| Not prepared . . . YET |
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I had to read this verse several times and then I had to read other interpretations. Only to come back to what I was almost "afraid" this verse meant. I have to be able to explain why I believe what I believe? And do it with gentleness and reverence? I've been challenged before by agnostics and atheists and the more I tried to explain the more frustrated and inept I felt by their questions. I felt almost foolish for believing in Christ as Lord. I felt that by not having a good explanation of why I believed that Jesus is real and that He is Lord I was unworthy to be called a Christian. So here I am again. Looking at my life. First, in all my words and actions do I show reverence for Christ as Lord. The truth is . . . No. I get impatient and yell and say mean things to people sometimes. I know Christians get angry, but when I get angry I don't feel very Christlike. I don't think anyone looking at me in the midst of my anger would believe that I have am a Christian, let alone that I have true "reverence for Christ" If it doesn't show in the way I act, how can I make a defense to someone about what I believe with my words? It wouldn't sound believable.
Anyway, so here I am and I want to explain the hope I have. I grew up in a Christian household. It wasn't really an option NOT to believe. When I as eight years old my mother asked me if I was ready to give my heart to the Lord. Of course I said yes. I don't think I fully understood what that meant and I certainly didn't know anything about true faith and how that faith can be challenged by simply living. So, in one sense I believe because I was taught that good little girls were supposed to believe and I never questioned that until I became a grown woman. I want to have a better explanation than, "Well, that's what my mother taught me." I believe because I choose to believe. But, that's not good enough either and I know that answer is incomplete. I'm not a new Christian, but I know I've taken my faith for granted and I want to be able to have a full, complete, understandable answer if anyone questioned and in a way I believe we are questioned without words every day. People look at me and I believe they say to themselves, "She SAYS she's a Christian. What makes her a Christian? How is she different from me? What does being a Christian mean to her? Why is she a Christian?" My goal, my current focus, is to be able to answer those questions in word and deed. I haven't achieved it yet to my satisfaction, but I pray the Lord helps me to answer those questions.
3:15 but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; 1 Peter 3:15 |
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