Don’t Forsake Others with Differing Views   

After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, there were some people who expressed their pleasure over its occurrence, some even celebrating this tragic event. I noticed some of my Facebook friends who demanded that anyone who had reacted in that manner to immediately unfriend them. I also heard about a Christian singer who lost a significant number of supporters due to the sympathy he had expressed for the victim and his family. He responded by suggesting that he didn’t want those who felt differently to come to his concerts anyway – he only wanted likeminded Christians to attend.

As followers of Jesus, we need to be careful about how we react to these kinds of situations and to those whose responses differ from ours. We need to keep an eye on our own attitude and spirit. We may rightfully grieve for those hurting and feel anger toward those who not only perpetrate such violence but those who support it. However, does that mean that we should isolate ourselves from those people, cut them out of our lives, and remove them from the sphere of our influence?

That wasn’t how Jesus dealt with sinful people, not even those who so steadfastly opposed Him. He was criticized for His willingness to socialize with individuals who were considered to be immoral. His well-known response was: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32). Jesus made it a point to be around the spiritually needy, so that He could help them and point them in the right direction.

Similarly, Jesus didn’t refuse to converse with the self-righteous religious leaders who were intent on destroying Him. He engaged in conversations with them. He rightfully condemned them at times. And He was willing to receive any of them who sincerely wanted to know the truth. If Jesus had cut Himself off from all the Pharisees, where would that have left someone like Nicodemus? No, Jesus was willing to meet with him and plant seeds of truth that apparently led to his eventually putting his faith in Jesus.

If those who think differently from us choose to cut ties with us, there isn’t much we can do about it. However, we should be careful about being the ones to initiate such action. We are called not just to bask in the light of other likeminded believers while here on this earth, but to be lights in the darkness. We may not agree with those people, but maybe we can still have a positive impact on them through our connection with them. You may not want to pay any attention to their posts on social media, but maybe they will pay attention to yours. Instead of giving up on them, let’s continue to look for ways to plant seeds of love and truth in their lives.

Yes, there are times when we need to “shake the dust off our feet” and leave people to deal with their wrong choices. However, the instances in which Jesus instructed His disciples to respond in that manner were when those followers were rejected. His followers didn’t initiate the act of separation. They were simply refusing to remain where it was clear they were no longer wanted.

There are situations in which it is appropriate to distance ourselves and to “come out from among them and be separate” (II Corinthians 6:17), especially from those who might negatively influence us. But let’s not make the mistake of isolating ourselves from those whom we can influence for good. We are called to be Jesus’ witnesses. You may not need those other people in your life, but they may need you in theirs.