The Word of God is very specific about how Christians are to conduct themselves towards non-Christians.
“Let your word be always in grace, having been seasoned with salt, to know how it is necessary for each one of you to answer.” (Col. 4:6)
Hate speech is not speaking with grace.
“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable...” (1 Peter 2:12)
“It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” (1 Corinthians 5:12 )
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How are Christians to act towards unbelievers? Jesus gives us Christians the answer to that and it is far different from the shunning, rejection, and self-righteous attitude that is so often practiced by contemporary Christians. When we see Jesus engaging pagans and tax-collectors, or any group of unbeliever or sinners, we see someone who gives them huge amounts of time, attention, and grace. So much so that the religious leaders accuse him of being one of those pagans. In Matthew 11:19 Jesus says that they accused him of being a drunkard because he spent so much time with such groups.
Jesus showed unending love and respect to the “pagans and tax-collectors”. He treated them with the dignity that was due someone created in the image of God. What he did was only love them. Are Christians not to do the same?
Aren’t we supposed to love everyone? If so in what way is our treatment of someone who is a tax collector or pagan different from how we treat a brother or sister in Christ?
I agree that it is unfortunate that many Christians have let the vices of arrogance, ignorance, and pride take over them. Christ demanded that we live lives of virtue and love, as he exemplified himself.
“Let your word be always in grace, having been seasoned with salt, to know how it is necessary for each one of you to answer.” (Col. 4:6)
Hate speech is not speaking with grace.
“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable...” (1 Peter 2:12)
“It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” (1 Corinthians 5:12 )
---
How are Christians to act towards unbelievers? Jesus gives us Christians the answer to that and it is far different from the shunning, rejection, and self-righteous attitude that is so often practiced by contemporary Christians. When we see Jesus engaging pagans and tax-collectors, or any group of unbeliever or sinners, we see someone who gives them huge amounts of time, attention, and grace. So much so that the religious leaders accuse him of being one of those pagans. In Matthew 11:19 Jesus says that they accused him of being a drunkard because he spent so much time with such groups.
Jesus showed unending love and respect to the “pagans and tax-collectors”. He treated them with the dignity that was due someone created in the image of God. What he did was only love them. Are Christians not to do the same?
Aren’t we supposed to love everyone? If so in what way is our treatment of someone who is a tax collector or pagan different from how we treat a brother or sister in Christ?
I agree that it is unfortunate that many Christians have let the vices of arrogance, ignorance, and pride take over them. Christ demanded that we live lives of virtue and love, as he exemplified himself.
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)
The "Test of Life" is not whether you can blindly "worship and praise God”. The test in life is whether or not you can live your life according to virtue, and live a life that reverberates waves of positive energy, building people up, as Jesus His son perfectly exemplified. We can choose lives of virtue as is God's will, or to choose lives of selfishness, arrogance, and other vices which have led to the plague of humanity we have found on earth. If people choose vice, that is their choice. Do not judge them (1 Corinthians 5:12 ). But He sent Jesus as a prime example of virtue so that we could see the light and choose it, instead of poisoning the earth with lives of darkness. Many, including even "Christians," have failed in this regard. But Christianity is supposed to be the message of love, hope, faith, unity, and virtue, that creates heaven on Earth.
The "Test of Life" is not whether you can blindly "worship and praise God”. The test in life is whether or not you can live your life according to virtue, and live a life that reverberates waves of positive energy, building people up, as Jesus His son perfectly exemplified. We can choose lives of virtue as is God's will, or to choose lives of selfishness, arrogance, and other vices which have led to the plague of humanity we have found on earth. If people choose vice, that is their choice. Do not judge them (1 Corinthians 5:12 ). But He sent Jesus as a prime example of virtue so that we could see the light and choose it, instead of poisoning the earth with lives of darkness. Many, including even "Christians," have failed in this regard. But Christianity is supposed to be the message of love, hope, faith, unity, and virtue, that creates heaven on Earth.
