The what and how of our defense

 

"Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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 3:14).

 

Like a fault line in the earth, there's a break in the ground of our heart between what we believe and how we treat others. Sometimes under the stress of people disagreeing with us, correcting us or opposing us, pieces break free and the energy released can cause substantial damage to our heart and to theirs. Anger, malice, disrespect, criticism, ridicule can all reverberate from the epicenter in us.

 

As Christians, we honor Jesus not only in what we believe but in how we believe. It is not just that I believe, but that in believing my thoughts, intentions, actions, and words are now formed and shaped differently from the inside out both towards God and towards others. 

 

We are commanded by Jesus to make a defense of what we believe. But how we are commanded to make that defense is with gentleness and respect. If we honor Jesus (have reverence, trust in Him), we will not mistreat people; if we honor people (have respect, show humility), we will not misrepresent the gospel. Both message and manner joined together comprise the what and the how of a faithful and truthful witness. 

 

 If you have a reputation as a Christian of being harsh and smug, your manner has invalidated your message; your defense is ruined, inadmissible. On the other hand, if you have no reputation as a Christian, you have no defense to make; neither your manner nor your message are distinguishable. 

 

Jesus commands us to be prepared to make a defense with gentleness and respect.  Our preparation of the what of our message is important. But it is our preparation in the how of our messaging that will convince (1 Peter 2:13; 3:16; Matthew 5:16). It is in the heart that we honor and worship Jesus; it is in the heart that we honor and respect others. It is in and out of the heart's preparation that a good defense is made. 

 

What have you prepared your heart for? How are you preparing your heart for that?