Defense

“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

I’ve always liked this passage.  It’s about speaking truth, but doing so in love (visit Ephesians 4:15).

But it is a passage that should make all believers take a bit of pause. Clearly, we need to be able to articulate the hope that is in us; and then be able to defend that hope when challenged about it.

           

Christianity is a blind faith…said no one ever.

Instead, trusting and believing in Jesus Christ requires some evidence of truth, thinking through the evidence, and then being able to “make a defense” regarding what we know and trust.

In short, faith in Jesus is like the perfect bridging of head and heart.  It’s not enough to ‘know’ about Jesus. His Spirit does have to reside about 18 inches below our heads.  In the same way nobody is asked to blindly accept Christ in their hearts without pondering the evidence for doing so.  We are encouraged to use that area that rests some eighteen inches above our hearts as well.

In your life, what is the evidence that you know and trust that might be challenged?  Have you pondered how you would articulate the “reason for the hope that is in you” when that challenge arises?

Maybe these early days of Lent might be a good time to stop and take a few minutes and ponder.  What is your faith ultimately in? Why have you placed your faith in that?  What evidence, historically or experientially, do you have for what you believe in?

And be prepared to make the defense.  It’s a biblical imperative.