apologetics

Don’t Forget the Salt

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I eat oatmeal for breakfast every day. I make it in small batches so I only have to cook it a couple of times a week. Yes. I cook it from scratch. I don’t use the packets. And when I cook the oatmeal, I always add a pinch of salt to the boiling water. It just gives the oatmeal a better taste. I’ve learned that the hard way.

The other day I was cooking oatmeal and I must have gotten distracted. The next morning when I took my first bite something tasted off. At first I thought the maple syrup I drizzle over it was bad. But no. I had used the same maple syrup the day before and it was fine. I kept eating the weird tasting oatmeal when it finally dawned on me. I had forgotten the salt.

Now I’m stuck for the next few days eating saltless oatmeal. Oh. I’ll survive, but my breakfast won’t be nearly as enjoyable as it usually is. I won’t look forward to my morning meal, as I normally do. I just have to remember to add salt the next time I cook oatmeal.

Each morning I’ve been eating this unseasoned oatmeal, I can’t ignore how unpleasant it is. What does salt do that makes food taste so much better? Especially oatmeal? Isn’t oatmeal supposed to be sweet instead of savory? I don’t understand. Nevertheless, I’m still eating the bland breakfast, and I can’t wait until I have a fresh batch to devour. And, by the way, when adding salt to oatmeal, never add enough so that you can actually taste the salt. That’s not the purpose of salting oatmeal. And that’s why I’m not adding salt to my oatmeal when I reheat it. It wouldn’t be the same. That would just make it salty oatmeal.

The reason salt is added to any dish is to enhance flavors that might otherwise get lost. It brings out the layers of goodness in any dish. Instead of eating bland food, salt takes the dish up a notch. It makes eating a more pleasant experience, so a little salt should be added to any dish that you’re cooking. Not to taste the salt, but to enhance the all around flavor.

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. Matthew 5:13

Did you know that the Bible actually talks about salt? There are several verses that talk about how salt is good for seasoning. Oh. You may ask. What does that have to do with little ole Christian me? Well. Let’s find out.

Matthew 5:13 tells us that as followers of Christ, we are the salt of the earth. And if we’re not salty Christians continually seasoning our culture, we’ve lost flavor. We’re worthless. Salt is also known as a preservative. It helps prevent rotting in certain situations. So we believers living a salty Christian life are helping to preserve all humanity from falling deeper and deeper into utter chaos and ruin. Oh. It may not seem like we’re having any effect. But imagine if there were no Christians on the earth right now. Evil would reign supreme. And that isn’t the case today, even though times may seem pretty hopeless. As long as there are Christians walking this earth, the Holy Spirit is still present doing his work. Because when Christ comes to call his children home, the Holy Spirit will depart this earth and all chaos will break out. This is not the time.

For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:7

We have to realize that, as Christians we have a circle of influence, and we must season it with our godly lives. Whether it’s in our neighborhood, our workplace, our family, or our extracurricular activities, we must live with Christian purpose. Anywhere we interact with people, we Christians are the seasoning because the Holy Spirit is with us. And if we lose our seasoning, just as salt does, it means we are not actively living out our faith. We can’t stop living faithfully to Christ, or we lose our purpose and our Christian influence. So we must always be willing to give an answer for the hope that we have. Our hope is in Christ.

Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Luke 14:34-35

We have to know that we aren’t living without hope. We have the hope of the world living within us. That hope keeps us salty. We as believers keep this world in check even when the tide seems to be turning against us. But in order for us to keep the world in check, our hearts and lives must live in check with the Holy Spirit. We must walk in the truth of the Light of the world. We can’t afford to lose our flavor. Otherwise, we’re not any good. Our testimony is worthless if we don’t keep our relationship with Christ fresh and growing. We followers of Christ serve an important role in the maintenance and upkeep of today’s culture. We must do our part and live faithfully according to God’s Holy Word, because the world is watching.

