In God: My Responsibility to the Non-Believer
As a Christian I have to ask myself what is my responsibility to the non-believer.
Empirical Christian studies would suggest the process is to inform the non-believer of all the ways they are sinning. The goal appears to be to tell them to stop being sinners and, through this helpful corrective education about their actions, for them to turn to God. I should be concerned, and probably offended by their sinful ways. Empirical Christian studies suggest that this hasn't been a particularly successful strategy.
In my biblical Christian studies I find the process suggested by Jesus is to meet individuals, accept them without reservation, identify a need, provide for that needs, and move on. The goal is introduce them to a loving god by being an example of that love. I should be concerned about loving them and having an opportunity to help them move closer to a spiritual birth. Biblical Christian studies suggests that this was a wildly successful strategy.
It seems to me that if I was able to get a non-believer to stop sinning they would still remain spiritually dead. If I introduce them to God they may have opportunity to be spiritually alive -- which is the only way to open the door for the Holly Spirit to begin transforming them.
As a Christian I have to ask myself what is my responsibility to the non-believer. I have come to the conclusion that I should measure every encounter by how much love and support I show and whether I have moved the person's heart close or farther from God.
Posted by Paul Gernhardt on Sunday, September 21, 2008