Why are they so kind?

If you have been around the Christian church for sometime you may have heard questions that go something like, “Why do my unchurched neighbors have good marriages?” For many years I thought about this until I met Dr. James Olthuis at the Institute of Christian Studies, Toronto, ON, Canada. Dr. Olthuis helped me to understand that there is a divine law written in every human heart. This divine law is explained in this text by St. Paul:

“(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)” (Romans 2:14-15).

When our unchurched neighbors have good marriages, are productive employees, are good citizens they are responding to an inner law. Their lives are pictures of the divine intent for human living. When we who say we are followers of Jesus see our neighbors who do not share our faith commitment living out qualities lives we should be grateful for their obedience to the inward law.

Ronald Friesen © 2015