I just came from bible study with a few UQAM people and I find myself with no desire to do homework or study. On my way back home as I walked under my umbrella I kept thinking of one of the main issues we discussed around that oval table. We read in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you.” We thought about what seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness meant. It led us to wonder about this:

We Christians are called to follow Christ and Christ is going before us, showing us the way. Now it is up to us to choose to walk on the narrow road or to come and go as we wish. Some Christians spend a lot of time looking and walking in a direction that is opposite the one Jesus is on. For instance, Christians who lack love for their neighbor, who don’t really care for those in need, who put themselves first. On the other hand, many people that are not Christians, that do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, would (using my own words) be better Christians than many of us that seem to be on and off the right road. Many unbelievers seek justice for the poor, care for the people around them more than they care for themselves, they seem to be “filled with the fruit of the Spirit” because they behave just in the same way God wants His people (and His world) to behave. 

How are we supposed to think about that? Because these fellow human beings that are not saved, are living lives that promote peace and justice. They live “better” lives than many Christians, they are closer to God’s will than some believers. How are we supposed to think? It’s obvious that Christians that go in a different direction Jesus points them to, have some major things to realize, and we all disobey Christ in many ways everyday, everyone of us. But I think about those unbelievers are they seeking God’s kingdom more than some Christians are?

I believe that there is something important to keep in mind here. When Jesus says that we should seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, Jesus says that we should seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness (no I didn’t make a mistake by writing the same phrase twice). What I mean is this: those seeking righteousness, justice, peace and love do so with the Kingdom of God in mind; that’s what Jesus is saying I think. You seek God’s kingdom (God’s way of running the earth…) by promoting Jesus’ attitude and commands. Now those unbelievers who wold make good Christians, what is their motivation? What are they seeking? They are not seeking “God’s Kingdom”, they are seeking peace, love, justice. Their goal is not to bring glory to God, most of the time, God is not in their thoughts at all. So what should we think? Are these closer to God’s heart than Christians that behave like little kids who don’t want to share their toys? I don’t know. I don’t know. Because the “bad ” is still not seeking God’s Kingdom anyways.

“Good unbelievers” behave the way God wants all human beings to behave. But their hearts are still in the dark as long as Jesus is not their Savior and their Lord. As long as they keep their good values but do not recognize their need for Jesus. They remain enemies of God… but do promote His attitude (that is weird) without being aware of it. As long as they are not reconcilled with God, whatever the good they can do, they are still lost. I believe that God uses the wicked for His own purposes; so God can use unbelievers to bring peace and love on earth, it doesn’t mean there are better than “bad Christians” or that God finds favor in them. It doesn’t mean that God is happy with believers that are walking on the wrong side of the road on some issues.

But it is really the comparison between the two that made us wonder.

Any comments? Really appreciated!