What’s the Difference Between Christians and Non-Christians?
While many Christians equate obedience to God with love for him, the totality of Scripture reveals that what God really wants from us is our hearts.
Not much, according to some.
The other day, I was reading Seeking God by Trevor Hudson, and after speaking with one of his psychologist friends, this friend said to Trevor,
Trevor, after thirty-five years of counseling people who attend church regularly and those who don’t, I have seen that there is little difference between the two groups. Church attendance doesn’t seem to make too much difference to how people respond to the crises and challenges we all face. There doesn’t seem to be greater compassion and love among those who identify as Christians than among those who don’t.[1]
Sadly, I have to concur. In the words of one of my clients, who was a pastor turned judge, “Ezra, some of the most wonderful, amazing people I’ve ever found are in church.” After a pause, he added, “And some of the meanest and nastiest people I’ve ever known have been in church.”
When I look back over the last five years of working with Christian and non-Christian clients, I’ve had some wonderful Christian clients. However, I've also found that Christian clients are actually, on average, tougher to deal with than non-Christian clients.
It’s no wonder many people today echo the words of Mahatma Gandhi and say to the church, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
So what are we to do? Here is the answer.
