We cannot, we simply CANNOT, expect our friends and family members (who are not walking in Christ’s love) to comprehend our walk with the Lord.  Arguing with them or attempting to convince them of the existence of the Spirit of God would be naive.  

We have walked a walk that only we can walk.  And our eyes have been opened to a glimpse of His wisdom.  And divine wisdom is just that… divine.  It’s not intended to be understood by mere humans.  Even after walking in His wisdom we don’t fully understand it.

So why would we think that our unbelieving friends can understand where we stand, what we believe or the depths of our faith.

1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

We are attempting to communicate a divine message to someone who simply does not speak the same language.  Not only will they not grasp what we’re talking about but they will most likely misunderstand the meaning, misinterpret the purpose, etc.  This not only has lasting effects on their search for a faith but it could also push people farther away from seeking to understand.

Think about the effects an argument with an unbeliever might have on them.  They can only view our beliefs and communication style through their own perspective, otherwise known as a personal filter.  And their personal filter is most likely on a different level, growing at a different rate, on a different track, etc.

May I make a suggestion?  

Instead of trying to convince others to see and understand our faith the way we do… could we instead encourage our friends to find their faith, in their timing?  Can we commit to lift them in prayer?  Afterall, their faith is going to cultivate and grow at a different rate, their faith is going to go through its own ups and downs, their faith is going to be on its own path… based on their emotional and spiritual needs.  

Some might even say our “pushing” them will come across highly judgmental… they may not understand our motives.  

It sounds rather cliche… can we just love our neighbors and friends?  Can we focus our efforts on BEING love to them instead of FORCING our faith on them?  Can we walk with them?  Show them what a Christian love looks like?  Speak the language of love.