I did not watch last night’s presidential debate, but I did read some reactions to it. Of course, there were lots of vehement accusations and other expressions of hate from both sides, but something else concerned me more. It was the reactions of Christians who expressed surprise or disgust with the responses to the debate.
Here is my question to Christians who are upset by what is happening in the world: Why are you upset about unbelievers being biblical? Why are you even surprised by it?
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19
Current events in the world, and especially in our country, have upset a lot of people. But we’re really not upset by the events as much as we’re upset by other people’s reactions to the events.
Some have reasons to fear the coronavirus, and they get especially upset by other’s refusal to be concerned with it. These others recognize that it’s out there, but they are upset by how some governments have reacted to the perceived danger.
The riots in many cities were reactions to inappropriately violent answers to wrongdoing of individuals or groups. Many people responded to the riots with threats about protecting their own homes with force.
A lot of the most vehement reactions I have seen have come from people in the church. They are upset by the “overreach” of the governmental responses to the coronavirus. They are upset by the actions both the rioters and those whom they are rioting against. They are upset by how all this is affecting the church, both their local churches and other churches in the country.
I ask again: Why are believers upset or surprised by unbelievers’ actions or reactions? Unbelievers don’t know! In fact, they cannot know! But you know this, so why be surprised?
Jesus told us this would happen long ago:
…the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:17
Paul reinforced that unbelievers cannot understand the truths of God:
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7-8
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
When the unbeliever acts in a way that is offensive to God and/or believers, they are only doing what the scriptures says they will do. Sinners will sin, that’s what they do. So why should it upset Christians? The unbeliever is proving the truth of the Bible.
I am not saying believers in Jesus should just allow the world to go to Hell unimpeded. That’s not God’s message. While God values the death of his believers, He does not cherish the death of unbelievers.
Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ Ezekiel 33:11
Didn’t Jesus appeal to sinners? Check out Matthew 9, Mark 2 and Luke 5. Didn’t Jesus come for the sinner? How does the Bible teach us to react to what sinners do?
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5: 44-45
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Some Christians are involved in ministries that actively confront the world’s evil in loving and giving ways. We don’t all do that, but maybe we should. I simply want to challenge the rest of us to change how we react to events in the world.
Instead of getting upset that the world is so evil, expect it to be evil and act appropriately. Pray for our government officials “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” Pray for the rioters because God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Reach out to the hungry, thirsty stranger.
Understand that our battle is with the world, but not with the people in the world. Our war is with the unseen rulers in the spiritual realms of the world, and our duties in this war are prayer in the spiritual world and kindness in the physical world.
Don’t be surprised when the world acts like the world, but surprise the world by your response of love, joy, peace, and kindness.
Here’s another perspective from Robby Dawkins that drives home what our priority should be when dealing with the world.
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Follow this link Families from the Beginning, Chapter 1 to see the first chapter.
