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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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My mother was attacked by a man at a gun store, and my mother said that if she was held at gun point instead of shooting someone, she would pray for them.
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Sometimes a loving response is a boundary followed up with actions that speak louder than words. Unbelievers are watching us, and believers too! When we can live out our convictions, and when prompted or not, be ready with an answer for the hope that lies within us, there is a steadiness about us that others notice. They will most likely want what we have that makes us different from the world. If they don’t, we pray for their blinders to fall so they can experience the love of the Savior. We keep loving them without participating in whatever worldiness they’re caught in.
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In my time at youth group we were going through a series of lessons on speaking truth in love, and how to respond to those who attack your beliefs. We discussed and equipped ourselves with scripture to help focus us and how best to return the questioner’s questions to see where they really are questioning. Such as, if someone comes at you with a big outrageous question about your faith. First, you must try to figure out what they really mean by the question and have them guide you and themselves to that true point of attack. Once identified you can then better answer and by this time you can hopefully do so lovingly after having time to think on your responses.
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As my sons were beginning their first jobs they would often encounter co-workers that were not friendly to Christians. When my sons would fall short in areas those co-workers would always point and declare them hypocrites. I instructed my sons to remember that those people are sinners in need of savior just like we were. My boys were to own/admit the hypocrisy but remind the co-workers not to blame our Savior for our individual failings. Then we have an opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ.
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I would say something like, “The God that you are denying loves you so much that he sent his only son, Jesus, to die for you. Christianity is the only religion that does not require anything in return for this extravagant gift of love. The only requirement is that you choose to receive the gift.”
I may also ask the person if they have any pain in their body. “Jesus not only died for your eternal salvation, but for your physical and emotional healing. May I pray for you?”
