Yet hallow the Lord Christ in your hearts, ever ready with a defense for everyone who is demanding from you an account concerning the expectation in you, but with meekness and fear
Peter to the Dispersion 3: 15, Concordant New Testament
I know a guy, a gym friend who has made it his habit to attempt to argue certain things about Christianity knowing that it will trigger a reaction from some people, myself included. I recall back in my church days how I felt that it was my duty as a follower of the Lord to defend Him against any who would disparage His word. However, the only thing this ever accomplished were arguments and hurt feelings. Indeed, I have even known friends who have stopped talking to me due to their own views of the scriptures not aligning with what I believed. While I regret that these brothers and sisters in the Lord have chosen that path, I also stand firm in the truth of the Father spoken in the gospels and the evangel of the apostle Paul. The apostle Peter sums it up best in his attempt to illustrate how it is that we're to engage in discussions of this nature. Peter speaks to our being "Ever ready with a defense for everyone" concerning our expectation, yet with meekness and fear {Peter to the Dispersion 3:15}. Notice that the apostle never mentions that we engage in heated arguments. Notice also that he never mentions that we're to disregard those who do not agree with our viewpoint, only that we conduct ourselves with meekness and fear in our discussions. Obviously I could have learned this lesson earlier in life. I certainly would have avoided more than a few tense arguments along the way. To the best of my knowledge, Jesus never angrily confronted anyone in order to speak to them the truth we have in the Father. What he DID do is approach those who needed to hear His words with meekness and kindness towards those around Him. Instead of arguing His point, Jesus invited those who were curious to "Come and see" {Johns Account 1:39}.
A few years ago I came across the question I wish I would have asked earlier. Dos God really need us to defend Him? Does the creator of all which we see truly need our help in defending His words and actions? My own knowing of the truth of my life in the Father has not come from winning some argument, but from the revelation of the Lord. I would dare say that no religious argument has ever resulted in the conversion of another into knowing the truth of the Father. Paul has spoken that his own knowing of Christ Jesus in him came "When it delighted God" {Paul to the Galatians 1:16}. I believe that it is not up to us to somehow convince someone to realize the truth of the Lord in us. However, I believe that He will definitely speak through us to bring about that result. At the end of the day, it is not we who are doing the converting, but the Father Who is speaking and working through us. Knowing this, is it God who is arguing His case, or have we simply forgotten who we are in Him? I would choose the latter. The truth is that we can listen or read the words of the gospels, but it is only by the revelation of the Father that we will come to know the truth of our life in Him {Johns Account 14:20}. Those whom the Father draws unto His Son will be raised up in that day {Johns Account 6:44}.
No one can come to Me if ever the Father Who sends Me should not be drawing him, and I shall be raising him in the last day
Johns Account 6: 44, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
