Should We Be Apologetic?

Is there any value in preparation? For anyone who has ever been in the military or law enforcement, the value of preparation cannot be stated enough. Such preparation is vital for their safety and survival. Failure to be prepared can lead to not knowing what to do in certain situations, and thus will cause confusion and disarray. What about us as Christians? Does preparation have relevance in our daily “walk” as members of the body of Christ? If the answer is yes, where can this preparation manifest itself?

Peter, an Apostle of the Lord, knew the value and importance of being prepared, and we can read this in his first divinely inspired letter we have preserved in the New Testament. He says, “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, …” (1 Peter 3:15). The Apostle knew that there would be skeptics and doubters that Christians would encounter. This is no different today than it was in the first century. It is our responsibility as Christians to “always” be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks” about our beliefs. So, how do we prepare ourselves? By making it a priority to know the Scriptures. If we aren’t prepared, we can’t give a “defense.”

Equally as important as Peter’s instruction to be ready to make a defense, is the last part of the same verse. Peter ends the exhortation by saying, “yet with gentleness and reverence.” This is something that all Christians must remember when defending their faith. Our goal is not to prove wrong the one with doubt, but to help bring them to an understanding of the truth of God’s word. We must remember that their eternal soul is at stake, as was ours when we came to accept the truth of the gospel, and we should act accordingly with care and love. So, let us always be prepared and ready to defend the Holy Scriptures in which we have placed our eternal hope. May we all be “Apologetic.”