21 Days of Prayer for the Lost: Day 10

As a young man, one of my hobbies was Christian apologetics – studying arguments for what we believe. This word apologetics is pulled straight from this passage in 1 Peter. When Peter calls his readers to “give an answer,” the original word is apologia, “defense.” Many use this verse to say that we must be ready, whenever anyone asks, to make a logical defense for what we believe, i.e. “the hope that you have.”  So in our gospel conversations, we must “be prepared” to answer common objections to the gospel.

Evangelism absolutely involves the use of evidence to persuade people of the truth. We see Paul do this in Athens in Acts 17. But that’s probably NOT Peter’s main point.

First, Peter is less concerned with arguments than with attitudes. As we prepare to “give an answer,” we must do it with “gentleness and respect.” In other words, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. Sharing the gospel with lots of arguments but no compassion isn’t very Christlike. Very few people have been argued into the kingdom of heaven. Bible thumping isn’t what will cause non-Christians to “be ashamed of their slander.”

Second, the word apologia didn’t originally describe one-on-one conversations. It meant “defense” as in “defense attorney,” i.e. a statement in court in response to an accusation. When the Greek philosopher Socrates was on trial because of his teachings, his defense was called an apologia. The New Testament also uses apologia in this way (Acts 22:1, 25:16, 2 Timothy 4:16). We know Peter had this legal context in mind because this passage occurs in the middle of a discussion on “suffer[ing] for righteousness’ sake” (1 Peter 3:14). To give modern examples, Peter is thinking less of the “I hear you’re a Christian!” conversation at the break table... and more of the “You’ve been accused of being a Christian” conversation in the interrogation room.

To “be prepared” includes accepting the consequences of speaking about our faith. In a letter on suffering for the gospel, Peter challenges his readers to prepare NOW for holding their faith when it is put to the test in court, with imprisonment and death on the line. We probably won’t face jail time for being a Christian, but we will certainly face hostility, ridicule, and social ostracism. Are we prepared to face these? Have we counted the cost?

So yes, prepare to share the gospel in a way that address objections and speaks to those we know. But also prepare your attitude, to treat those who listen with patience and compassion. And prepare yourself, for the consequences of being willing to share your faith. How prepared are you?

Things to pray for today:

• Pray for wisdom to answer the questions of those who don’t believe.
• Pray for compassion on those to whom God gives us opportunities to speak.
• Pray for courage like the early Christians who stood firm when their faith was on trial.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.