Christians Are Better Than Non-Christians, Right? Wrong!
How many times have we, as Christians, heard the argument, “You think you’re better than I am because you’re a Christian!” Or how about, “Christians are such hypocrites, they think they are better than the rest of the world.
Hogwash, we say, then respond with a bumper sticker saying: Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.
But we tend to lump non-believers into a category of evil that may or may not apply. We demonize those who haven’t accepted Christ. Heck, sometimes we even demonize those who have accepted Christ but belong to another denomination. “They need us to save them from their evilness!” we proclaim.
We act as if we are doing them a favor by telling them of our Lord and Savior!
But a book by Timothy Keller, entitled “The Reason for God: Faith in an Age of Skepticism” makes some wonderfully valid points that all Christians should keep in mind.
God’s grace does not come to people who morally outperform others, but to those who admit their failure to perform and who acknowledge their need for a Savior.
Christians, then, should expect to find nonbelievers who are much nicer, kinder, wiser, and better than they are. Why? Christian believers are not accepted by God because of their moral performance, wisdom, or virtue, but because of Christ’s work on their behalf
Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Faith in an Age of Skepticism, Dutton Press 2008
Don’t get me wrong here. Good deeds are a very important part of the Christian walk. We are called to service, following in the footsteps of Jesus. We are servants to Him and to His people. But we don’t hold the monopoly on “goodness.”
Be assured… we must do our best to present the Living Gospel to a fallen world. We must look to lead others to Christ, to witness when and where we are called.
But go in grace and peace. We are doing battle with Satan, but not with those whom we wish to save from his grasp. We are every bit as good/evil, nice/mean, loud/soft, as those we want to lead to the Lord.
Enter into the lives of those who need to learn of Jesus with prayer, humbleness and humility… just as the Savior entered our lives in this world.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Here people say that when they have been hurt by a fellow Christian.
Its true many work based religous people are very moral and good. The hindus believe in karma.But our morality will not take us to heaven.Remember the story of the rich young ruler.It was obedience Christ wanted - not just law keeping or charity.
Where is your heart…that matters.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:12 am
Absolutely. Here many believe that good works will get them to heaven, living a clean life. Nothing could be farther from the truth! But it is so wrong, as Christians, to look down on those who aren’t saved. We must seek them through love, not shun them as sinners… we are all sinners!
July 21st, 2008 at 3:07 pm
[...] Christians-are-better-than-non-christians-right? Wrong! [...]
May 26th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Absolutely. Here many believe that good works will get them to heaven, living a clean life. Nothing could be farther from the truth! But it is so wrong, as Christians, to look down on those who aren’t saved. We must seek them through love, not shun them as sinners… we are all sinners!