But sanctify the
Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and
reverence;
1 Peter 3:15
As the moral and ethical culture
of America’s landscape has been changing, evangelical Christians have become
more and more alarmed. Our fear has prompted us to be less than loving and less
than Christ like as we defend our faith.
One reason is that we have not been prepared to make a defense as
commanded in 1 Peter 3:15. Those who are not prepared to
make a defense of the gospel become both defensive and offensive.
The rest of this week we are going
to take a look at that word defense, particularly as it relates to the New
Testament word apologia. My prayer is that we would gain a better understanding
of what it means to defend the hope that is in us as we come to a better
understanding of the Bible’s presentation of this concept. Our knowledge of God
comes through PROGRESSIVE REVELATION. The
work of salvation is God’s work and is done in His time.
Not all will understand the defense of Christianity.
Often the defense of Christianity becomes
an unexpected opportunity for witnessing. The first step for a proper witness is the determining
of the spiritual knowledge and maturity of the one seeking or sought. (What do
you believe the basic understanding most people have about God? Christ? Sin?)
Speaking about things that the
person has no frame of reference or an improper perception of while using
language they can’t understand is sure failure in witnessing. (What kind of
words do we use people can’t understand?)
Not all are bold enough or prepared to offer a defense of their faith.
If we feel called to witness or
defend our faith, we need to do so in the confidence and guidance of the Holy
Spirit. We need to ask Him to give us
the words and use us to glorify Him. It
helps to be prepared ahead of time because when the situation arises and you
are taken off guard, you might find it hard to think through what you need to
say. We don’t want to come across as
critical or judgmental. That usually is
not helpful in presenting Christianity in a good light. It is not enough just to give an answer, but
to give it the right way, showing meekness and respect.
The defense of the Christian is to be led by the Holy Spirit.
But when they hand
you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given
you in that hour what you are to say.
Matthew 10:19
We have to let the Holy Spirit
guide us when we defend Christianity.
Otherwise our human emotions can get in the way and we can say the right
thing in the wrong way, making it essentially the wrong thing. As Christians we are passionate about or
faith and our God so when we go to defend them, sometimes we can get
emotionally charged and present it in a bad way. Ask the Lord to give you the right words at
the right time. Let Him guide your
reactions and answers when you are in a situation of defending the Christian
faith and you start to feel out of control.
The defense of the Christian establishes the faith of the believer.
The defense of the Christian concerns their “hope.” It is to be understood comprehensively, as
all that drives the present history toward its destined future. “ It is what lies ahead, the finish line, the
goal that we are running to achieve. We
know that we have a future with Him in heaven and this earth is just a stop
along the way to a glorious eternity. We
have to let that faith be seen by all.Scripture to claim:
…and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 1 Peter 3:16-17
