“always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” – 1 Peter 3:15
Talking
to “Sally” the other day, she told me that she had told her friend, “Karen” about
me. When Sally described me to Karen the first thing she said was, “He is very
religious” I am not certain if that was intended as a compliment or if I was
being “profiled” 😊 You know, put into a “category”
to set the context of the conversation. I don’t mind, actually, but if that is
the limit of my witness – I should be concerned. But then I thought about the “natural
man’s” understanding of Christians and religious is as much as they understand.
Karen asked Sally if I would be willing to talk to her about one of Karen’s
relatives living a particular lifestyle. What the lifestyle was is not the
point – Karen was trying to sort it out – was it right or wrong and how should
she respond to that person. I told Sally, initially, that I would not because I
sensed the point was to argue the rightness and something Karen was certain I
would consider wrong. Why?
“But
the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.” - 1 Corinthians 2:14
I
don’t believe that, apart from the Spirit of God, people can understand
spiritual truth. It is like have a conversation with a person who speaks another
language – words are said but there is no understanding – it is just gibberish.
But then I had second thoughts. What if this was a God-appointed moment. So I
decided that I would take a different approach.
First, I would ask Karen if she believes there is a God and that He
created all things. If yes – that is
common ground – if no – then at least she would know where my beliefs about
right and wrong come from. Giving a defense does not mean convincing someone to
believe what you believe, but explaining why you believe what you believe.
Second,
I would explain that I believe that the Bible is God’s written revelation to
mankind. That it is Truth.
“[Jesus
speaking] Sanctify them by Your [God the Father] truth. Your word is truth.”
– John 17:17
I am
not making it up as I go – it is not my culture’s opinion – not based upon how
I feel that day – Truth does not change. So if I want to know the Truth, I look
to God as the source of truth.
Third
– it is possible to love someone who is doing something that God says not to do.
There is a difference between acknowledging the fact that someone is sinning
and judging them for it. I am not to
judge others. I am to love others – that is hard for a world that is
performance based and cannot separate the sin from the sinner – throwing the
baby out with the bath water, if you will. It can feel like a compromise. Certainly
there are sins that have greater consequences than others – but in the final
analysis – sin is sin and Jesus is the only answer.
I am
not going to argue with a person about the rightness of God’s word – it is only
the Spirit of God who can reveal that to the human heart. And when confronted
with the Truth – that person must choose to accept or reject it. I cannot make
that decision for them – nor can you. I must not guilt them into a false
confession with them hoping it will make me happy – but there is no heart
change. That may be religious but has nothing to do with true conversion and
salvation.
If
Karen is a Christian, my advice to her would be, love the person but stand your
ground on not agreeing that their lifestyle is OK. If Karen is not a Christian,
then I would tell her that according to God’s word, the lifestyle is not OK and
like Nicodemus – knowing that Karen must be born again to understand why it is
not OK and how she can still love the person without condoning what they are
doing. Perhaps our conversation is a stepping stone on Karen’s path to salvation.
Either way, my responsibility is to embrace the Truth and share it when given
the opportunity.
“Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has
reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Think
about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and
give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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