Defending the Faith

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:2

It is so easy to quarrel and disagree. We each have our own opinions and feel that we are right to express them.  We want to defend our position and change the minds of those who disagree. But the Lord tells us specifically to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  How can we express our opinions if we are to avoid quarreling? 

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15

The only thing we need to defend is Christ. Nothing else is important enough to spend our breath to defend. Truly if we think of all the issues we feel strongly about, be it politics, health food, animal rights, the right to bear arms, financial matters, or the like, chances are we will not change the view of the people we are quarreling with. We can express our disagreement gently and move on to other topics showing perfect courtesy to others and their right to have an opinion that differs from us.

When it comes to the reason that we live and believe as we do, though, be prepared to defend the Lord as our Holy Savior who died for our sins.  Even still the Lord requires that we defend Him with gentleness and respect. 

 

Often, we see groups of people defending Christianity in a way that is not gentle or respectful.  Perhaps we have even joined in protests or arguments that got heated and angry.  This is not what God has instructed us. And, of course, there have been whole wars fought over religious beliefs including Christianity.  This is not gentleness. 

You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. Psalm 18:35

If we want to do as the Lord has instructed us, we must be ready to defend our faith, while avoiding conflict over other unimportant and worldly issues.  There have been many studies about why minds in quarrels do not change.  One of the reasons is our desire to win the argument.  Even when presented with facts, our minds will not be reasonable. On social media, who some believe is all true, only 20 percent of people ever change their minds on an issue. 

We, as Christians don’t have time to waste on issues not related to bringing everyone into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately, Christianity is the one issue we are unwilling or unready to debate.  We fear being scoffed at or not being knowledgeable to make a good argument. 

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26

There are many different ways to discuss why we believe as we do, but the easiest way to start is by telling our own story and how God has changed us. It is difficult for someone to argue with our own true events. Talking about our lives before we asked Christ into our hearts and our lives after can have a profound effect.  People are searching for something to give their lives greater meaning and God is the only one who will.  He created us in His image and we have a void in ourselves that can only be filled by Him.

Unless we are bible scholars, which most of us are not, we should avoid getting into deep theological discussions.  By sticking to what we know, we can be gentle, truthful and loving.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

There is never a time when a Christian should get into a shouting match with a non-believer.  They may hurt our feelings.  They may completely wrong in their interpretation of events.  They may not know the difference between the Old and New Testaments and the Old and New Covenants.  They may not even believe that Jesus is the son of God or that there is a God. 

God is working in their lives.  He loves them just as He loves us, and it is His plan to bring them into a relationship with Him.  He will never give up on them and He will never be angry with them.  We can follow His example by continuing to tell them what we know has happened in our own lives. “This is what I know” is a good way to start our sentences.  And we can’t forget to pray for these people.  Prayer is powerful.  God hears every prayer.  

Being wise as we avoid quarreling about things that don’t matter to the kingdom, and being prepared to defend the truth of Jesus Christ with the gentleness from the Holy Spirit, is the will of the Father for His children.  Ask for wisdom and ask for gentleness and He will give them to us.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17