Unbelievers Judging You for Life Before Salvation

Messerve · Jul 18, 2019

LaBèlla said:
The issue isn’t their faith. Its their wealth. This is the only area they can attack. That’s how jealousy and envy works.

Hmmm... Good observation. That could actually be a big part of it that I had never considered. Everyone wastes their money on frivolous spending and destructive lifestyles and this family stands out for being much wiser - and financially successful as a result. It could be jealousy behind the desire to dig up dirt on them.

Messerve · Jul 18, 2019

topher694 said:
But those are the best times to demonstrate it. Demonstrating Godly character is not about never messing up, it's about how you handle it when you do. Taking responsibility. Making things right. Not giving up. Not hiding it. And, having grace for others when they mess up.

Good point. Yeah that makes a lot of sense. Simply saying you're sorry can speak volumes if people are used to never hearing that.

Archivist · Jul 18, 2019

topher694 said:
But those are the best times to demonstrate it. Demonstrating Godly character is not about never messing up, it's about how you handle it when you do. Taking responsibility. Making things right. Not giving up. Not hiding it. And, having grace for others when they mess up.

Making things right is sometimes the most difficult thing. When someone has turned his or her life around it is sometimes difficult for them to go to the people they hurt and apologize and try to undue what they did.

topher694 · Jul 18, 2019

Archivist said:
Making things right is sometimes the most difficult thing. When someone has turned his or her life around it is sometimes difficult for them to go to the people they hurt and apologize and try to undue what they did.

True, and it is not always possible or received well. All we can do is what is wise and within our power to do, then leave the rest to God.

Maria Billingsley · Jul 18, 2019

Messerve said:
So this hasn't happened to me personally, since I was saved when I was a child...

However, I work for a Christian family who hires a mixture of people - saved and unsaved. One day I overheard a conversation between two workers about our employers' lives before they were Christians. The one guy knew them years ago before they were saved and was telling this younger employee about how they used to go out drinking and partying and breaking the law in subtle ways. The younger employee listened to this with satisfaction - obviously it convinced him that our employers were no different than anyone else in the world because they used to live that way. That "Christian" was just a title they gave themselves when they entered the professional world and gave that lifestyle up.

It was frustrating to me to listen to, because I believe that this family truly did meet Jesus (at least some of them) and they are different now because that was real. It wasn't just to look like respectable people for the sake of money...

How should we respond to unbelievers judging us for our former lives before meeting Jesus? When they ignore the life changes or brush them off as only surface deep?

I would think that the "new nature" of the believer would be impressive to the non-believer. There was a change from one way of life to another.
Now if a Christian shows no fruit, then I can see how one's actions would be continually used against them.
Blessings

bèlla · Jul 18, 2019

Messerve said:
Hmmm... Good observation. That could actually be a big part of it that I had never considered. Everyone wastes their money on frivolous spending and destructive lifestyles and this family stands out for being much wiser - and financially successful as a result. It could be jealousy behind the desire to dig up dirt on them.

Money brings out the worst in people. You can see examples here and this is a Christian site. Some people loathe the wealthy.

But unlike most, they have a behind the scenes view of their lifestyle and that makes their resentment and jealousy much worse.

Messerve · Jul 18, 2019

Maria Billingsley said:
I would think that the "new nature" of the believer would be impressive to the non-believer. There was a change from one way of life to another.
Now if a Christian shows no fruit, then I can see how one's actions would be continually used against them.
Blessings

Which, unfortunately, is an ongoing issue that also frustrates me. I understand Christians aren't perfect and will mess up, but I will admit there are things that the family does that still seems contradictory to their faith. I have overheard co-workers mocking them behind their backs for those things before, which makes it really hard to then try to be a witness myself...

In fact, most of them seem to be proud of things which are blatantly rebelling against higher authorities. I have at times been afraid I could end up in legal trouble myself just for being associated with the company... Then other times they're like the godliest people on earth - praying at the start of company meetings and such. It can be maddening, the dichotomy at times.

So you're right. That disconnect between what they claim to believe and how they sometimes operate is probably very much at the heart of why others like to try to find yet more ways in which they're being hypocritical.

Blade · Jul 18, 2019

Satan comes to kill steal and destroy. Whom the sun sets free is free indeed. This shows you the WORLD does watch our every move. Its what they use to do.. look how set free they are TODAY! Look how many are still slaves today. They show them that JESUS is real!

As the song Christ in me.. playing.. Jeremy Camp.. perfect timing again

friend of · Jul 19, 2019

Messerve said:
How should we respond to unbelievers judging us for our former lives before meeting Jesus? When they ignore the life changes or brush them off as only surface deep?

