The vision of Jesus Christ which all Christians are expected to key into is to win every soul on the planet of the world to himself. That's what the Great Commission is all about and one of the main reasons why the end of the world has not come - so that those who have not heard the Gospel should have the opportunity to do so.
The pluralism of religions however has made it more complex for today's Christian to advance this cause because there are many religions facing every man to choose from according to one's convictions. So we have not attained that status where only Christians would dominate the world. It still remains a vision.
How do we attain that goal? First we must all become born-again. Yes. But even the Jesus emphases the fact that that had to be by choice when he sent his 12 disciples out and asked them never to trivialise the issue of accepting him with anyone.
Today, many Christians are faced with the dilemma on how to treat their yet-to-be converted relatives. Some have even gone to the extreme of isolating themselves from their people simply on the grounds of religious bias. This is wrong. We've not attained that level where everything will be perfectly Christianlike.
Demonstration of LOVE to ALL just as God and Jesus Christ did when they had to ignore human inconsistencies and fraternise with them is of paramount importance even in advancing the cause of Christianity.
How then should we Christians relate with our so-called unbelievers? First if you are from a muslim or even chronic paganic home, you will not be a Christian that you call yourself if you abdicate your responsibilities of caring for your parents as well as siblings and even your larger family members and by extension, your community simply because you tag them unbelievers.
What you need do is be as loving as you used to be when you were in their midst. Take good care of them.
Can't we learn from God? Does He send rains, sunshine, air, water, light, etc to believers to the exclusion of those we tagged unbelievers? Does God promote only the Xtians in their business endeavours and leave the others unattended? The largest proportion of the world's wealth, for instance, is deposited in Arab countries of the world e.g. Saudi Arabia, Dubai!
Can't we see that God loves us all equally? Jesus sent his disciples to witness to people and instructed that they should never force anyone. Did Jesus not fraternise more with the Samaritans than his Jewish brothes who rejected him? We are to witness to them and it stops at that. Not to condemn, not to coarse.
I think these examples are enough for us to learn from. Love God, love your neighbours (not believers only) as yourself. It is only then you can deliver the good news message God has given you to them and they will listen to you.
Let's imbibe Christ's love today. Good morning.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but fools despise it. Prov. 1:7
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