One of our readers has written about her husband’s non-believing perspective when asked about his perception of Christians. Part of his response includes:

We (Christians) are naïve; we have a need to believe…

We have submitted to mass hypnotism, not only religion. We are not free thinkers.

We are wasting a lot of time and money when there are other organizations that do good for people without putting a lot of money into large buildings and “shrines to our God.”

His comments are well taken, and this writing is not to take on these particular objections directly, but to talk about how we receive negative criticism in general.

First, I applaud our reader’s willingness to “step into the shoes” of her husband to see how he sees us Christians. And, second, I support her willingness to listen, recognizing that she can learn from how he sees us, which may not necessarily agree with how we see ourselves.

We can all benefit from our reader and her husband’s responses, provided we do not see differing perspectives as a force for division, but rather unity. I say this because in the separating, we often get in the way of God. Until a pattern of exclusion and disapproval is lifted, and love, respect, and inclusion for those who do not know the Lord becomes ingrained in our lives, all activities in support of the Lord, however positive, are just putting band aids on a wound and hoping that over the long haul, that the wound will heal. Wounds begin to heal when attitudes of ostracism and condemnation are replaced with respect and inclusion.

This is a time to be alert to the study of the Word so as to discover Christ in the culture in which we live. This is not a time to use the Word as a club to batter men and women with what we know. A strong, well-thought, measured, and active discourse can begin the process of changing understandings of faith, and potentially bring others to Him.

Christ’s message of love, understanding and acceptance, and the fact that there is a place at the table and true respect for all made in the image of God, is one of the primary keys in understanding those around us who may or may not be searching for the Savior.

On all stages of this journey together, we need to allow the Lord to give us ability, confidence, and empathy, while learning to leave behind any of our presumptions and biases.

Mobilized fervent prayer must precede any action. Personal conviction and an open attitude to change our perceptions of men and women outside of the church to respect as people made in the imagine of God, requires we get out of ourselves and create true friendships. Judgment must stop from within.

Truly wise men and women must build bridges of trust to others in order to break the vicious cycle that loneliness creates. Friendships — real relationships — are required when introducing someone to a relationship with Christ. His dwelling place is within the human heart — our hearts — and not within a physical structure built for Him, as many non-Christians and even Christians perceive.