How Much Do We Really Care?

No sincere Christian would ever say out loud, “I don’t care whether people go to hell.” Yet our actions—or our lack of action—often speak far louder than our words.

There’s a well-known story involving the Las Vegas magician Penn Jillette, an outspoken atheist. After one of his shows, a Christian man approached him and offered him a Bible as a gift. Later that night, Penn posted a video expressing his frustration—not with the man who gave him the Bible, but with Christians who claim to believe in heaven and hell yet remain silent out of fear or social discomfort.

His statement was piercing:

“How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?”

It’s a sobering reminder: even those who reject the gospel can recognize whether Christians truly care. They may disagree with the message, dismiss it, or even mock it. But many respect honesty and courage when they see it. They can tell when someone shares out of genuine concern.

Think about it—when people of other religions share their beliefs, we might disagree, but we can still acknowledge their sincerity. If a Muslim speaks to you about their understanding of the path to Paradise, you may believe they are mistaken, but you can at least recognize the care behind their effort. They believe they are warning you for your own good.

Now imagine your own unsaved friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors. Picture them one day realizing that you never cared enough to talk to them about Jesus. Imagine the ache of knowing they never heard the gospel from you—not because you didn’t believe it, but because you felt awkward.

Yes, someone else may reach them. Yes, another Christian might share. But you could be the one. And while sharing the gospel may feel uncomfortable or risky, what good is our silence if their eternity is at stake? As Penn asked, what good is it to “believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that”?

We should long to see souls saved. And if that desire has faded in us, we need to ask ourselves why.

Is our relationship with Jesus stagnant?

Are we distracted by worldly concerns?

Are we caught in sin and afraid of being a hypocrite?

Are we ashamed, fearful, or convinced this is someone else’s responsibility?

Even if we feel unprepared, we can ask God to reshape our hearts—to give us compassion, courage, and His own love for the lost. We don’t want to reach the end of our lives carrying the weight of regret.

A line from the 90s Christian song “What If I Stumble?” by DC Talk puts it plainly:

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today

Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips

Then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.

That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

If you want help developing a natural, Spirit-led way to share Christ in everyday conversations, simply reply. Let’s talk. We can sharpen one another and help you grow more confident and comfortable in sharing your faith.

—Jeremy Thuveson

Daily Transformation, Express Columnist