As Christians, we sometimes have to put on the mindset of a nonbeliever so we can minister to them in more effective ways. We can clearly present the gospel to somebody and show them over time how God has personally changed our lives, but what happens when they pass on it and say "No thanks"? Do we think "Wow, this person is being ridiculous" or "What a stubborn punk!" Well, we shouldn't be thinking these things. While I agree there is no excuse for not accepting Jesus as savior, that does not change the fact that there are common reasons why people reject Him.
1. They believe this world has more to offer. The impulsive pleasure that this world provides outweighs, in their minds, the benefits of giving that lifestyle up for God. We see a story in Matthew about this exact type of nonbeliever. A rich man is unwilling to give up the world pleasures he has experienced for everlasting life with Jesus (who is right before his very eyes). "Jesus said to him, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.' But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." - Matthew 19:21-22
It seems absolutely insane. You're staring at Jesus Christ, and you ask him what you need to do for eternal life. He says give up all your money and valuables. You walk away sad. See, that isn't what the rich man wanted to hear. In the same way, nonbelievers today simply don't want to give up what they hold on to so dearly.
2. They're embarrassed. Nonbelievers in John were scared of what people might have thought about them, and didn't believe "for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." - John 12:43. I think it's helpful to stand up for your faith and show people that Christianity and God's love is nothing to be embarrassed or quiet about. I am certainly guilty of remaining silent when I sometimes should speak up and defend my faith.
3. They believe they are "good" people or at least "basically good enough to get to heaven." Look, if you're the defendant in court (and your own lawyer), and the prosecutor is God, you better be pleading guilty because you have nothing to say in your defense. I'm garbage when measured to perfection, and I readily admit that. God's evidence against you in court is every single sin you have ever committed, and your defense is what? "Well, I donated to charity that one time. I helped volunteer over at that place!" Unfortunately, our "bads" outweigh our "goods", so the argument that "good" people go to heaven is negated. Luckily for us, the jury in the courtroom is extremely merciful and willing to rule you innocent if you plead guilty and accept Him.
4. They don't have enough physical proof. They claim if they only had a tiny bit if physical proof, if something was revealed to them, they'd believe. We cannot prove God's existence, but we can shed light on the overwhelming evidence for His existence. Because if we could prove it to everybody 100%, nobody's relationship with God would be based on faith, it would be based on what has been proven. It is similar to the miracles Jesus performed on Earth - people had just witnessed an amazing miracle, yet the majority did not believe that Jesus was God. We do not want a faith based on "physical proof," because that is a shallow faith that is gone the minute something unexpected happens.
I believe God has made a perfect amount of faith required to believe in Him. He reveals a certain amount of information to us, and then asks us to have faith and believe. If he had revealed more information (or given us way more evidence, like Jesus appearing today on national TV and flying), it would reduce the faith that an athiest needs, making it a weak faith that is only there because Jesus started flying in front of us. If he had revealed way less to us (no Bible, no evidence in nature), everybody would be taking a huge leap of faith aimlessly in the dark. He has balanced the two ends perfectly so that believing in God is a reasonable step of faith. A Christian philosopher named Norman Geisler said, “This does not mean there is no room for faith. But God wants us to take a step of faith in the light of evidence, rather than to leap in the dark.”
"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" - Psalm 14:1
Don't be a fool.
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3 comments:
My heart aches and breaks for non believers. Its very simple to believe...remember "as much faith as a mustard seed"... its all that it takes.
people could reject Jesus if they've had the wrong impression about him (forced onto them by someone who distorts the message) or they used to, but something happened (Mel Gibson in Signs)
People reject Jesus primarily because they want to run their own lives... It is pride, the same pride that cast Satan out of heaven... God didn't keep Satan in heaven with that kind of pride and He won't keep any of us if we carry that same pride also...
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