How To React With Non-Christians

It is hard watch someone you love struggle in life-especially when you feel like you know the answers they need. We know we have a responsibility to lovingly confront other Christians about certain sins they might be blind to in their lives. But what about non-Christians-what right do we have to comment on their lifestyles? 

Matthew 18:15-20~

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.  

16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 

 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

19 "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.  

20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

 

● If someone doesn't know Christ, then that person is spiritually blinded.

We shouldn't chide unbelievers for making decisions that go against God's Word. They don't know any better. We can't expect unbelievers to live up to our standard when the Bible isn't their guide for living. 

 

● When you're tempted to judge another person, think about where you would be without Christ.

You'd probably be in exactly the same spot your unsaved friend is in-or worse. 

Judging someone shows justice without mercy-something Jesus never did. 

God's Word gives us the authority to judge right from wrong but not the permission to go around judging others. 

 

● Get at the root, heart issue. 

In Brooke's case, her brother's root issue is that he needs Jesus in his life. Don't be distracted by the moral issue on the surface-whether that's cohabitation, homosexuality or abuse of alcohol. 

Jesus always say past a person's external issues to their spiritual need. 

In John 4, Jesus acknowledged the Samaritan woman's external  sin (five marriages and cohabitation), yet he didn't dwell on that;he went straight to her true need: living water. 

Once a person gets Jesus in their life, their other issues will get worked out over time. We can be confident that the Samaritan woman made some lifestyle changes after she met Jesus-

but only after she met Jesus. 

 

● Make your life attractive and irresistible to non-Christians. 

Show your non-Christian friends that God has a better way. They are watching closely to see if your life is going any better than their lives. 

 

● Leave the results to God.

Jeremiah talked to the Israelites about repentance for years and never say any results. It was his job to speak up, and he fulfilled God's expectation of him. The rest was up to God. 

 

If you have some people on your heart as you read these words, write their names down today, and ask God to give you an opportunity to speak to them. And if he does, approach them with love, confident that God's way are best, but humble as you share with them to meet their true needs-just like your Savior did. 

 

❀Proverbs 15:1❀

 A gentle answer deflects anger,

but harsh words make tempers flare.

 

❀John 4:1-26❀

1 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John  

2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did).  

3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

4 He had to go through Samaria on the way.  

5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.  

6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”  

8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 

 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  

14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

17 "I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.

Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 

18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.  

20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.  

22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.  

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  

24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

❀John 4:39-42❀

39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”  

40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days,  

41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 

 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

 

❀1 Corinthians 5:9-13❀

9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.  

10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.  

11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.  

13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”