Do it with respect
The apostle Peter states,
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:15,16.
Peter here is simply telling those who believe in Christ Jesus to be prepared in a respectful manner to tell anyone who asks why we believe in Christ.
I have seen over the years many calling themselves Christians who do not respect the people they are presenting their faith to. They put down a persons faith and lifestyle of others and then expect them to listen to what they have to say.
We should never disrespect others no matter how much we disagree with them. An excellent example of how we should present our faith comes from the book of Acts. Acts records Paul while he was in Athens.
It states,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” acts 17:17.
Notice he didn’t argue he reasoned with them. The book of acts then records,
“Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?”Acts 17:18,19.
When Paul finally spoke at the Areopagus, he essentially presented if you will a first century ‘Ted Talk’. Paul did not insult his listeners. Rather he met them where they were at.
He noted they were very religious and that they even had an “alter to an unknown God”.
From that point he started to talk about Christ. The result was some scoffed at what he said, others believed and others wanted to hear more about what he was saying.
This should be the way we present the gospel message. If we do so we will get the same result. Some people will scoff at us. Others will believe. And importantly others will want to hear more of what we are talking about.
So my question to you. If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you presenting the gospel message in a respectful manner?
Please think about it.
The apostle Peter states,
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 1 Peter 3:15,16.
Peter here is simply telling those who believe in Christ Jesus to be prepared in a respectful manner to tell anyone who asks why we believe in Christ.
I have seen over the years many calling themselves Christians who do not respect the people they are presenting their faith to. They put down a persons faith and lifestyle of others and then expect them to listen to what they have to say.
We should never disrespect others no matter how much we disagree with them. An excellent example of how we should present our faith comes from the book of Acts. Acts records Paul while he was in Athens.
It states,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” acts 17:17.
Notice he didn’t argue he reasoned with them. The book of acts then records,
“Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?”Acts 17:18,19.
When Paul finally spoke at the Areopagus, he essentially presented if you will a first century ‘Ted Talk’. Paul did not insult his listeners. Rather he met them where they were at.
He noted they were very religious and that they even had an “alter to an unknown God”.
From that point he started to talk about Christ. The result was some scoffed at what he said, others believed and others wanted to hear more about what he was saying.
This should be the way we present the gospel message. If we do so we will get the same result. Some people will scoff at us. Others will believe. And importantly others will want to hear more of what we are talking about.
So my question to you. If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you presenting the gospel message in a respectful manner?
Please think about it.
