So the temptation when we find ourselves in situations where we feel that our faith is
being attacked is to automatically revert to being defensive and to argue and debate
to prove that we're right and the other person's wrong. And it makes sense that we feel this
way because that's what the world teaches us to do. The world teaches us that it's all
about being right, it's all about proving your point, it's all about winning the debate.
But the Kingdom of God in this situation, and in many other situations, doesn't really
look anything like the world. In 1 Peter 3:15, it says, "Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope you have." Now, I know what you're
thinking. "Oh, that means I get to tell them how it is. I get to lay down the law. I get
to shove Jesus down their throat!" No. This is not a combative command whatsoever because
if you keep reading, you'll see that it says, "But do this with gentleness and respect,
keeping a clear conscience." When I look throughout the entire Bible, never once do I see God
calling us to be great debaters or arguers. The call of Jesus was not to prove that Christianity
is right. The call of Jesus was to make disciples of all nations. And his prayer was that all
of us, that includes believers and those who have yet to hear or accept the Message, all
of us would be one. I don't know about you, but I think that the fastest way to isolate
someone, the fastest way to separate yourself from them, is to spend all of your time proving
that you're right and they're wrong. The goal is not to prove ourselves right and other
people wrong, friends. I've never heard a testimony that said, "Well, I came to know
God when a really smart Christian proved that He existed and I realized how wrong I was."
Nor have I heard a testimony that says, "I came to Jesus when I got all my questions
answered." People come to Jesus when they have an authentic experience with His grace.
So when we're found in situations where we feel like our faith is being persecuted, the
best thing we can do is walk into those situations with humility, love, and grace,
and what that does is it opens the situation up for God's Spirit to move in and do redemptive
and transformative work. To put it in simpler terms, God's Spirit is more powerful than
our arguments. And no one was a better model for this than Jesus himself. After Jesus was
arrested and he was brought before Pilate and before the religious leaders, he had every
reason to engage them in a debate. He had every reason to prove every single one of
their accusations wrong. But instead, what Jesus chose to do was he did not answer their
accusations. The only thing he said was a confirmation that he is the King of the Jews,
that he is the Son of God. Every other accusation, every other false word, he lets it go. He
doesn't respond, and instead, he endures the persecution by walking with humility and love
for us towards the cross. I believe that the writer of 1 Peter makes Jesus the example
for this when he continues by saying, "For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer
for doing good than doing evil." You see, friends, it's not in the aggression against
persecution, but it is in the endurance through persecution that we usher in the Kingdom of
God. I'm going to say that again. It's not in the aggression against persecution, it
is in the perseverance and the endurance through persecution that the Kingdom of God is brought
here on earth. That is why in Matthew 5:10 it says, "Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness'
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God." When we find ourselves in situations where we feel
that our faith is being attacked, our call is to choose love and grace over debate and
argument. Our call is to endure persecution for the sake of righteousness so that we might
see God's Kingdom come here on earth. Thanks so much for watching. Continue to use this
hashtag right here to ask us more questions. Also, boo, check out some of these videos,
subscribe to our channel, email us, whatever you want to do, we just want to hear from
you 'cause we love you and you're great. Keep being awesome. See you later. Bye!