It's amazing, to me, that there are people who are willing to continually hash out, and rehash debunked ideas. Flat-earthers, for example, will say they have members around the globe. Some people say the moon landing was faked. When it comes down to it, people will believe just about anything if it means they don't have to be grounded in reality. Why? At it's heart, our quest for the truth (or away from it, as it were), really can be narrowed down to one thing: we want a truth that fits our lifestyle or needs, and really have no desire for actual truth. We believe what we want about the universe, in spite of the science changing every decade or so (when I was a kid, dinosaurs existed trillions and trillions of years ago, now the universe is 14.8 billion years old, go figure), we believe what we want about morality (let's face it, right or wrong doesn't matter, what I get out of it does; or, the law is great until I break it, or the law sucks until I am a victim). We have the stability of a bowl of jello in the sun when it comes to choosing for ourselves what is right or wrong, fact, or fiction. Christian, it is imperative that we be grounded in the truth, God's word, and that we are ready to make a defense for it! On the surface, people can come up with some pretty convincing arguments, and many will never go very deep in to what they believe, but only sound smart enough to make you scratch your head and wonder. We need to know God's word well, and not merely what it says, but who it was written to and why. Satan is still a master of getting us to fall for "did God really say that?" We need to be ready to make a defense of the Gospel, We need to know why, and we also should know the arguments our enemies have against us. Most of the have been said before (there is nothing new under the sun), and some are the same old arguments presented in new ways. We need to stand firm on what we believe, not straying from God's word, but standing upon it! Jesus didn't leave us open to interpreting His word the way we want, He said "if you love me, you'll keep my commandments!" Stand firm, Stand ready, and know God's promises for you. Be ready to make a defense, and know that people will not always listen. Stay rooted in Jesus Christ, in the power of the Spirit, and allow Him to be the one to guide your words. 1 Peter 3:8-22 English Standard Version (ESV)
Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For
“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 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; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered[a] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which[b] he went and proclaimed[c] to the spirits in prison, 20 because[d] they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Peter 3:18 Some manuscripts died b. 1 Peter 3:19 Or the Spirit, in whom
c. 1 Peter 3:19 Or preached
d. 1 Peter 3:20 Or when
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