Be Prepared to Make a Defense

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. 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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV)

Q: Who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? A: Anyone who is not zealous for what is good. Anyone who desires evil and/or who is deceitful and who does not want his sins exposed, or who does not want to hear the truth, but who wants only to hear “sweet things” which tickle itching ears. For those who are opposed to God/Christ, by their actions, may also be opposed to his followers who are following the Lord in obedience and who are sharing the truth of the gospel and who are refuting Satan’s lies.

And, according to the Scriptures in the New Testament, in general, we who believe in Jesus Christ are called to suffer for the sake of the name of Jesus and for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of righteousness. Jesus told us that we will be treated as he was treated. We will be hated, rejected, mistreated, abused, falsely accused, cast aside, and persecuted because we stand on the truth of God’s word, and because we tell the truth, and because we expose the enemy’s lies. For the enemy does not like that.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Jn 17:14; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]

But we are not to be afraid of our opposition and of our persecutors. We are not to let how others treat us impact what we do or do not do or how we feel about ourselves. But we must continue to honor the Lord Jesus with our lives and to walk in holiness and in righteousness, and to live holy lives which are separate (unlike, different) from the world because we are being made into the likeness of character of Jesus Christ. We must continue to obey our Lord and his commands and to do what he has called us to do, no matter what.

And we are always to be prepared to make a defense or to give an answer to those who ask us for a reason for the hope that is in us. And it may not be that they literally ask us to give a reason for the hope that is in us, but they may be people who are opposing and challenging us in our beliefs and practices. And there we need the wisdom of God to discern how to respond, for there will be people who just want to pick a fight and who will attempt to bait us into an argument. Thus, we don’t have to answer everyone.

Jesus didn’t answer everyone who challenged him, especially not those who were trying to bait him so that they would have cause to accuse him. So before we respond to anyone, it is a good idea to pray for wisdom as to how to respond or whether or not to give a response. For when this says to do so with gentleness and respect (fear), it is speaking of meekness (gentle strength or gentle-force) which expresses power with reserve and which should be led by the Holy Spirit and not be of our own flesh. 

So we should not allow ourselves to get into fights and arguments where people end up insulting one another and being hateful and nasty. We should maintain a good conscience that we handled these situations well under the direction of the Holy Spirit. This is not saying, however, that we cannot challenge lies and false teachings. We can and we should, but in a way that is honest and sincere but doesn’t get nasty and hateful. But this should never involve sugar coating the truth in order to not offend others.

But if we maintain a good conscience, and we do not get down into the mud and have a mud fight, so to speak, but we keep our cool and composure and we just speak truth into the lies with that gentle-force, then even if our opponents choose to slander us, those who revile our good behavior should be ashamed of their conduct towards us. But they may not be, at all. And we really have no control over how others are going to respond to us unless we incite them to anger on purpose, which we are not to do. 

And it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. Amen! For then we at least know that what we did was good, and our consciences are clear before God. For we are to be those who speak the truth of the gospel and of the teachings of the Scriptures to others for their good even if we get hated and mistreated and falsely accused in return. For, again, we are called to suffer for the sake of Christ and for the sake of his gospel and for the sake of righteousness, and that is for our good.

All Through the Night  

An Original Work / December 7, 2013

Based off Various Scriptures

Blessed are you when you’re persecuted

Because of your faith in Jesus Christ.

Blessed are you when people insult you,

And falsely say what leads folks to doubt.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is

Great in the heavens. You’re not alone.

When you are persecuted in one place,

Flee to another. God will be there.

You will be hated by all the nations

Because you testify of God’s grace.

Many will seize you and persecute you,

And put to death the foll’wers of Christ.

Yet do not fear what humans may do to you,

For I’m with you all through the night.

I tell you, love your enemies with my love,

And forgive as I forgave you.

Pray for those who do evil against you.

Rest in my love and grace from above. 

https://vimeo.com/379481617