How do I view the lost?

Tomorrow morning I leave for Las Vegas to do some training for EPS. My regular work is done from my home, over the telephone. Since I work alone, I get out of practice when it comes to being around people, especially non-Christians.

And a lot of the folks I'm going to Vegas with are non-Christians.

I am taking my Bible and some Christian books to read on the plane. I usually feel self-conscious about this (forgive me, Jesus!), and have thought a bit about what I might say to whoever sits next to me (most likely a fellow-trainer). But before I can know what to say, I need to be aware of my attitude underneath.

I've already posted about envy, but what alternative views of the lost arise within me?

One attitude is despising the lost. I think this is an almost natural response once envy has been dismissed as wrong (at least within me.) This also makes me think I'm superior to them and feels very defensive.

Another attitude is one that leads to looking at the lost in a moralistic way - focusing on their sin. But this focus isn't a gospel-focus but again done from a sense of superiority and again feels defensive.

I'm beginning to see a glimmer of light as another attitude comes to mind - pity. Again, this could be from a sense of superiority, but also from a sense of the lost person's condition beofre God. The former arises out of moralism, the latter from the gospel.

The lost person sitting beside me has been blinded by the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4) just as I was for eighteen years and have often been at times since God saved me. I am not superior, but like Paul need to be their servant in the gospel.

But at times I think they feel superior to me - they are often more talented than I am, better at presenting the training material, have more money, am younger, lead a more exciting life, etc. so what do they have need of the gospel?

What I can tell them is the power of God for their salvation (Rom. 1:16). It does not depend on me, but on the Word and Spirit.

God help me to speak and not fear or be mute!