What to do when ‘good people’ need Jesus

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. — 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

Over a century ago, a bishop in the United Brethren Church named Milton Wright pronounced from his pulpit and in a publication he edited that human flight was both impossible and contrary to the will of God. Well, in a twist of irony, two of his sons, Orville and Wilbur, would pioneer human flight in 1903, dramatically changing the course of human history.

Milton Wright is a perfect example of someone who can be sincere and well intentioned, yet flat out wrong. A person can believe something with all of his heart, but the fact is that if it’s not true, it’s not true.

When we look at the over 7 billion people on the planet, about 66% of them don’t consider Jesus to be their savior. They follow other religions—Islam, Buddhism, New Age—and a good many of them do so very sincerely. Yet they are sincerely wrong.

As Christians, the most unloving thing we can do is sit in silence while the “good people” who don’t know Christ continue worshiping wrongly. So let’s love others well by gently and lovingly pointing them toward a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Prayer Challenge

Pray that God would help you love those of others faiths well by sharing His truth with them.

Questions for thought

When you think about how people of others faiths practice their religion, what do you respect about their faith?

Think of some people you know who have a different religion than you. What steps can you take this week to lovingly share God’s truth with them?