Sep
7
Confidence With Love
Filed Under Devotional
Apparently, being confident is insulting. That’s the only consistent nugget I can extract from rather a lot of reading and interaction with opposing viewpoints regarding Christianity, the evidence for God, and the evidence for an Intelligent Designer. I’m not talking about the delusional rantings of the guy on the street corner, but a confidence carried on clear thought and well-sourced argument. It seems to scare and annoy the opposition to no end. When they really get wound up, you’ll see the mask slip a bit and they let loose about the arrogance, narrow-mindedness, and condescension they perceive from our side.
I admit to being biased, but I honestly don’t see it the way they describe it. The only conclusion I can come to is that our confidence is upsetting because, deep down, they don’t have the same strength of conviction about the ideas they defend. Or, even when they act like it, they know they are doing too much hand-waving to feel good about it.
Does that mean we should act timid or unsure? No. Does that mean we should just be quiet and stop bothering them? No. Those are both directly opposite what the New Testament teaches us.
I think all we can do is bathe it all in love and grace.
“that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness and deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—” Ephesians 4:14-15
Paul is saying that God has given spiritual gifts to the body so we can help each other and work together as we become more mature in our faith. The whole purpose is to cut down on weak-kneed faith that gets pushed around and replace it by building up strong, confident Christians who can be useful servants of Christ.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” 1 Peter 3:15
Don’t be afraid to be confident. Just use lots of love.