CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and 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; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” I Peter 3:15-16 NKJV
There is a common error many believers engage in, willingly or unconsciously that blurs the lines between contending for their faith and feeling like God Himself needs defending.
The Bible makes a distinction between the two by reminding us that God is self-sufficient and sovereign. What we are called to defend is the reason for our hope and sharing the truth of the Gospel. When we shift our gaze from the latter, we argue as though we must protect God’s honor rather than pointing to truth and trusting the Holy Spirit to do the convicting. As a result, this has led to unnecessary division, pride, even harshness that is a contradiction to the message of grace.
Child of God, we are not called to defend our faith in arrogance and hostility. As father Augustine once put it “you might win the argument but lose the soul“, and God’s heart is after souls, not erudite arguments. Let your posture therefore be one of humility, not in defending God as though he is weak but testifying to what He has done and why we believe. Hallelujah!
Prayer: My Father, I thank You for this wisdom. Let my words be filled with grace and sweetness that increase learning. By Your Spirit, may I carry knowledge that edifies and does not puff up. Let it be said of me that I contended faithfully for the faith entrusted to me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Job 41:11
• Acts 17:24
• Proverbs 26:4
