A Gentle Defense

Defense is a familiar concept for sports fans. Many of the most popular sports require defensive strategies to be successful. Teams even have defensive coordinators dedicated to developing their defensive game plan.

However, there are still rules and guidelines that a team’s defense must adhere to. If they don’t, there will be consequences for the team! If a defensive football player makes a dangerous hit on an offensive player, an official throws a flag and penalizes the defensive team. In basketball, if a defender makes excessive contact with the other team, which could result in injury, the referee calls a flagrant foul, awarding the offensive team two free throws and possession of the ball. If a soccer player makes a reckless tackle while trying to defend his goal, he receives a red card from the referee, expelling him from the rest of the game, and leaving his team to continue down a player for the remainder of the game.

It's important for teams to have a good defense, and it’s just as important that players don’t incur unnecessary penalties through reckless, careless, or excessive behavior.

In 1 Peter 3:15, the Apostle Peter writes:

But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (ESV).

Just like our favorite sports teams, we need to be prepared to defend our faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5, Titus 1:9). And like a good defensive coordinator, Peter continues in verses 15 and 16 with a plan for how we should go about defending our faith:

Yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame (emphasis mine).

When we are defending our faith, we are representing Christ and our Father in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:20), which is why we should do so with gentleness and respect. We find these instructions repeatedly throughout God’s Word:

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness (2 Timothy 2:24-25, emphasis mine).

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person (Colossians 4:6, emphasis mine).

When we don’t follow the defensive game plan laid out for us in God’s Word, and instead speak and act recklessly, carelessly, or aggressively, it can negatively affect our team—the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 3:9)! Let it be our desire to defend our faith with respect and gentleness, and that our words would not prove that we are right and others are wrong, but would reflect the kindness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Father God, we thank You that the Fruit of Your Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We pray that when we are defending our faith in You, the fruit of Your Spirit will overflow from our words and our actions. Empower us to be gentle and respectful ambassadors of Your kingdom, interacting with others according to Your Word and Your will. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.