“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

When I thought and felt this way, I either felt guilty because I did not say anything or share enough to clearly proclaim that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14:6)…or I felt satisfied that I was clear and they rejected Christ or Bible study.

I no longer think in such dichotomous ways. I wish to be embracing of others, especially of the weak, the voiceless and the marginalized, even if I fail often to do so.

Yesterday, when I visited an elderly patient in her home, I noticed the Torah on her bookshelf, and I asked her about her faith. I think she felt appreciative that I validated her as a Reformed Jew, and expressed care and concern toward her as a parson, rather than trying to shift the conversation in order to convince her that the Messiah has come, as I might have done in the past. Or I might have just ignored what I observed by concluding that “Oh, she’s a Jew, and I don’t have to waste my time with her! Furthermore, she’s not a college student!”

It is truly quite shocking to me to realize just how sanctimonious, condescending, sectarian, elitist and offensive I have been for decades as a so-called Christian!

I am not undermining my own comments or Joshua’s. I agree fully with them. But frankly it would be nice to explore a topic like this without being politically correct nor intolerant of non-believers. I am not asking for an answer to my comment – I am asking for a comment on Ben’s article.

For example, my wife and I have befriended a married couple who are unbelievers. When we see them interact as a married couple, we frequently comment on how understanding they are to each other, how they communicate respectfully, and how they act in loving ways. We can see their strengths and their greatnesses, despite their not being in the Lord. My family is moving soon, and so this married couple took us out to a very fancy good-bye dinner. I think that they may truly say that we are their best friends.

It is an important question to ask, especially since evangelicals have a reputation for being intolerant of other beliefs. Even though we complain about Eastern traditions, beliefs and behaviour I have always appreciated that many of the missionaries did in fact come from distinct and different backgrounds. In my case I rarely heard my director scorn other beliefs but rather identify sound teaching wherein it complimented Christianity. The difference was always etched out though – Jesus is the way, truth and the life.

I am not only looking at the positives that perhaps many members have already been familiar with other traditions and beliefs, but maybe that calls for one reason why so many in UBF cannot really say that they have ‘best’ friends who are not Christian. In many cases I believe that many people were so involved with UBF ministry and like Ben’s example – cut off everyone who wasn’t Christian. It is sad that indeed sometimes one’s own family often became the victim of such a situation.

I think it is more important to focus on friends as Ben’s article suggests. If we strictly address those that we have had opportunities to meet through work or just sheer daily activity it is frankly superficial. Such people we do not allow past a certain point for privacy purposes, but friends as Jesus stated so clearly are present for many disclosed matters.

Personally, I have a multitude of friends from varying traditions met all throughout my life. Many for sheer reasons of my life in transition have fallen out of contact, but I still cherish the time we had with each other. I can appreciate of course that many Jews embrace me as their own and in fact I loved my closing years in university when several older women who were auditing would always greet me with the kiss as is custom. To be clear it was really nice to be looked upon with such love even though I clearly belong to another faith – but yes my heritage is a factor.

Anyway, the most important thing is to represent Christ through our love for others. Loving people from different beliefs is not easy, especially for the evangelical. Many have it in the back of their minds that those people are going to hell etc….But if we misrepresent Christ in our desire to convert or share with others it leaves a bad impression. We rather bring judgment upon ourselves.

I think Ben’s turn as exampled above is as best as you can do if you want to get to know people. Just be yourself and share without an agenda or sense of obligation.

Ben, thank you for your post. Matt 5:45 is God’s common grace. Indeed God pours out his mercy to both the righteous and the unrighteous when we do not deserve his grace. Because we are all created in the image of God, this can be the reason why we should love and respect all human beings regardless of their human background.

I had similar experience like you. Growing up in UBF for many decades I made no friends outside of UBF. I loved others to make them UBF members. If there is no possibility of that I did not pay any attention. When I also heard John Armstrong’s message, I realized I fell into sectarianism.(Our church is better than other churches because of many reasons I cherish)

The only place I have chance to meet non-Christians is my working place. I meet every kinds of people from many different religious background, different occupations with different problems and illnesses every day. I do not preach to them, but simply pay attention to them and listen to them and try to help them in my best ability. One thing I learned is I need to be non-judgmental regardless of their situation. Strangely they come to me year after year. They all know that I am a Christian because they all know that I take vacations to attend mission conferences several times a year.