If you've given your life to Christ and you believe in Him with all your heart, that's wonderful! But that doesn't mean that everyone's going to agree with you. As Christians, it is our duty to share the gospel and to live it out the best way we can, but what happens when someone questions your faith and chooses not to believe in what you believe anyway?
1 Peter 3:15 says, "Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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." As Christians, we should be ready to stand for our faith, but what does that really look like? Here are three simple ways you can respond to a challenge to your faith.
Stop trying to change people's minds
When Jesus commanded us to make disciples and to propagate the gospel, I doubt He meant that we were supposed to ram it down people's throats. Reality is that God gives every single person a choice whether to follow Him or to follow their own ways or the ways of this world.
Even Jesus admitted that there were two gates that people walked through and still walk through today- the narrow gate and the wide gate (Matthew 7:13-14). On top of that, the task of inspiring people and renewing their minds is something we are not called to do. It's something only the Holy Spirit can do.
Live as an example
James 1:22 says, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." When we fail to live by the grace that we profess, we not only fool skeptics but also fool ourselves. If there's anything that's even more unconvincing, it's a preacher who does not practice their own message.
While no one can be perfect doers of God's commandments, we can do our best to live out God's greatest commandment to us which is to live a life that manifests a love for God and a love for others. When we love God, we will in turn love others, even our skeptic friends, workmates and family members.
Commit them to God
Arguably the most important thing you can do to skeptics is to pray for them. Matthew 5:44 says, "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." When we pray, we invite God to move in areas we cannot move in. We cannot change people's minds and sometimes we also face skeptics whom we can never win an argument with.
But that doesn't mean God cannot move in that person's life. As we lift people up into prayer, we declare that when we are weak and unable to compete, God is still strong and able to win over anyone to Himself.
