What Should Be the Christian's Attitude toward the Unsaved?

The believer ought to look upon unbelievers in the following manner.

Compassion

The Bible commands us to have compassion on the lost. The Apostle Paul wrote,

Love the sinner but hate the sin. Let love be without hypocrisy, Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good (Rom 12:9).

Jesus' View

Jesus saw the multitudes as sheep without a shepherd.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field (Mat 9:36-38).

Naïve toward Sin

With respect to evil we should not be wise.

Brothers and sisters, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature (1Cr 14:20).

Though Christians should reach out to the unsaved, we are not to participate in their sin.

Summary

Believers should have compassion upon unbelievers. We should see them as Jesus saw them—as sheep without a shepherd. In attempting to reach them we should not participate in their sin but rather remain naïve to the evil things in which they participate.

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