For everyone will be tested with fire. Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other. Mark 9:49-50

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:6

Be Careful About What Offends You

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The Bible is the Word of God. It’s God’s message of love, hope, salvation and justice to everyone. God speaks truth in his word. God’s plan is perfect, so when Adam and Eve hit a bump in the road and disobeyed him, he had a solution for their sin. When they ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, God provided a plan of forgiveness. And it wasn’t just a plan to save Adam and Eve; it was a plan for the salvation for all mankind. But ever since then, mankind has been on a collision course with eternity. And each of us needs to fully surrender to God’s free gift of forgiveness and salvation for our sin.

We can read in God’s word about his plan of salvation. We can hear it preached in church. We can see how salvation has changed people’s lives. We have the choice to accept or refuse this gift God is offering to each of us. God doesn’t make us choose to live according to his will. He gives us a choice. We make the decision.

The thing is. God’s word is the same for everyone who reads or hears it. Some people are convicted by hearing about their sinfulness and repent. They choose to become a follower of Christ. Others are highly offended and turn against God. They live in opposition to his commands. But his commands don’t change. God is always constant, and he doesn’t show favoritism.

On a recent podcast, the speaker shared that the same fire that melts wax hardens clay. The same wind that sways the oak tree will uproot the weak. And it’s the same with God’s word, which doesn’t change. The difference is in the hearer.

This podcaster encouraged his listeners not to harden their hearts, but to turn from their sinful ways and follow God. The only one we must fear is God. And that fear isn’t the same as being frightened in the dark. It’s the fact that we respect God’s authority and obey him. The fear of God causes us to bow to his commandments and leading. Our fear of God means we don’t act beyond what he allows. We must have a reverence for God and stand in awe of his power and wrath.

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise. Deuteronomy 10:17, 20-21

In his death on the cross, Jesus represents submission to God, not submission to the authority of man. He represents absolute truth, so when we read the word of God we see our own sinfulness. And we have the choice to be convicted or offended. Sure. The truth hurts. But it also heals if we accept the forgiveness of our Lord and Savior.

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that people no longer fear God. We live for ourselves alone and assume we are our own authority. But the fear of God needs to be seriously considered and practiced. Living in the fear of God doesn’t mean we’re quaking in our boots at the mention of his name. But it does mean that we respect and acknowledge our limits, and we don’t cross the boundaries of Scripture. We must realize that God is God and we are not him. His authority is supreme over anything and everything else.

We see the fear of God lived out in the Bible. When the Hebrew midwives disobeyed Pharaoh’s orders to kill all the newborn baby boys, they refused. They had more fear of God than they did of the king. They knew that if they murdered all those babies, they would stand in judgment before God. They knew they couldn’t cross that line. They stood firmly in their faith in God, and God gave them families of their own in honor of their obedience.

You can read the story of the Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1.

In another Bible story, Daniel’s three friends refused to bow in worship to the king. When the king gave them a second chance, they again refused. They said that if God wanted to save them, he would. If he didn’t want to save their lives, then he wouldn’t. And as a result of their refusal to worship the king, they were thrown in to a fiery furnace. And God chose to honor their obedience and saved their lives.

You can read the story of Daniel’s friends in Daniel 3.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

Dressed for the Occasion

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

They were the ruling party of the day. They knew they had control of the people, and they liked it that way. Power is everything to some people, and some people abuse that power. And in this very moment, they were abusing the power that had been vested to them by the authorities. And they didn’t care. Who would challenge them? Who would call them out for their unlawful behavior? Who would dare?

A man was on trial for a belief the ruling party didn’t agree with. So they brought in their own attorney to tell a version of the story that was far from the truth. They even provided witnesses who didn’t witness the so-called crime. They were determined to put this man away for what life he had left in him. And rightly so, because he was a threat to their way of ruling. He spoke words that went directly against their ideologies, and he was in the way. A menace to society, some would say.

Funny thing is. This man didn’t even have an attorney. He spoke in his own defense. But no worries. His speech was eloquent and accurate. He did not embellish his story. He just told the plain truth. His delivery was on point. There was no denying that. He had been called a troublemaker and a ringleader. He was accused of desecrating the holy place where everyone worshipped. Only he hadn’t.

