How Can Christians Help Non-Believers Understand We Are Not All The Same As You E xpect?

Question

What would it take to help you understand Christians can be at different stages in their walk with Christ & everything that stands for Christianity? When I 1st became a Christian, I had no knowledge about Christianity, as it doesn't magically appear. It was 7 months before I started growing as a Christian, thus, few changes took place in my life. I still laughed at dirty jokes & still believed in what Christians don't, abortions, homosexuality, etc. Asking me if I was a Christian, I would say yes, as I was, but what we call a baby Christian. Since my situation didn't include other Christians in my life, I was walking along the side of the road rather than on the road to Christ. You would be calling me a hypocrite behind my back after hearing me cuss someone out. My life changed when I allowed myself to have a personal relationship with Jesus, yet it was still a process. Wouldn't it be better to judge us with the what we believe in & not how we act since we are all on different levels?

Another thing that could put a person on your hypocritical list is the willingness a Christian has to let God work in their life. They could have been badly abused as a child, thus, they are still carrying around a lot of baggage. When we surrender, we are suppose to surrender our whole heart, but that can definitely be a process because we don't know Jesus yet. Some of us may give Him a little bit at a time as we learn to trust Him. Some will hang on to bitterness for a long time, unwilling to give it to God. There are just so many reasons a Christian could act differently than what you would expect. There are many Christians that are lfilled with love & kindness, maybe your lifestyle does not allow yourself to meet to many of them. I know mine didn't. We are to strive for unity, but these reasons I've mentioned, along with many others I've not mentioned contribute to what you call hypocrites. It might even be a backslider, or someone who even says they are one & yet they are not.

Becoming a Christian becomes a very well informed decision. Many Christians accept Christ before they have ever even looked at a Bible. All you have to have is a willingness & God does the rest. The very second you accept Christ, the Holy Spirit enters your heart to reside. The Holy Spirit becomes the Counselor and reveals God's word to us. We receive wise discernment & only then can we even begin to understand the Bible. God's word says without the Spirit, things of the Spirit are foolishness. However, until you start developing a relationship with Jesus, studying God's word, praying & regular Christian fellowship, you do not grow. You have still made the best decision you could ever make for your life, but without growth, you don't get the rewards, the riches, the bonus to help & guide you thru this world.

I see this frequently, where other "religions" want to acctack a Christian by thinking they are taking the word believer exclusively & excluding others who call themselves belivers. There is no reason to be defensive over this as its quite simply explained that if we are talking about Christianity, then obviously when we say a non-believer, we are referring to a non-Christian.

James 2:19, I think you've misunderstood my message. Your email is not set up as it says. Of course the demons believe in God. Satan was there when God's word was being written, he watched it all happening.

Answer 1

That is a great question. You also worded it well. The way I look at it, Christians are sinners covered in jesus' blood. But I strive to be good and not sin as much. But I will be honest, sometimes a cuss word will slip out or I will laugh at a joke that I probably shouldn't. But we are human. But people also need to know that being good won't get you there, you must believe Jesus died for your sins, that he arose, and ask for forgiveness. Invite him into your heart and soul. But when I do things like cuss or something, I can feel him tugging at my heart and saying you know better. He keeps me straight. God bless you and have a very happy new year. I don't know you here on earth, but I will see you in heaven. I can't wait for his returning.

Answer 2

Read James 2:18-24
Faith without works is dead.

we all progress at different levels but during those bad times are u really Christian? Faith is good, but faith without works is nothing. If a believes in God; That is great. But u know what? So do the demons. They believe God is real. Thats why they shudder. But what seperates that person--- who believes in God and has faith but still does things that displease God---from a demon??
Works.
If we believe it, we do it.
I'm not saying since a person does bad things that they will never please God again, but at that time when he is displeasing God, that person should not be considered Christian or is a hypocrite.
We all go through stages but we have to admit we are imperfect. Thats why God is merciful and forgives us.
I went through a bad stage in life and now I'm a better Christian now.

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Answer 3

Oh, well, don`t concentrate on what people think, but just focus on you growing as a Christian. I`m still growing, in fact I`m only a few months old as a Christian, still a baby.

This reminds me of when I first started running a play, and everyone expected me to do perfectly as a director. But instead, I was yelling foolishly at people and getting headaches and all sorts of things directors shouldn`t be doing. But I got better and better, and soon I became a great director.

So just concentrate on your growing and developing, and you`ll be all right. God bless you!

Answer 4

First of all, it might help if you were more accurate in your terms. Just because someone isn't Christian doesn't make them a "non-believer." After all, as a Christian, YOU are a non-believer in, say, Judaism or Wicca.

Now, is your question really how Christians can help non-Christians understand that not all Christians are the same? I also find it interesting that you say that Christians don't believe in abortions or homosexuality... to me YOU are the one saying that all Christians are alike. Not all Christians believe that homosexuality is wrong, or that abortions are the same as murder.

As for the last part of your rather long question, in my opinion it's better to judge people on how they act, since only you know what it is in which you believe.

