While sitting at a stoplight, I noticed a new homeless man with a sign saying he was a veteran. I had no cash, so I asked if he wanted breakfast. He said yes, so I drove to Chick-fil-A and came back with food and coffee.
As I handed it to him, he said thank you. Then he asked, “Are you a believer?” I said yes. He asked again, “Do you believe in God or Jesus?” I said, “Jesus.” Then, with a serious tone, he asked if I was trying to poison him. I told him no, of course not. He said, “Well, if I die, I’ll know it was you.” Again I said I wasn’t trying to poison him, I encouraged him not to give up, told him God loves him, and thanked him for his service. Then the light turned green, and I had to drive away.
As I left, I couldn’t stop thinking: what kind of voices and lies has he been listening to that would make him suspect something like that? I know the answer, it is the same platforms that flood me with Christian content also flood unbelievers with messages of hate, mistrust, and fear. That is the spirit of the antichrist at work. It twists the truth and convinces people that Christians reject them, look down on them, or want to control them.
But that’s not who Jesus is. He didn’t come to condemn the world, but to save it. He welcomes all people, no matter their past, no matter their struggles. Christians aren’t called to hate—we’re called to love. We’re not here to push people away—we’re here to point them toward the hope we’ve found in Christ. And that same hope is still available to everyone today.