10 Myths Non-Christians Believe About Christians

Non-Christians sometimes misunderstand what Christians believe. They also misunderstand why Christians believe what they believe. In this article, I’d like to look at several misunderstandings, or myths, non-Christians have about Christians. Too many times, non-Christians allow, or use, these misunderstandings to prevent them from trusting Jesus as their Savior.

1. Being a Christian means following a set of rules. Christianity is a laundry list of things to do.

A person becomes a Christian when he or she enters into a saving relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear that we cannot do enough good things to save ourselves, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). Without that relationship with Jesus, even the good things we do are done out of selfish motives.

2. People can get to heaven based on how good they are here on earth.

Sometimes this belief is found in the idea that, if a person born in America, that person is a Christian. However, the Bible tells us that none of us are good enough on our own to go to Heaven (Romans 3:9-11). A Christian seeks to honor and glorify God by living for Him. This means that a Christian, by definition, will emulate the life and morals of His Savior, Jesus Christ. However, it is not living a good life that saves us; rather, once we are saved we begin to live a good life, a righteous life.

3. The Christian life is a life of ease and luxury.

Christianity is not about being financially prosperous. Many times, the Christian life is anything but easy. Often, when one becomes a follower of Jesus, he or she alienates friends, coworkers, and family. Many believers have suffered persecution, even death, for their faith. Becoming a Christian in order to get the ‘good life’ or live on ‘easy street’ is wrong, and usually does not pan out. God does reward those who faithfully serve Him, but He will not reward those whose hearts are merely motivated by the possibility of attaining the ‘good life’.

Myths Non Christians Believe About Christians

Too many times, non-Christians allow, or use, these misunderstandings to prevent them from trusting Jesus as their Savior.

4. Ministers, pastors, are the ‘bosses’ of the church.

One becomes a Christian by making a choice to trust Jesus with his or her life. No one else can become a Christian for someone else. Consequently, the responsibility for living the Christian life belongs to the Christian, not to his or her parents, pastor, minister, or pope. The apostle Paul commended some of those listening to his message because they did not merely believe what he said; rather, they searched the Bible (the Word) to make sure what Paul said matched what the Bible said (Acts 17:11). We are wise when we do accordingly. No man, or woman, knows all truth…however, the Bible contains God’s Word, and He does know all truth.

5. Christianity is really only a crutch.

One must ask: A crutch for what? When one becomes a Christian, it is very possible that his or her life and relationships will become more difficult. The world, and its philosophy, is aggressively opposed to God, His Word, and His ways. Whoever commits their life to Jesus Christ will find themselves swimming upstream against an aggravated current of those who seek to discredit and destroy them. This could hardly be seen as a ‘crutch’ or something someone would seek merely as a lark. Jesus warns those who are thinking about following Him to count the cost carefully (Luke 14:27-29), it is sometimes high, but it is always worth it.

6. Christians are commanded to hate homosexuals. Christians despise Mormons, JW’s, and other cult members.

This could not be further from the truth. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope for humanity. Christians are passionate about sharing that hope with everyone. The friction arises with those who hear the Gospel, reject it, and choose to remain in their sin. Every one of us is either in Adam or in Christ, and there is enmity between the two spiritual groups. This is why those who choose to reject God are so often angry at Christians who point out sinful lifestyles.

7. Heaven will be boring.

How could a perfect place, with no sin, in the presence of a loving all-mighty God, be boring? We were created to be in a relationship with God; therefore, the afterlife will be what we have all been longing for (whether we realize it or not). Heaven will be something better than, and beyond what, our minds could ever imagine.

Related Reading: What Does The Bible Say Heaven is Like?

8. Christians aren’t allowed to think for themselves. Christianity is based on blind faith. Committed Christians are against science.

The Lord invites His people to ‘reason’ with Him in Isaiah 1:18. Many of the Apostle Paul’s sermons involved the thinking capabilities of his hearers. There are a great many incredible thinkers within the Christian faith; in science, theology, philosophy, medicine, etc. God created our brains, He expects us to use them for His glory.

9. Christians are not allowed to enjoy sex! Ever!

God created sex; however, He designed it to be experienced within the marriage relationship, not outside of it. He also restricted it to being between a man and a woman, husband and wife. Christians do not, or should not, consider sex to be dirty when it takes place within the marriage union; however, when it occurs outside of the way God designed it, it is not merely dirty, it is also sin.

10. Christians have a low view of women.

Some unbelievers think that Christians live by the maxim that the wife should be little more than a slave to the husband. Jesus elevated the status of women during His ministry on earth and the apostle Paul taught that men and women are equal in Christ. The culture of Jesus’ day was very demeaning of women. Jesus confronted this idea of inequality and showed that male and female are both precious in the sight of God.

Conclusion

Those who have not trusted Jesus with their lives often have great misunderstandings concerning the Christian faith. These misunderstandings can hinder their acceptance of the Gospel message. Christians must understand this and be able to provide the answers to the unbeliever’s questions. Jesus’ followers should be the most loving, reasonable, and patient people on earth. We have nothing to fear from worldly philosophies or false humanistic beliefs if we are well-grounded in the Bible and are living in the Spirit, not in the flesh (Ephesians 6:12).