I have been told by many over the years, "Who do you think you are to judge who is a believer and who is not a believer?" My response is always the same: "I'm an observer. Unbelievers generally identify themselves; unbelievers don't believe the truth. Instead, they believe all the popular false teachings. And they're very proud and vocal about it."
Sewn into the question is an incredulity that any human being would dare make such a judgment, as though identifying unbelievers is akin to Godhood.
My other regular response: "The apostle Paul says that we are not to be yoked with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14). That's pretty hard to do if it's impossible to identify such people."
We live in an era of so-called tolerance, where it is considered impolite, politically incorrect, and even evil to identify people for who and what they are. Paul is not so squeamish. "Do it," he says. I say, "Okay."
It ain't that hard, people.