This is our opportunity to have a powerful testimony if we do abstain from fleshly lust and seek to obey God observably in all that we do. Some people will be judgemental unfortunately but we just have to be courteous and gracious and patient with them regardless and make sure that it's us that receives the insults and not our Lord. I usually talk about my strong penchant for alcohol that was getting only worse as the days were going by and how I have tried for years to stop on my own power but couldn't.

Danielwright2311 · Jul 19, 2019

Messerve said:
So this hasn't happened to me personally, since I was saved when I was a child...

However, I work for a Christian family who hires a mixture of people - saved and unsaved. One day I overheard a conversation between two workers about our employers' lives before they were Christians. The one guy knew them years ago before they were saved and was telling this younger employee about how they used to go out drinking and partying and breaking the law in subtle ways. The younger employee listened to this with satisfaction - obviously it convinced him that our employers were no different than anyone else in the world because they used to live that way. That "Christian" was just a title they gave themselves when they entered the professional world and gave that lifestyle up.

It was frustrating to me to listen to, because I believe that this family truly did meet Jesus (at least some of them) and they are different now because that was real. It wasn't just to look like respectable people for the sake of money...

How should we respond to unbelievers judging us for our former lives before meeting Jesus? When they ignore the life changes or brush them off as only surface deep?

As Christians we do not live for this world or for them, Jesus said,

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

So, we should not worry or concern our self with what others say about us or anyone else as we are to be judged by this world, we have to be. As evil judges the Good and only one who is Good.

And he will judge us all.

SkyWriting · Jul 19, 2019

Messerve said:
How should we respond to unbelievers judging us for our former lives before meeting Jesus? When they ignore the life changes or brush them off as only surface deep?

Jesus changes people. This proves that. Be grateful.

dqhall · Jul 19, 2019

Messerve said:
Which, unfortunately, is an ongoing issue that also frustrates me. I understand Christians aren't perfect and will mess up, but I will admit there are things that the family does that still seems contradictory to their faith. I have overheard co-workers mocking them behind their backs for those things before, which makes it really hard to then try to be a witness myself...

In fact, most of them seem to be proud of things which are blatantly rebelling against higher authorities. I have at times been afraid I could end up in legal trouble myself just for being associated with the company... Then other times they're like the godliest people on earth - praying at the start of company meetings and such. It can be maddening, the dichotomy at times.

So you're right. That disconnect between what they claim to believe and how they sometimes operate is probably very much at the heart of why others like to try to find yet more ways in which they're being hypocritical.

It is difficult to see what is going on without specific examples. Part of the story was that they were being put down for things they did years ago when they were living a wild lifestyle. Jesus taught about the prodigal son who wasted his inheritance on partying in a foreign land. He spend his money and had to work for starvation wages. He repented and returned to try to work for low wages on his father's estate. His father hired him. Luke 15:11-32

In Luke 17:3 (WEB) Jesus taught: "Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him."

Unforgiveness is a sin. It is too easy for one to put down others. A worker may seek a better employer, if conditions there are so much worse than at other businesses.

Bible Highlighter · Jul 19, 2019

Messerve said:
Yet, no Christian is perfect.

Well, you believe this way because that is what you see. But we walk by faith and not by sight. The Bible tells us that with God, nothing is impossible.

Anyways, I will refer to this thread (below) to discuss this topic (Seeing that this topic is not allowed to be discussed in this section of the forums):

The Scriptures Teaching on Sinless Perfection.

May God bless you, and I hope it helps.

Dave-W · Jul 19, 2019

Messerve said:
For some, it almost seems like that's all it takes to be convinced Christianity is a joke.

Many need no justification for believing that.

Archivist · Jul 20, 2019

topher694 said:
True, and it is not always possible or received well. All we can do is what is wise and within our power to do, then leave the rest to God.

Yes, but many don’t even make the effort to do anything to correct past wrongs.

topher694 · Jul 20, 2019

Archivist said:
Yes, but many don’t even make the effort to do anything to correct past wrongs.

Well then that wouldn't be demonstrating Godly character and integrity then, would it?

Stabat Mater dolorosa · Jul 21, 2019

Salvation is attained in the end so this whole question is best described as meaningless.

Archivist · Jul 21, 2019

topher694 said:
Well then that wouldn't be demonstrating Godly character and integrity then, would it?

No, but it is what very often happens.

Unbelievers Judging You for Life Before Salvation

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