As I read Bill Hybel's book, Just Walk Across the Room, I found many concepts and ideas relevant and useful. The one thing that stuck out the most was what he called radical inclusiveness, seeing others as Jesus sees them. What if we lived thinking that even the "worst" people that we know have the potential to become followers of Christ??? It sounds so simple yet can be so difficult. Our attitude toward nonbelievers can be so negative sometimes. We write some people off completely thinking that they will never come to Christ and that it is a waste of our time. That isn't how it shoul be though. We need to learn to love these people and even when we think our efforts aren't worth it, keep on going. This was part of Hybel's living in 3-D concept.
1. Develop Friendships
2. Discover Stories
3. Discern Next Steps
Radical inclusiveness was discussed in the develop friendships section. This forced me to examine myself. Do I really look at all people as having the potential to be redeemed? I don't think that I always do. The love that we receive from Christ needs to be overflowing into our relationships with others, believers and nonbelievers alike. I used to struggle with this. I felt as though I was being judged by some nonbelievers because I was a believer and never bothered to even find out if they were like that or not. This was not loving towards them and I'm sure that I wasn't showing them Christ's love. Maybe my behavior turned them off to Christianity at times because I wasn't being loving. The point is not to look back and say what if I had done this though. The point is that we all need to make an effort to develop friendships and love nonbelievers right now. We are learning day by day how to be better disciples of Christ and I really think that this is an excellent way. I've experienced it with some people. It isn't necessary or even always a good thing to converse with nonbelievers about God all the time. First develop a relationship with them. Don't make them feel as though you are judging them. Ask them about their life and their interests. We aren't in this just to add another tally to the board of people who "we" have brought to Christ. If that was the point, we would all be failing. We can show them love by being their friend. Then wait for the Holy Spirit to guide us into a conversation about the Gospel. When you feel that tug, then go for it. The more I think about radical inclusiveness, the more I wish I had read this book earlier.
