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Once, when I was a university student, I went to a debate between a well-known Christian apologist and a prominent atheist. It was an interesting discussion with many well thought out arguments on both sides. While I'm not sure anyone in the audience changed their position on the existence of God after that debate (I can safely say I didn't), it did offer a lot of food for thought.
Thinking back on that evening as I read this passage, I find myself asking, "How do we as Christians want to get the message out? Do we want to be relentless defenders, unwavering and self-assured to the point of arrogance? Do we want to be capitulating, perhaps even apologetic (in the other sense of the world) for our faith, in the hopes that we can bring people to Christ because they like us and feel comfortable with us?" Which is the right way to go? As Peter points out, we need the proper balance when defending our faith: "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" (v. 15).
Thinking back on that evening as I read this passage, I find myself asking, "How do we as Christians want to get the message out? Do we want to be relentless defenders, unwavering and self-assured to the point of arrogance? Do we want to be capitulating, perhaps even apologetic (in the other sense of the world) for our faith, in the hopes that we can bring people to Christ because they like us and feel comfortable with us?" Which is the right way to go? As Peter points out, we need the proper balance when defending our faith: "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" (v. 15).
