Have you had people ask you why you follow Jesus? Have they asked you why you believe He is your Savior? Did their questions cause you to pause and reconsider your belief in Him? How did you answer them? Did you answer them like Jesus answered those who questioned Him?
Sometimes we are put on the spot. Someone who doesn’t believe, or doesn’t want to believe, asks us why we believe. The person who doesn’t believe attempts to put us down because of our belief. The one who doesn’t want to believe may be seeking an answer that will pull them off the fence.
So, how should we answer? We wrestle with that question when asked. Might I suggest we have an answer ready before we are asked that question? By being prepared, we are following the guidance Peter gives in 1 Peter 3:15. We can be prepared by thinking about the types of questions we have heard in the past and by thinking about how others might try to trip us up.
Jesus gives us an example in Matthew 21:23-27. He doesn’t give a straightforward answer but asks a question instead. We might decide to do the same. If someone asks why we believe in Jesus, rather than trying to provide hard evidence of the truth we know, we might ask them why they believe there is no eternal life. We might ask why they believe they achieve a goal they have set. We could ask why they are planning for retirement in their twenties, not knowing if they will live to retirement.
Could these questions be controversial or seem callous? Sure. But causing them to wrestle with questions for which they have no answer may just cause them to reconsider their beliefs (or non-beliefs) about Jesus. We don’t need to be confrontational. Our goal is to cause the other person to think. Our question may ignite a curiosity that brings them to Christ.
I pray we all are prepared to answer questions about our belief. I pray we seek to cause others to think. I pray each one of us will encourage others to believe in Jesus through our conversations with them. Be prepared. Lovingly challenge others. Seek to bring others to Christ.
Matthew 21:23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
Marty Pressey 