Interactions with the Unbeliever | The Gospel Vault Podcast

                           Interactions with the Unbeliever | The Gospel Vault Podcast

As Christians, we are prone to forget to examine everything that is going on around us through the lens of Scripture. Yet we are told in Ephesians 6 that we are engaged in a spiritual battle — not against flesh and blood, but against evil and spiritual wickedness in high places, operating within a realm that we cannot see.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
(Ephesians 6:12–13)

When we are cognizant of that fact, we should also understand that unbelievers truly do believe the battle is against flesh and blood. This is because they possess only one nature and are capable of discerning only that which belongs to the natural world. 

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

The Bible also exhorts us to be gentle and apt to teach rather than argumentative:

“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.”
(2 Timothy 2:23–25)

If we keep these truths at the forefront of our thoughts when entering into a conversation — or even a confrontation — with unbelievers, we will be better witnesses for Christ and the Gospel.

Although we are instructed to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, we must also understand that the concerns of unbelievers are not foolish in their own minds. Recognizing this, we should adhere to the principle of the passage in 2 Timothy. Our approach should be to help them understand rather than to “beat” them over the head with the truth.

We should look to the illustration in John 8, where Jesus dealt with the legalists who brought before Him a woman caught in the very act of adultery. We do not see Him forcefully interjecting Scripture or engaging in heated argument. Instead, He presented a challenge that caused them to examine themselves in light of the very law they claimed to uphold so zealously.

In doing so, He demonstrated both truth and grace — firmness without hostility, conviction without cruelty. That balance remains our model today.

In all of our interactions with unbelievers, we are exhorted to conduct ourselves in a biblical manner — whether in a one-on-one conversation, a moment of personal witness, or even when responding to someone with whom we strongly disagree on social media. The platform may change, but the standard does not.

Let this verse serve as a guiding light in those interactions:

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
(Galatians 6:1)

Restoration, not humiliation. Meekness, not pride. Self-examination, not superiority.

If we approach others with that spirit, we will reflect not only the truth of the Gospel, but also the character of Christ Himself.