What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside… 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (NIV)
It’s silly to hold non-Christians to Christian standards. Trying to hold a non-Christian to Christian standards is like seeing a baby eagle and a mature eagle, but angrily commenting on the fact that the baby eagle can’t fly. That’s correct – for now the baby eagle can’t fly and you shouldn’t put the same expectations on them that you would put on a fully developed eagle. Why then do we do this with non-Christians? We will see someone who doesn’t know Jesus in a sinful lifestyle and will comment on how they aren’t living up to God’s standard. It shouldn’t shock you that someone who doesn’t know God isn’t living up to God’s standard. Now, there may come a time when they become more developed (accept Christ), but until that point, it’s silly to complain about their lack of development (or lack of flying in this example) and the fact that they aren’t living up to Christian standards. Have you ever been frustrated at the behavior of someone who doesn’t know God? What do you specifically need to remember as you interact with them? What can you do to connect that person with Jesus?