When was the last time you found yourself in a conversation where your faith was met with criticism?
Perhaps someone rolled their eyes at your belief in God or dismissed the Bible as outdated or irrelevant. Maybe they even challenged your intelligence for putting your trust in something unseen. These encounters aren’t just uncomfortable. They can shake us, especially if we aren’t prepared to respond in the way God calls us to.
It’s tempting in these moments to defend our faith with logic or frustration. But Scripture paints a different picture. Peter doesn’t call us to win arguments. He calls us to WIN HEARTS through the way we live:
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.” –1 Peter 3:15-16
This means our greatest defense isn’t found in what we say. It’s found in what we do. When we respond with KINDNESS instead of defensiveness, when we choose integrity instead of compromise, and when we remain steady in love even in the face of mockery, we reflect the character of Jesus. Our actions, powered by the Holy Spirit, speak louder than any theological debate ever could.
This rule of engagement is not about being passive or silent. It is about being WISE. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all powerful responses. As people observe your life over time, your consistency, humility, and grace quietly build an undeniable case for the reality of the Gospel.
Living this way requires more than good intentions. It takes DAILY SURRENDER. It means asking God to shape our hearts so that when opposition comes, we don’t react out of ego, fear, or the desire to be right, but out of the deep security we have in Christ. When prayer becomes our habit, we begin to seek His direction in our conversations, decisions, and responses to criticism.
This is all about how we engage with EVERYONE around us. Every interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate the radical love and truth of Jesus. When you serve quietly, forgive generously, and love sacrificially, people notice. They may not understand it at first, but in time, your life becomes a living sermon that reflects something, someone, far greater.
And when challenges come, as they inevitably do for all of us, we must remember that faith is forged in fire. The world may test us, but our response can point back to God. Be the kind of believer whose life says, “Jesus is real, and He has changed me.”
That is the rule of engagement the Gospel teaches us. We don’t silence doubters with louder voices. We do it with DEEPER LOVE.
Chad Mitchell
Afternoon Show Host, STAR 101.5 | Listen Now
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