Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day!
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My husband is a funny man.
We were chatting one day, talking about life, writing, Jesus, when suddenly he said this:
“You know, Sharita… Even though you went to seminary, you should always remember that I am well versed in apologetics because I am always apologizing to you for something ridiculous I have done.”
I laughed for like an hour. (Ok, maybe not an hour, but it was a good hearty laugh which I desperately needed.)
So today, per my husband’s hilarity, we are going to have a crash course in apologetics.
First things first: Apologetics is not the “art of frequently apologizing.” It is just a fancy (and slightly intimidating) word to indicate the ability to defend your faith.
And since we are all Jesus lovers here at 7 Days Time, that is what we are going to focus on. Defending Jesus and sharing the gospel with those who are less than enthusiastic about this faith thing.
We aren’t going to get crazy deep, because this is just a single blog post– not a series or an entire book. I am going to keep it simple and share with you a few tips on how to share/defend Jesus in your everyday life.
So here is what you should do if you encounter a non-believer who might (or might not) be open to hearing about the Good News, or who is perhaps questioning you about your faith.
1. Respond with Love. This one is so very important. The entire premise of the Bible is love– and if we respond any differently when defending our faith, then we not only drive people farther away, but we aren’t living up to the ideals of Christ. Whatever you do, breath deep and respond lovingly– Just like Jesus would.
2. Be bold and confident, but not “defensive.” Sure, it might sound a bit intimidating, but if you truly believe in Christ, you can speak with gentleness, love, boldness and confidence that yes, He not only existed but died for our sins but was also resurrected. (And He will be someday returning.) I have met a few non-believers who are so fired up about NOT following Jesus that it is almost scary. Don’t get defensive– just remember that most often “wounded people wound” and they might just need a little bit of love. (See point #1)
3. Share what you know. You don’t have to have a Master’s degree in apologetics to defend your faith in Christ. Seriously. Just share what you do know. If they ask a question and you really aren’t sure, it is perfectly OK to say “That’s a great question… I’m not sure but would love to ask my Pastor/mentor/Google and get back with you.” Or it might be one of “those” questions that we won’t know the answer until we get to heaven. God is a mystery. That’s why He is God. Continue to learn about Him but embrace the fact that we aren’t supposed to have all the answers.
4. It’s not your “job” to win people to Jesus. I find great comfort in this one. Our job is NOT to defend Christ by literally fighting or forcing people to accept Him, but instead we are called to be seed planters. It takes people an average of seven times to hear the gospel before they say yes to God. Some might accept Him the first time and others might on the 200th. But remember: We are Christ’s representatives, so we should be confident in His Truth. If someone is attacking us because of our faith, remember they aren’t rejecting us– they are rejecting Jesus. Be obedient in the call to share and love, and He will take care of the results.
5. Trust the Holy Spirit. (And don’t be afraid of silence.) People get so uncomfortable with silence. If you can master the skill of embracing silence when you are defending your faith, you give the Holy Spirit a chance to work. He can do more in a three seconds of silence than we could do in three hours of talking. Think about it.
Wow. That got a little deeper than I had anticipated. There are so many dimensions to defending our faith, but I am so hopeful that these quick tips helped– or at least got you thinking.
What excites/scares you the most about defending your faith? Have you ever had to do it? What was the result? I would so love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a comment or click here if you are reading via email.
So no, “apologetics” isn’t the art of apologizing, but it is the challenge of defending our faith. Take heart, my friends and know that you are fighting for a team that has already won.
Victory in Him,
“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.” ~Philippians 1:7
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