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What Is The Relationship Between the Christian & Non-Christian? I raise the above question due to recent events in the news. On January 17, 2011 Robert Bentley was sworn in as Governor of Alabama. Keep in mind that Bentley is a deacon in the Baptist Church. After the inauguration he went to a service honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. While there Bentley said, "Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother." This set off a fire storm in the media and certain religious and non-religious groups. Headlines such as: "Only Christians Are 'Brothers and Sisters' and Non-Christians Not My ‘Brothers'". Almost immediately the media had a heart attack (figuratively speaking), although I am perplexed because it is ok to talk about the Muslim religion and accepting their view of the world. Certain religious groups said Bentley misspoke and others said he had it all wrong. The president of the national Interfaith Alliance, Rev. Welton Gaddy, said Bentley ”went too far." Naturally the Anti-Defamation League said the Governor was getting too close to the separation of church and state; "He is dancing dangerously close to a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids government promoting the establishment of any religion." Even conservative talk show host, Glenn Beck, was getting on poor Bentley's case by saying that all of us are God's children. Eventually, Governor Bentley issued an apology for offending those who were offended. Interestingly, a poll was done after the apology and it showed the greater damage done to the Governor was not the original statement, but his apology. This gets me back to the question at the top of this article, "What Is the Relationship Between the Christian and Non-Christian?” Or, "Is there a difference between the believer and the non-believer?" Obviously some would say no. They can point out that all of us are made in the image of God, Genesis 1.26-27. The Apostle Paul spoke of the commonality of mankind in Acts 17.26, "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth." If we are talking about every person having a soul and every person being important in the sight of God then the answer is obviously no. There is no distinction between one soul and another man's soul. Unfortunately, the Jews saw their relationship with God as being proof that their soul was of greater value than the Gentiles. They referred to Gentiles as dogs. The parable of the "Good Samaritan" was in response to the question, who is my brother? Jesus' teaching was that everyone is my neighbor, even those who I do not like. God separated the children of Israel from the world in order to create His own special people, a holy nation, and preserve the lineage of Judah. However, God showed His compassion for the Gentiles by Jesus dying on the cross for everyone. "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2.21). However, if we look at the above question in spiritual terms, What Is the Relationship Between the Christian and Non-Christian? We must say there is a difference and it is important. Jesus made a distinction between those following Him and everyone else. "And it was told Him by some who said, 'Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.' But he answered and said to them, 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.'" (Luke 9.20-21). By definition a Christian is one who is in Christ; one who obeys the Gospel of Christ and is baptized into His body. They are in fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Likewise, those who are "non-Christians" by definition are outside of Christ and are lost. A spiritual child of God is in the kingdom of the Son; a person who has not become a "Christian" is in sin and separated from God. "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." (Colossians 1.13) One cannot argue that there is no distinction in the scriptures between the Christian and non-Christian in the handling of sin. The church at Corinth had a brother in Christ living with his father's wife. 1 Corinthians 5 deals with this incident and the church was told to deliver him to Satan, to purge him out, or to not keep company with him. Notice verses 11-13. "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- no even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those who are outside? But those who are outside God judge. Therefore put away from yourselves that wicked person.” Notice the distinction between those in Christ and outside of Christ. To be fair to Robert Bentley, he did say that he wanted to be everyone's brother and he intended to "work for people of all faiths and colors." It is ridiculous to say that Bentley was promoting a state religion. He was speaking in a private church building to an audience who came to hear him talk about his faith. He was making an important point, not everyone is a brother or sister in Christ. I could make the point that according to Baptist doctrine, a person is saved at the point of faith, leaving out baptism for the remission of sins. Therefore, Bentley is not a brother in Christ. But we should have the attitude of wanting everyone to become a part of the body of Christ. Dennis Tucker |