting in the flesh and the words will be without power. We can use God's words from his Spirit which is realizing that "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). When we talk and write out of God's love we can express the life in God's words because we are living in His life for when we walk in love we know God.

If an unbeliever asks a question and we answer with love they will be more likely to listen and hopefully get saved. Our main goal should be helping people to salvation, rather than stopping an offense. Thank God Jesus didn't come down to condemn us. Otherwise no one would be saved. Rather he came to save us.

When we talk with other believers as well we must also talk from God's love. 1John 4:7-4:8 says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." To really be speaking truth therefore, we must speak from love for God is truth and the truth is that God is love.

Amen!