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Share one or two ways you or someone you know has lovingly responded to an attack on your/their Christian faith.
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I went to a junior college right out of high school, and this was the first time that I truly experienced an attack on my faith. I was taking a film elective. We had to watch films picked by our professor and analyze different aspects of the film. He put on an independent film and warned us that there would be a nude scene in the grocery store. When that scene came, I put my head down until that scene was over. When the film was over we were having a discussion. The professor said, “Laura, I saw that your head was down during the nude scene. Can you explain to the course why?” I told the course that I was a Christian and did not believe God wanted me to view that scene. Everyone in the course, including the professor, began to laugh at me and attack my beliefs. I ended up dropping the course.
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Instead of immediately telling others the flaws in their social media post statements, I have seen others ask questions to make them think more deeply about a subject.
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Unfortunately I’ve been in a conversation about this with someone I’m close to. While he subscribes to a new age way of thinking, I do not, and he did get quite upset with me for upholding the bible as the one, true Word of God. How did I respond? I closed my eyes while we were on the phone saying a silent prayer, hoping to respond the right way. I responded in love and kindness with a concern for his soul. There’s no use in getting angry or raising voices.
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Responding to an attack on your faith can be difficult. Our natural human response is usually one of defense. I have learned that it is best to give these things time before responding. I take a few days to calm down, pray, read the Word, and give the Spirit time to change my heart and mind. Then I can have a conversation that is grace filled. Sometimes taking that kind of time is not always possible. In those moments we can still say a quick prayer that the words that come out of our mouths would be honoring the to the Lord and used to draw others to him. As a pastor’s wife, I have also discovered that often times it is other believers who do the attacking. This can be exceptionally hurtful. We are inclined to desire to right our reputation and defend ourselves. It can be hard to remain silent, but sometimes that is what the Spirit is asking of us. Praying for those who persecute us is a difficult but required action.
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The most direct attack I have ever experienced was when a students directly asked me why I bother teaching at a Christian school. I calmly responded by answering the specific question that was asked. Afterwards, I realized that they were not really interested in my answer, but trying to see if they could upset me.