This man’s name was Paul. What this ruling party failed to remember, or perhaps didn’t know, was that Paul had once sought and approved of the killing and imprisonment of people who called themselves Christians. And now. Here he was. The roles had been reversed, and he found himself on the receiving end of imprisonment and possible death for being a Christian. Oh. Paul was aware of the dangers, but he felt God’s call on his life to share the message of salvation.

It was obvious to Paul and the men who traveled with him that the leaders in Jerusalem had rejected the gospel message. And by doing so, they rejected anyone associated with it. Not only were there multiple incidents of the message being rejected locally, but violence was ramping up against Paul and other believers. So when Paul spoke publicly about Jesus Christ and the need for salvation, a spotlight was pointed straight on him. But it didn’t silence him.

You can read this story about Paul in Acts 24-26.

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:14-17

Oh. Paul knew who he was fighting against. He knew the enemy, because he had once been a soldier in the enemy’s camp, all the while thinking he was fighting for a righteous cause. But he had been fooled. And when his eyes were opened, he realized the error of his ways. He had not been on the winning team, even though he had fully believed he was. But once the scales fell from his eyes, he surrendered to the God who had called his name on that road to Damascus. And ever since that day, he was fighting a winning battle even when he appeared to be losing. He was, at long last, on God’s side and would fight mightily for him until his last exhale of breath. Paul knew his final victory would be to spend eternity with his Savior, so fight he must.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

In Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he gave them basic instructions on how to stand unwavering in their faith. He taught them how to get dressed in the full armor of God every day, because that’s how he stood ready and prepared for the spiritual fight of his life. As he stood in front of the courts that day, he wore the full armor of God and was able to stand his ground speaking the truth boldly and confidently.

This body armor was not visible to the naked eye, but its effects were on full display. Those in the courtroom heard the full truth of Paul’s story, and God’s righteousness protected his heart from being wounded by sin. Paul walked into that arena in peace knowing that he was anchored and standing firm in his faith. He carried the shield of faith, so the enemy’s fiery arrows couldn’t reach him. By wearing the helmet of salvation, Paul’s every thought was protected by God. Satan’s stronghold was no threat over him. Lastly, Paul used the Word of God as a sword against Satan’s temptations. Paul was covered head to toe in God’s armor.

As believers, we too are called to be fully dressed in God’s armor every day. When we stand before our accusers for thought crimes or words of truth, we must be prepared to stand in defense of the truth. We must use every piece of God’s armor to defend our faith. Others may not see God’s armor, but as we wear it each day they will see God’s work in us as we reject Satan’s advances on our faith.

This spiritual warfare is a battle every believer faces, so we must be dressed for the occasion. As soldiers in the army of God, we must be armed at all times. No warrior enters the battle without their weapons. We can be encouraged knowing that God has provided his protection for us with this suit of armor. Those who know the strength and power of the suit will recognize its work as we publicly live out our faith.

Handmade Gods

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

It was a group of tradesmen who incited the riot. They made and sold silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis and felt their industry was being threatened. The apostle Paul had been preaching in their city for some time, and people were moving their allegiance from Artemis to worshipping God. Paul was teaching that the way to eternal life was through a life devoted to serving Jesus Christ.

As people in Ephesus were converting to this new God, they were rejecting Artemis. The tradesmen were seeing a slowdown in business. If the people didn’t worship the goddess Artemis, then they wouldn’t continue buying these silver figurines. The men would be out of business. Their livelihood would be destroyed.

These makers of silver gods knew that if enough people were convinced that these handmade statues weren’t really gods, they would be forced to close their doors. And they knew that Paul had not only persuaded many in their city to serve the One and Only God, but he had also preached the same message throughout the entire region. They weren’t necessarily upset about the message Paul was preaching. They were concerned about their economy, and they wrapped their concern in religious and patriotic messaging. He must be stopped. At all costs.

