As I've mentioned in my recent set lists, we just finished a series on 1 Peter. The whole series was great, but there's one particular passage from a couple of weeks ago that has really been working on me:
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
-1 Peter 3:15-16
This is such a great picture of evangelism, but how often do we miss it in the evangelism culture of our churches? As I read it, Peter has two instructions for us here:
1.) ALWAYS be ready to talk about our faith
and
2.) Do it in a respectful, non offensive way.
It seems to me that most Christians are fully engaged in one or the other of these two points. Many folks are ready to talk about their faith any time, day or night, with anybody. The problem is that they don't approach it in a respectful way. In their eagerness to share the "reason for their hope", they offend the very people they are sharing with! On the flip side are folks who are utterly concerned with the "gentleness and respect" that Peter speaks of, but find themselves unable or unwilling to share their faith because of it.
In truth, Peter calls us to do BOTH. We are to be constantly ready to answer for the hope that we have in Christ, and we are to give that answer in a sensible, informed, respectful way. In my opinion, what Peter is telling us here is that we should be dialoguing with the world around us about our faith. What a different culture of evangelism we could create within the church if Christians and churches everywhere started taking this approach! An evangelism culture that seeks to dialogue with others about our faith, a culture that desires openness and honesty and sharing of beliefs... I strongly believe that such a shift would not only improve Christianity's relationship with the rest of the world, but in the process expand our mission field in a way we can only imagine right now.
God, please help us to be Christians that are always ready with an answer, and respectful in the way we give it.
