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Why We Can’t Hold the Unsaved to Biblical Standards of Godliness
Let’s be honest, every single one of us, at some point or another, has looked at the world around us and wanted it to act more Christian. We see the headlines, hear the jokes at the office, catch a glimpse of what’s celebrated on TV or social media, and think, “How can people live like this? Don’t they know better?” Maybe you’ve even felt that frustration toward a family member or an old friend who seems lost in values that clash hard with the teachings of Jesus. Or even worse we look at the people leading our local and national government bodies and think “Why aren’t they upholding Christian principles?” Especially if they publicly claim to be “Christian”.
The problem is that we cannot hold them to a set of moral guidelines they haven’t agreed to be bound by. Additionally, when we start expecting people who don’t know Christ to live as if they do, we lose sight of the very heart of the gospel. We end up preaching moral improvement and self-reform, a list of “do’s and don’ts”, instead of the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s like handing out maps to people who are blind. It’s not just unhelpful; it actually becomes a stumbling block to real faith.
Scripture makes this clear. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1-5 that before we knew Christ, we were spiritually dead, “dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.” The world runs on a different system, guided by “the prince of the power of the air,” and people do what comes naturally to them when they don’t know Jesus. Dead hearts can’t pump out godly living.
So, what happens when we hold nonbelievers to biblical standards? For one, it creates impossible expectations. You’re asking them to live by convictions and commandments that don’t yet belong to them. It’s unfair, and worse, it makes Christianity look like a set of behaviors to be picked up or performed. The result? People walk away thinking, “I’ll never fit in there. I can’t live up to that. Church folks don’t want me until I get my act together.”
But the gospel is not “shape up, then show up.” It’s Jesus calling out, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). That invitation is not just for the already-reformed or well-behaved. It’s for everyone, especially those who know they fall short.
Paul draws a strong line in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13: “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.” Our responsibility is to hold one another, fellow believers, to account. Inside the church, we spur each other on to love and good deeds, to holy living, to confession and repentance (Hebrews 10:24-25; James 5:16). For those outside, our call is compassion, truth, and invitation.
So, what does this look like in practice? It means when the world acts…well, like the world, we respond with patient endurance. We share the truth, but we don’t lecture or posture. We show godliness not so that others feel shame, but so that they see a better way, a life anchored in Christ. Think of yourself before you met Jesus. Did you clean up your act before coming to Him? Titus 3:3-7 reminds us we were once foolish, disobedient, etc., but it was God’s kindness and mercy that saved us, not our reforms.
If you find yourself frustrated, overwhelmed by the darkness around you, remember: the primary mission is not enforcement, but evangelism. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8) not us. Our job is to be a living, breathing demonstration of God’s love, grace, and truth.
Here’s my challenge: pray for the lost, invite them in, and speak truth with humility. Let the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, not your personal rulebook, change hearts one life at a time. Don’t expect those who don’t know Jesus to act like Him. Instead, introduce them to Him. Only then will true life-change even be possible. Until that day, keep loving, keep witnessing, and remember, “but for the grace of God, there go I.”
Pastor Justin |
