Always Ready, But Not Endlessly Arguing
There is a beautiful verse in the Bible that invites us to be ready to explain why we believe. We are to be prepared, to live our faith intentionally, and to share it with gentleness and reverence.
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” (1 Peter 3:15, NASB)
But this does not mean that we should lose ourselves in endless, pointless discussions. In practice, we unfortunately see this going wrong far too often—and that is a shame…
Once you have given your explanation, and the other person has heard your words, it is up to them what they do with it.
If we keep arguing with someone who does not want to listen, we waste our time and energy. It is not efficient, and it misses the purpose God gives us: to use our talents and energy in a way that truly bears fruit.
There is another important point: there are people who do want to listen. If we get caught up in endless discussions with the wrong people, we no longer have time or attention for those who are open. In doing so, we neglect the responsibility God gives us to use our gifts and talents effectively.
We also see this reflected in how Christians often get entangled in endless discussions about details within the church or interdenominational debates. Interesting and engaging, perhaps—but is your neighbor already a Christian? Your neighbor may not even know that you are a Christian. While the Great Commission calls us to bring people to Christ, all the time we spend on internal debates can actually result in us bearing less fruit in the work God asks of us.
The devil is masterful at misleading people with discussions about details, precisely because it feels like we are doing something good, while the real results are missing. All that time often does not lead to more Christians—and if we are not careful, even to fewer.
An important aspect to understand is that it is God who opens ears.
“The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not disobedient
Nor did I turn back.” (Isaiah 50:4–5, NASB)
This verse emphasizes that it is God who enables us to hear and understand. It is not up to us to force someone to listen or to believe; that is the work of the Holy Spirit. If you have clearly communicated what God says through His Word, then it is up to the other person—not you.
In practice, this becomes very clear:
- We are always ready to explain our faith, kindly and clearly.
- We do this with gentleness and reverence.
- Once we have done our part, we let go of the outcome and give the other person the freedom to choose (and the consequences of that choice are theirs, not yours).
- We focus our time and energy where it bears fruit: with people who are open, and in the work God directly calls us to, such as the Great Commission.
By following this principle, we remain effective, protect our energy, and ensure that we have attention for those who are open. In this way, our witness becomes powerful, fruitful, and faithful to the wisdom God gives us.
Will you join in?
