For some time now the Holy Spirit has been highlighting for me in my growth the ability to defend the faith. When I say highlighting, I mean that as I seek God or he sends a message to me it has been about defending the faith or seeing some one do it. Because of my disobedience and laziness I have never put forth the effort to intentional learn how to defend the faith. If I am being honest I used a scripture as an excuse without ever really going and finding that scripture and reading the full context. Even worse I don’t even have the scripture memorized in entirety, I can only paraphrase it. The scripture I am referring to says something along the lines of don’t worry about what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. The scripture is actually Matthew 10:19 that says, When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. Though I believe this, I had taken it out of context to excuse my own behavior and lack of shrewdness.

However, as I said the Holy Spirit has been really showing me that I need to be intentional in this area. He led me to pick up a book called Christian Apologetics, that I borrowed from my pastor a year ago. At the time that I borrowed the book I rally couldn’t get into it because I was not spiritually mature enough or interested in defending the faith. I knew what God has done for me and that was enough. I believe that sharing my testimony is great and is real to me but may not be the same for others. I also began to see people who had a quick responses or intelligent questions for those who questioned or opposed the faith. Most of the answers I knew but I thought to myself I only know a paraphrased version just like I only knew a portion of Matthew 10:19. I realized that I have been piggy backing off of others people faith and knowledge. I didn’t know it for myself. That is my fault because I didn’t take the time to study.

My pastor confirmed this in his sermon on Sunday and so did my personal time with God. Pastor Mark preached on defending the faith then I read 2 Corinthians 10 where Paul is defending his authority. There are eighteen verses in this chapter that I encourage you to go and read. I will share with you what I have learned about defending the faith and how to do it. Please go and read 2 Corinthians 10 for yourself and see what God tells you. Don’t forget to come back and share with me in the comments.

1. Paul is writing to defend himself against the suspicion that he is acting from human motives. We defend our faith for the kingdom purposes. To prove the validity of Christ.
2. His opposers mistook his gentleness and kindness as a weakness. They forgot that he has the authority of Christ. So do we! His authority wast to build up God’s people not to demolish them. Yet he as do we have to be firm in dealing with rivals of the faith.
3. Paul was gentle and kind because a domineering presence is a way of bulldozing people into submission. That is not what we are called to do.
4. Defend the faith in the Spirit. Pauls message was charged with a power no human rhetoric could command. It was given in the Holy Spirit.
5. Defend the faith in response to God’s call. All missionaries are directed by the Lord.
6. Boast only about the Lord.

Questions

Have you ever had to defend your faith?

What about God’s word have you blindly believed?

Do you read and study for yourself?