It always surprises me when we in the church expect people outside the faith to "act right." Sometimes, it even seems like we want them to behave better than we're willing to ourselves.
1 Corinthians 2 tells us that those who are unspiritual consider "the gifts of God's Spirit" foolishness. If that's true, of course they're going to avoid God, the church or anything that smells spiritual. Why would you expect anything different? Spiritual things don't make sense without spiritual eyes. We lose our footing, and our witness, when we respond with judgment or ridicule.
The more faithful way is to model something different.
God has given us a new way of thinking. Paul puts it this way: "We have the mind of Christ." We are only in our right mind when we live out of his.
And where did Christ's mind take him? How did it shape his heart, his priorities and his compassion for the world?
What surprises me even more is when the church forgets that we have that mind. When we speak without grace, chase influence over humility or belittle those we disagree with, we aren't following the Spirit's lead. We're following a mindset that isn't Christ's. 
The Spirit gives us wisdom to discern how to live, how to love and how to walk in faith. That's our call. Not to demand Christlike behavior from those who don't know him. But to reflect Christ in the way we live.
The world doesn't need more critics. It already has plenty. It needs more Christ.
And if you and I don't live with the mind of Christ, how can we expect anyone else to? Let’s stop asking the world to look more like Jesus and start becoming a church that actually does. Thankfully, the Spirit has given us everything we need to show the world what he looks like.
Stay blessed...john | 
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