Here’s a question for you today: “How come there are so many darn good people out there who don’t know Jesus?”

This question actually trips up some Christians because they live with a Christian worldview that says all Christians are good people and all non-Christians are bad; that’s why they need Jesus. Running into non-Christians who are really good people can play havoc with some Christians’ theology.

A friend of ours – a Christian in the latter stages of terminal cancer who is now in heaven – made the following observations.

“Okay, I have lung cancer,” she wrote, “but I can deal with that. Oops, swollen lymph nodes… okay, can deal with that. Six spots on ribs – both sides – well that took several days, but I am dealing with it. Maybe I can live 15 years on chemo. I learned recently of a person with home chemo: You just hook up a fanny pack I.V. and do it yourself.”

As you can see, her sense of humor was still in tact at this point.

“A friend drove three hours to pray with me wearing a Beatles ‘Let It Be’ T-shirt for my amusement. I have often questioned negative Christians; our joy should be full. I never want to be less than joyful; I want to be crazy and creative like my friend in the Beatles T-shirt.” I like that, don’t you?

And then she wrote, “I am most touched by my heathen friends. Here’s a question to chew on: Where does their power to love come from? I mean, we Christians have trouble serving and we have a source! Twice this week my gay friend, Doug, an outspoken non-Christian, has pulled up in a heated SUV at 5:30 a.m. to drive me for tests (and that is but one story). Where does his power to serve come from?”

Here is my attempt at some answers:

1) Everyone still shares the image of God, though fallen.

2) Could it be that without God to hold onto, tangible relationships become more important (it’s all you have)?

3) There is good in everyone. Our ancestors ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so we all know both (though we don’t always do both).

4) I do think that often good, caring behavior from non-Christians is because they are in the process of coming to Christ; they would recognize Jesus if they really saw Him in us.

5) As Christians we are so busy trying to please God that we miss letting God love through us. We major on the minors and miss what’s important.

6) Though love is of God, He doesn’t keep it all to Himself. In fact, to truly love is to encounter God often without knowing it.

7) We base our Christianity on morality and not grace. I think we’re all going to be pretty shocked to find out who’s in heaven (and who’s not).

Actually a good dose of exemplary non-Christians can go a long way toward getting someone’s theology back on track. It’s all about being saved, not about being good.