Imperishable Inheritance

On Wright State's campus we had the infamous "Quad God" (in one form) who felt it was his purpose to come to our campus and call everyone in his sight from a "whore" to calling men "feminine" and doomed to hell (cf. Perry's article). It is interesting to see the draw that this man has; his draw is not from people who want to hear what he has to say, people are drawn to him in order to perpetuate hate. There were non-believers who stood up and apologized to Christians, because this man made Christians everywhere look rather foolish.

When I arrived last Thursday I was approached by many of the Christians on campus to get up and say something. In fact, I was a little overwhelmed with how many told this to me. It was almost an expectation. Even though I did eventually get up and denounce the man as a false prophet, there are reasons that kept me from going straight up and from going back. The thought revolves around how we, as believers, are to defend the faith (and we were defending our faith against this man's version of Christianity). Peter makes the apologists manifesto in his first epistle.

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
1 Peter 3:14-16

Let's make some observations on this text. Peter lists the following qualities in defending the faith:

1. It is a blessing to suffer for righteousness (14a).
2. Don't fear intimidation (14b).
3. Always sanctify (hold close) Christ (15a).
4. Be ready to make a defense for your hope (15b).
5. Defend the faith with gentleness and reverence (15c).
6. Keep a clean conscious when being slandered (16a).
7. Others will be put to shame by your good behavior (16b).

So, what can we learn from Peter's admonition; and what do I want to share about why I was hesitant to get up? We must, first of all, stay conscious of the fact that we are to be meek and reverent in defending our faith; and others seeing our Christ-like behavior will be moved by it. The list above "sandwiches" the admonition to defend the faith with proper behavioral characteristics when doing so.

The man who came did not abide in love, and therefore there was no truth in him. When we defend the faith we must have in our minds the desire to be humble, open, and willing to be suffer for the righteousness we are defending. Take every opportunity to defend the faith, but if in doing so you aren't going to display the characteristics of Christ then are you really accomplishing anything at all? That man on the Quad may say the "correct" Gospel, but he shows no true fruits of receiving the Gospel. We must be cognizant to always be salt and light in this dark world.