There’s something deeply uncomfortable about missing an opportunity to do the right thing, especially when you know it’s exactly what you’re called to do. That’s what happened to me during a recent presentation. I had the chance to share something that is fundamental to living as a Christian today: the call to love and respect all people, no matter where they are on the spectrum of beliefs, while holding tightly to the truth of the Gospel. And I blew it.

The Missed Opportunity to Unify
I stood in front of a small group, talking about Counter-Cultural Christianity. I made a comparison between very non-Christian and very Christian people, and I immediately knew I hadn’t handled it the way I should have. I had created the perfect opportunity to remind the audience that Christians and non-Christians alike can be found along a wide spectrum of beliefs. But the real message wasn’t about the comparison itself—it was about how we, as followers of Christ, are called to navigate that spectrum with both hands full: one hand holding the love and respect for everyone and the other holding onto the truths of the Gospel.

We live in a divided world, and it’s no secret that people on all sides of an issue feel superior to those who disagree with them. But as Christians, we don’t get to claim superiority over anyone—not because of our beliefs, our actions, or our faith. Christ died for all of us, sinners through and through, and because of that, no one can stand on a pedestal. We’re all in need of grace, which means our call is to love and respect others, even those who oppose us.

The Challenge of Holding Both Love and Truth
Here’s the real challenge: loving people who disagree with us without letting go of the truth. It’s not easy, and we need to be honest about that. Society tells us that if you love someone, you must agree with them. But as Christians, we know that real love—the love Christ showed us—goes much deeper. It’s possible to love and respect someone while standing firm in our beliefs.

The world, however, doesn’t understand this. Many people won’t trust us when we say we love them if we don’t also agree with them. They’ll push us to change our views or question our sincerity. That’s a reality we must face, and we must be willing to accept that some will turn away from us because we won’t let go of the truth. But that doesn’t mean we stop loving them or stop respecting them. That’s what makes living as a Counter-Cultural Christian so difficult—and so necessary.

The Spectrum of Belief
When we look at the world today, we see people all along the spectrum of belief—Christians, non-Christians, believers of all kinds. It’s easy to see differences and let those differences divide us. But what we need to remember is that Christ died for every single person on that spectrum. No matter where they stand, they are worthy of love and respect because they are made in the image of God. Our role as Christians is to extend that love and respect, even when it’s hard, even when it doesn’t make sense, and especially when we disagree.

That’s the part of my message I missed during my presentation. The comparison I made should have been the gateway to the bigger truth: that unity doesn’t come from agreeing with each other, but from loving each other despite our disagreements. And I missed the moment to share that truth with my audience.

The Price of Living Counter-Culturally
It’s important to acknowledge that living this way—loving and respecting everyone while holding onto the truth—comes at a price. It will confuse people. It may even cost us friendships or relationships because the world doesn’t understand how we can both love someone and disagree with them. But that’s exactly what Christ calls us to do. And it’s what sets us apart from the rest of the world.

I learned something valuable from this experience. I was so focused on "putting on a good show" during my presentation that I missed the Spirit’s prompting to speak the truth about unity and love. That’s a lesson for me—one that I’ll carry with me as I continue to share this message. But for all of us, the greater lesson is that we cannot let go of either love or truth. If we do, we lose the heart of what it means to follow Christ.

Call to Action

​Are you willing to stand in that difficult space, holding onto love with one hand and truth with the other? Share your thoughts in the comments, or visit my website for more insights on living as a Counter-Cultural Christian.