What I learned hanging out with Non-Christians!

 

Wow! What a wonderful statement by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 

So, let me ask: "Does your life help or hurt the cause of Christ?"

Over the past fifteen-plus years, I have spent many hours with non-Christians and I have learned something startling. Many times my non-Christian friends treat people better than my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have some wonderful friends in Christ, people who would give their life for me and I would give my life for them. Yet, some believers can be rather harsh, judgmental, heartless, and just downright rude. This may not be popular to say, but, there are some of my fellow believers who I would ask NOT to "go into all the world!" LOL! Their lives do exactly the opposite of Bonhoeffer's quote, they confirm non-believer's disbelief in God. They think, "If that's what God is all about, I want nothing to do with it." 

YIKES!

This quote came to my mind when I was reading the story of King Ahaz of Judah. Ahaz had a good father, Jotham, who ruled ahead of him for 16 years. (2 Chronicles 27) His Grandfather before him, Uzziah, also set a good example (for the most part). Ahaz, however, was terrible. He was evil. He sacrificed his own sons, offered pagan sacrifices, and even closed down the Temple to keep people from worshipping the Lord. He was the leader of God's people and yet, he was pure evil.

"He offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree." (2 Chronicles 28:3,4)

"The king took the various articles from the Temple of God and broke them into pieces. He shut the doors of the Lord's Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem." (2 Chronicles 28:24)

God made his displeasure known to the Kingdom of Judah and Ahaz. When they were attacked by their northern neighbor, their former Jewish brothers and sisters, Israel, they were soundly defeated. They captured and tortured 200,000 captives from King Ahaz' nation. 

But a prophet named Obed changed all that. He went to the leaders of this conquering nation and said this:

"The Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and let you defeat them. But you have gone too far, killing them without mercy, and all heaven is disturbed. And now you are planning to make slaves of these people of Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the Lord your God? Listen to me and return these prisoners you have taken, for they are. your own relatives. Watch out, because now the Lord's fierce anger has been turned against you?" (2 Chronicles 28:9-11)

This enemy of God listened to God's prophet and they changed. Their leaders got together released the prisoners, returned their plunder, distributed clothes, sandals, food, and water, and bound their wounds. They took care of the weak and they helped them get to Jericho. (2 Chronicles 28:14,15) This sworn enemy of Judah demonstrated more compassion than their own king. 

The biker clubs  I have had the privilege of hanging out with over the past 15 years, often, show more compassion and love for their community than most churches! They fight for just causes, they help those who can't help themselves, and they stand up for the oppressed and disenfranchised.

Is this the way it should be? 

Our lives as followers of Jesus Christ should be filled with compassion and love that the world notices. We should set the standard for all people in how we treat others. Do you help the homeless and care for the widows and orphans? Do you fight for the oppressed, stand up for the weak, and battle evil? People should be drawn to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, by the way we live! So I ask again:

"Does your life help or hurt the cause of Christ?"

"Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God!"