Celestial Diary

Sometimes, it’s easier to get along with unbelievers than with fellow Christians.
Let’s be honest, we Christians can be big hypocrites. Our beliefs and our character often don’t match. That’s why, surprisingly, some marriages and friendships with unbelievers work out better than those between two believers.

A genuinely good person often lives out better values than someone who is a Christian only on paper. Yes, their lack of belief is a concern but that doesn’t erase the fact that some unbelievers can be kind, honest, and compassionate, while some “believers” are anything but.

We can actually see this in the story of the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:25–37

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” an expert in the law asked Jesus.
Jesus answered, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus said, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”
But the man wanted to justify himself, so he asked, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus responded with a story:

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead.”

This part of the story hits hard. It reflects how life can break us, how people hurt each other, how trials leave us beaten, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually.

“A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.”

Who is a priest? A priest is a recognized religious leader; someone expected to represent God, offer spiritual guidance, and show compassion.
But not all spiritual leaders practice what they preach.
We’ve all seen it: preachers who speak of love but live in pride, who condemn others yet hide secret sins. This priest, instead of helping, walked away. In that moment, the title “priest” meant nothing. It was just a name, not a calling lived out.

“So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.”

Levites were temple workers; the helpers, the musicians, the teachers. Today, we might call them ministers, worship leaders, or church volunteers.
But even this “church worker” walked by the broken man.
These days, many people chase ministry roles for fame, clout, or power. Forgetting that every role in the church is meant to serve God, not self. Whether you’re preaching, cleaning, or setting up chairs, it’s all for His glory.
Sadly, many of us know how to talk the talk, but we don’t walk the walk. We teach others to live right while ignoring God’s Word in our own lives.

“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’”

Samaritans were despised by Jews, they were seen as heretics, outsiders, and even enemies.
Yes, they believed in God, but their worship was different. To the Jewish audience, the idea of a “good Samaritan” was almost offensive.

And yet it was this man, the outsider, the “unbeliever,” who acted with true godliness. He cared for the wounded stranger, dressed his wounds, took him to safety, and paid for his continued care.

This is what God expects of us: not religious talk, but compassionate action.

Not every religious person is good. And not every good person is religious.

Some people who don’t believe in God act more Christlike than those who do. We’ve seen religion used as a mask to control, to judge, to harm. We’ve seen people hurt others in the name of God. And at the same time, we’ve seen people with no religious label live out biblical values like kindness, honesty, generosity, and humility.

So what’s the point of saying you believe in God if you don’t live like Him?
What’s the point of being a Christian if you lack compassion, respect, or love?

Take care of the poor. Love the sick. Forgive your neighbor. Religion isn’t just casting out demons or speaking in tongues. It’s in your smile, your attitude, your kindness, in how far you’ll go to help someone else.

It’s a shame when unbelievers reflect Christ better than we do. So here’s the challenge:

Don’t just be religious. Be good.
Don’t pick and choose what parts of God’s Word to follow.
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are:

1. Love God with all your heart, soul, and strength.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

If we fail at these two, we’re just playing church, fooling ourselves while missing the heart of God.

Stay Blessed x