Nonbelievers can be quite a challenge! But are believers to challenge nonbelievers or just let them be??? ... Here is how the Lord sees it...
All mankind was created with God's breath within them; He is from which our spirits first came into existence. He gave us not only His breath, but He would later give us all a conscience that would tell us right from wrong. In the beginning, Adam and Eve were made immortal, never to perish; however, they were not given the discernment between good and evil, because it was never intended for man to know. Since Adam and Eve lived with God in those times; He gave them orders directly on what to do and what not to do. It was through their disobedience in eating from the forbidden tree; The Knowledge of Good and Evil, in which all mankind would come to know good and evil. Therefore, man was also given an inner voice of moral sense to help rebuke, guide, and correct behaviors that would be against the Will of God. Additionally, the Holy Bible which is God's recorded Words of right and wrong, inspired through the Holy Spirit, along with all creations of nature which reveal obvious law and order, give further enlightenment. Mankind has been left with no excuse for wrong living; despite, the sins of Adam and Eve.
Although, mankind is God's creation; many decide to live contrary to God in righteousness, holiness, and purity. People are quite aware of His existence, power, and grace; yet, some purposely choose to deny, neglect, and ignore the truth, because it gets in the way of them feeling that their wisdom has a limited statue, that they're too smart to lean on doctrine that bears the resemblance to fables, that they're to able body to not depend on oneself, too creative not to create a better life for themselves, too authoritative to be controlled by someone else's views and ideas, and too logical to reason with anyone else's standards. Next to denying God comes the will to replace God with empty philosophies, and high sounding, worthless, speech, which comes from the spirit of the adversary. Consequently, they become puffed up, and void of God, refusing to acknowledge Him in obedience, praise, worship, prayer, or study, creating within themselves their own gods, law, standards, or person, that will offer them the type of lifestyle that is pleasing to them. Where man thinks he is wise; he becomes a fool. "There is a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof are the ways to death" (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25). "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence" (Colossians 2:8, 23).
As believers we are not to force the truth on anybody. There is no need to keep pestering someone to accept something that they believe isn't the right choice for them. The choice that a person makes for themselves is their choice. God does not force us to go against our freewill so believers should not do something that not even God Himself would do. Believers are to share the gospel with everyone, with the knowledge that everyone will not accept what they are saying to be the truth. It is ok to be rejected for sharing the gospel, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town, and shake the dust off your feet" (Matthew 10:14). The dust off your feet is symbolizing a curse left upon that person or home, not from you, but from their rebellion to accept the truth. "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse-the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). God loves all people; those who choose Him, and those who do not. Believers should not show hatred, unkindness, impatience, anger, resentment, or wreck peace with those who choose to deny God. Believers are to love all people as God loves all people who have all fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). Be gentle, but bold, and strong in your approach with the gospel, not in a way that judges others, but where you bear witness to what God has done for you, and for the world. Don't speak to those who oppose you as if they lack sense; they have a strong sense in which God has given to all man. In spite of their sense; they choose to suppress it so that they can have their own way. This is where a believer should pray for the lost; prayer can certainly change things.
PSALMS 97:6
THE HEAVENS PROCLAIM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THE PEOPLES SEE HIS GLORY.
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