We are given the command in Scripture to always be ready to defend the faith (I Pet 3:15). But this can be difficult.
Christianity is evangelistic
We live in an increasingly secular environment and the general attitude to Christianity in society moves from indifference to scorn, and sometimes to outright hostility – in some parts of the world deadly hostility. To find out how we can defend the faith in this type of environment we need do no more than look at the early Church, who had to exist in a social situation much like ours.
By its nature Christianity is evangelistic. Many of us are to be willing, even eager to share our faith with others. In the book of Acts, when the apostles did evangelism, they did apologetics; it was an inescapable part of presenting the gospel. Putting forward the claims of Christ inevitably brings forth counter arguments and questions about the Christian faith.
Putting forward the claims of Christ inevitably brings forth counter arguments and questions about the Christian faith.
Conversations about serious topics usually involve disagreements. Sadly, many in today’s society wish to limit speech to things with which they agree. There are even instances of Christians being arrested because of complaints when they put forward biblical positions. How then are we to defend the faith in conversation with others in the midst of today’s cancel culture?
Three main principles
Firstly, we must be willing to speak with anyone, especially those with whom we disagree. In the gospels we find Jesus continually engaging with those who were opposed to him and even those who wanted to kill him. Throughout his missionary journeys, the apostle Paul continually went where he would encounter those who either did not know or were opposed to the gospel. When arriving at a new town he would automatically go to the synagogue; as at Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4), where he spoke of the resurrection of Christ.
Throughout his missionary journeys, the apostle Paul continually went where he would encounter those who either did not know or were opposed to the gospel.
When he arrived in Athens, the cultural centre of the empire, Paul went to the Areopagus (Acts 17:16-34), where he encountered Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and presented to them the truth of the God who created all things.
Secondly, when we do present the truth of Christ and try to explain what is happening in the world around us from a biblical perspective, we will sometimes be met with scorn and abuse. This is hurtful and can be difficult to cope with. We should remember that although opposition is expressed on a personal level, it is actually based on opposition to Christ. Jesus told us that if people are opposed to us, it is because they are first of all opposed to him (John 15:18ff).
This should evoke in us an attitude of compassion for those who are facing life today and who are heading for an eternity without Christ. It is this compassion which enables us to respond, “with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (I Pet 3:16). A gracious response can be a more effective apologetic than a fervid rebuttal.
If we are to defend the faith in the midst of an unbelieving generation then we must both understand the worldviews of those around us and also have a firm grounding in our own faith.
Thirdly, if we pick apart the position of unbelievers, we must expect to find them picking apart the Christian position. It is natural to dislike having our most cherished beliefs criticised and rejected. Not only does it hurt emotionally, it can cause us to question our own biblical world-view. This should not cause us to shy away from discussion. We are called to be able to discern the difference between good and evil, and to test everyone (I John 4:1) and everything (I Thess 5:21) we encounter. Our model should be the Bereans, who subjected everything they were told to the bar of Scripture (Acts 17:11).
Always be prepared
If we are to defend the faith in the midst of an unbelieving generation then we must both understand the worldviews of those around us and also have a firm grounding in our own faith. This is the ‘always be prepared’ part of giving a reason for our faith. We will be pressed with counter arguments, but those to whom we are speaking are pretty much like us and if we have a clear understanding of the Bible and the principles we draw from it, we need not fear their questions.
We need not allow ourselves to be silenced within society. Yes, there will be those who will tell us that our faith is a purely private thing and we shouldn’t bring it out into the public square. This is an argument as old as the Church, and our response to it has to be that of the early Church. When Peter and John were told by the Jewish leadership to stop talking about Jesus, they replied that they had to do what was right in God’s sight (Acts 4:19-20) and that there was a higher authority than man whom they had to obey (Acts 5:27-29).
We live under the very same authority.
