“And they shall know you by your disapproval.”
Or is it that Christians are supposed to be known by their love? And sure, we’re supposed to be continually changed to be more and more like Christ. But let’s not confuse roles here. I’m not so sure we’re supposed to be forming everyone else in the world into the likeness of Christ. Isn’t that God’s job? And it seems like He’s most interested in starting with *us*…
Sure, it’s polite if a person avoids swearing when they’re near a Christian who’d rather not hear profanity. But should you demand it? That seems selfish. What’s the motivation there? You don’t want to dirty your ears?
And this line of questioning can apply far beyond simple word choice. What about the homosexual lifestyle, filing for divorce or having an abortion? Maybe there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but it’s worth at least asking the question, “How should a Christian respond when a non-Christian acts… like a non-Christian?”
I’m not trying to be combative. I’m really just trying to figure out how I’m actually supposed to respond to people I’m in contact with every day; to friends and coworkers who don’t have a close relationship with God.
Are Christians supposed to be some kind of a special forces “sin police?” Or is it possible that unconditional love is our best path toward bringing change? And what sense is there in expecting or trying to get a non-Christian to simply act like a Christian? Who does that help?
And of course, we have the same moral obligations that anyone else would. If we see a person actively abusing someone else, we should take action to help the victim. And taking that thought further, all sin has a victim, even if the only victim is the one committing the sin. So I suppose that might muddy the waters here a bit.
What do you think? What should the Christian reaction be when a non-Christians does something uncouth or otherwise offensive to Christian sensibilities? A pained expression? Silence? A smile of approval? It’s not an easy question!