Lessons from the Gospels – Do you have the answer?

“You have an answer for everything!”  Have you ever heard this accusation leveled at someone? I remember hearing it used toward so called, “smart mouthed” children. It may be a phrase that is out of favor these days, and for good reason.

However, we might consider, as Christian women, if we should have – if we should be prepared with – an answer for every question about our faith, about God, about our Christian walk.

1 Peter 3:15 [NIV] tells us to be prepared to answer, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

Perhaps this scripture also comes to mind: 2 Timothy 2:15 [KJV] “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

It is clearly a key factor of our Christian Walk that we should know the scriptures, the truth and the why of our faith well enough to explain it when asked.

However, what about accusations? Should we answer every accusation against our faith or walk?

Christ Jesus, at the trials before His crucifixion – first with the religious leaders and later with Pilot – set an example of not answering accusations.

Mark 14:60-61 [NKJV] 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing? What [is it] these men testify against You?" 61 But He kept silent and answered nothing…

Matthew 27:14 [NKJV] But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Mark 15:3-5 [NKJV] 3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!" 5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

They marveled that He did not try to convince them of His innocence or answer back for the accusations leveled against Him. Most people would.

Although He remained silent during the accusations, Jesus spoke up to confirm Who He was.

Mark 14:61-62 [NKJV] … Again, the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" 62 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."

How might we put this into effect in our own lives?

1.      Know the scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:15.

2.      Know who you are. 1 Peter 3:15; Mark 14:62.

3.      Know when to keep quiet and when to answer.

a.      The scripture, via Jesus’ own words, instructs us to let the Holy Spirit lead us in what to say when we are accused.

Luke 12:11-12, 14-15 [NKJV] 11 "Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."… 14 "Therefore settle [it] in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 "for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

b.      In other conversations, when we do talk, lean into grace and salt.

Colossians 4:5-6 [NIV] 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I know that my “go to” is to be defensive when accused, to justify my faith or stance or opinion. But the scripture tells us differently. And I am working on that.

I want to learn to ask myself, “Are these words I am about to say full of grace? Are they seasoned with salt as we are told to be the salt of the earth (to make lives around us better)?”. If not, perhaps I should just remain silent, even if I am being accused of something.

Even as Christ-followers, we can be tempted to jump into rhetoric, especially online, where we think we “must” in order to defend our faith, church, beliefs, etc. We have to defend the rights we feel are being taken away. We must weigh in on the validity of someone else’s religion, politics, belief, etc. so no one could even consider that we might not be opposed to it.

Colossians 4:5-6 [NIV] 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

But that is not the example Jesus set for us, nor the instruction that we read in scripture.

We learn the scriptures to be prepared. We must then leave it to the Holy Spirit to give us the right words at the right time. We are to focus on speaking words of grace and salt always.

We must also consider that more often than we might like to consider, keeping quite might be exactly what the Spirit is leading us to do. Even when we feel accused.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the chat or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org