The BASIC crew has been traveling around New York these past couple weeks for campus blitzes at SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Morrisville, and SUNY Oswego. It’s been exciting to be a part of these as we spend a couple days blitzing the campus passing out flyers, making connections, and being a part of their weekly meeting. We’ve seen each group at least double in size and many students come to know the Lord!
One thing I’ve been reminded of as we’ve met people and shared conversations is that sometimes as Christians we can be quick to judge. The main question I keep asking myself is, “Why do we expect the unsaved to live like they’re saved?” If someone hasn’t come to Christ yet the worst thing we can do is judge their current lifestyle. I must confess that at times I’ve found myself doing this. I’ll be quick to pick apart in my mind someone’s language or the way they dress without even realizing I’m doing it.
We must be quick to remember that Jesus regularly ate with sinners (Luke 15, Matthew 9) and said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.” Why should we expect those around us who don’t know Jesus to act like they do? It’s important that we regularly remind ourselves of who we were before we came to Christ and then extend the same grace that we experienced to our unsaved friends. I’m not saying we avoid the discussion of sin altogether, but we must lovingly show people the sin in their lives and more importantly the God whose love can redeem them.
I think this is one topic that we can preach about every year as we look for ways to love our neighbors and lead them to the love of Christ.
Romans 5:8 (NASB) – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”