Last week a friend of mine came into my office and gave me a copy of a newspaper touting the growth of atheism in our country and world. 20 millions Americans describe themselves as atheist or agnostic. This represents about 7.5% of our population.
Reading the articles (there were two) I realize that many of these people are just reacting to negative encounters with those who believe. Many in Europe are reacting to the Muslims who are destroying life in the name of their faith. Others are disturbed over the violence done by Christians to other Christians.
It is easy for those of us who believe to just get angry with them and tell them to “take a long hike up a short pier.” Why should we consider the 7.5% who do not believe? For those of us who are followers of Jesus the answer is simply, “Because Jesus died for them also.”
I wonder how these unbelievers would react to meeting a genuine Christian who lives out the character of Jesus. He is loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, gentle, and self-controlled (Galatians 5:22) This Christian listens with an open heart to the words, pain and questions of the unbeliever. He responds to our atheist friend not with platitudes and empty clichés but with a compassionate heart.
Befriending our atheist acquaintances and showing them the love, grace and joy of our Lord may just be what some of them are watching for. Human nature being what it is will deny or ignore that which has hurt or attacked it.
Love them, pray for them and watch for opportunities to display the character of the One we are following in front of them, we might just discover a new friend in the midst of his unbelief. The greatest thing our Lord has given us to help our wounded world is His love. Many can fight against our words. Many will respond to our anger with anger. But few are they who know how to handle the gracious love of our Savior!
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