Answer 5

Q
Wouldn't it be better to judge us with what we believe in & not how we act since we are all on different levels

Answer - Nope.

If you say you are a christian - then non christians expect you to act in a certain manner as defined by the bible. So if you continue in your old behaviours, you are seen as either a hypocrite, or a liar.

Saying you are a Baby christian sounds like an excuse for not changing your behaviour.

You are supposed to be depending on Jesus to change you - and the fact that he doesnt do it instantly is proof IMO that christianity is a fake.

If you want to change you have to want to do it yourself - and that takes a lot of time and hard work, a lot of will power and inner strength. You dont need Jesus to do that.

I know this will probably hurt, but it is how I see it. .

Answer 6

It is great that you brought this up! You are absolutely correct. IT takes time to have the knowledge of a mature Christian. It was really helpful to me to be in a Church with a large group of mature Christians that shared their knowledge with me and allowed me to grow over a length of time. They had great classes that helped and had me involved with teaching as time passed and I was able to do so. I have preached a few sermons and led singing. I do NOT believe that anyone should be judging anyone else. There are those who get rather nasty on here about one another and it is not always pretty to do so. I hope that you understand that we are all in a growing stage. I have been a Christian for many years yet I feel like I have a long ways to go. We are told that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD." Please remember this as you speak with others and try not to judge AnYoNe. GOD will judge in the EnD! Have a great week.
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Answer 7

I don't know any Christians; do you mean church people? The religion of church people is nothing like the religion Jesus had.

Now if you read the Bible it might help you. Read the part where God said "I will destroy man whom I have created, both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." Genesis 6:7
You have a nice relationship with Jesus, okay, but don't forget the God that controls everything once considered destroying everything; and if he got really enraged and furious, I doubt that even Jesus would be able to dissuade him.
Just a little fair warning.

Answer 8

You have done the best job of helping non-believers that I have seen on R&S. The only other point I would make is that the bible also teaches us to beware of false prophets, so it is a good idea for everyone of us to think things all the way through and listen to the still, small voice in our hearts to determine if any weeds in the garden need pulling. Anyway, keep up your questions, for they have a good purpose.

Answer 9

That takes more time my dear. That is why it so important for Christians to watch how they act. What you are asking for is impossible to do, even for us Christians. Actions speak louder than words. Not one of us, no matter what level, will ever be perfect enough to be an example but we will always be judged by our actions. Just keep your eyes on Christ and let Him be your judge, and pray for atheists.

Answer 10

No. since all of us are not mind reader. Thats why even Jesus said in the bible your actions speaks louder than words. But then in some parts of the bible 1 corithian 13. even if you have give, understood everything and have good deeds etc etc... if you have no love you are nothing. Then its still goes back to point A. having "love" comes first the rest will follow, you dont even notice your action and deeds changes, even your choice of words changes. The "act" is the fruit of your imagination, product of your hearts desire. If the out put of your action is bad then the heart and mind is still corrupted by evil. Anything bad is evil's advocate. The reason God calls us to be Holy because He is Holy and we are His children and He wants us to be with Him in Heaven, the reason Jesus came down from heaven and humble himself so we might have life. The life of eternity in His Father. Its very difficult to be Holy, people laugh at you when you do it like 24 hours change but, with prayer, penance The Holy Spirit will give the answers of all your questions and even give you strength to the impossible things you thought is impossible to accomplish in this life here on earth. Learn humility.

Also being Christian comes responsibility, that now you know and discover God, you have to grow in grace and tell others "preach the good news, the gospel" about the Kingdom of God, about the goodness of His intentions. And to help remind others that we are only travelers and will be just passing by in this world and our final destination is Heaven with God. Mother Mary is with us all the time and all she does is to help us to come closer with Jesus, and since Jesus is the way to Father God, He will teach you more to be Holy, its like a car wash, you pass through a tunnel and Jesus is the soap and water, to cleans you so you will be no stain of sins and will shine like the angels is heaven worthy to see the Holy God. Where no amount of sadness nor tears ever shed in your check anymore, nor fear. Mary ask us to pray more in this time of Grace, and we need to tell our family, the people that we love most, the people that we can't live without about the things we already know. Because something is coming and for others it might be too late.
www.medjugorje.org
she comes every 25th of the month. since 1981 its been 25 year and 6 months. Some of us has doubts about her apparition, and she doesn't mine about our doubts but just listen to her call and believe her intention is for good and nothing else behind on these except to help us pray, pray and pray. Because she knows we pray from the mind not from the heart, thats why she is asking as to do penance, because when the body is weak our soul received the grace from God. Its like a radio, you have to put a stronger battery to work it will. Our Soul connects with God when our body weaken, the minds weaken so we use our heart instead. Like a child.

Dont forget to read the bible, to understand it you need to pray to the Holy Spirit so you will be given the wisdom to comprehend the words you are reading. Not the human understanding but heavenly knowledge. Good luck and keep going. Ask Jesus to guide your thoughts. Unload the heavy burden, go confessions and attend mass often, mass heals. thanks.