I can understand why the men were all upset. The temple to this goddess, also known as Diana, was considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world. It must have been a sight to behold. This temple was famous throughout the world. So, if someone was suddenly causing these men to lose business, of course, they would have to challenge the newcomers. A confrontation was in order. Their business was important, and no outsider could come in and ruin it for them. Absolutely not. So they took matters into their own hands.

As the men became angry at the injustice they saw happening against them and their life’s work, they began to stir up trouble. They started a riot, and crowds rushed to the amphitheater. Soon, the entire city was full of confusion. They thought they were heroes for the sake of their beliefs, but it was all a matter of saving their pride and making money.

Some people went along with the crowd just so they could be part of the crowd. They had no idea what the fuss was all about or who was even in charge of all the chaos. They just followed the crowd and did and said what they were told. They had no clue what they were fighting for or against.

About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!” At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater. Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. Acts of the Apostles 19:23-32

Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

Imagine being so good at your work that your actions could threaten to put an end to an evil industry. Imagine your words and convictions being so convincing that you could cause others to turn from serving idols to serving the living God. Imagine if that would happen today. Because we are in the same predicament today as Paul was centuries ago. The thing is. Paul didn’t set out to close down this lovely temple. His entire focus was to preach the gospel of salvation to the lost souls of Ephesus. And in doing so, the newly saved souls saw the error of their ways. And they turned from their worship of this idol that was no god at all to worshiping the One True God. They had been worshiping a manmade image that had no power at all. It couldn’t even hear their prayers.

Today we find ourselves locked in a battle not of our choosing. We see industries flooding the market with products and services that go directly against God and his creation. The creators of these products push their wares on people who either don’t know or don’t care about preserving biblical values. And those who publicly disagree are made out to be the worst of the worst. Anyone who opposes these retailers and industries may find themselves out of a job. Or worse. They may find that they’ve been blackballed and are not allowed to do business. Some have even had their bank accounts closed.

I’ve been on the fence as to whether Christians should boycott certain retailers and industries that sell products that oppose biblical teachings. It’s a decision everyone who calls themselves a follower of Christ must make. To be honest, I’ve failed in my boycott attempts. I’ve heard some Christians say they don’t even try to boycott any retailers. I’ve also read of those who are working to build a parallel economy that supports only companies that hold to biblical standards.

Just imagine with me, though. If a majority of Christ followers stopped supporting retailers and industries that were blatantly shoving anti-Christian products in our faces, an impact would be seen and felt. We’ve already seen it earlier this year when a couple of companies were expecting the applause of many when they supported specific lifestyles and life choices. The backlash has been huge and the voice of the opposition was heard loud and clear. Will it last? Only time will tell. But for a short window in time, the message on the side of the opposition was powerful.

When the public square speaks a language that Christ would oppose, shouldn’t Christians today oppose it, as well? Especially when there are other options? Truth is being challenged in every segment of society, today, so we must be on high alert at all times. We must never let our guard down to the schemes of the enemy. It’s time to consider where we will spend our hard-earned dollars.

But, at the same time, believers cannot up and remove themselves from society. Believers will remain in jobs in secular businesses. Christians will remain in public schools and liberal universities. Employees will be expected to attend trainings and workshops that are counter to their beliefs. Christians can’t just hide in a hole and ask the rest of the world to accept them. There are times and places when Christians must remove themselves from situations. Due to cultural expectations in some careers, they may have to choose an alternate career to keep their faith intact. But now is also the time to dig in our heels and spend time in prayer for those who oppose Jesus Christ. If all believers were removed from society, who would be the light in the world? Jesus hasn’t called his people home yet, so we are here to be a light in the darkness.

We should not ask, “What is wrong with the world?” for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we should ask, “What has happened to the salt and light?”

John Stott

Defending the Faith

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I’ve been reading about Stephen. He was the first martyr killed for his Christian faith. Oh. I’m sure he didn’t expect to die that day. After all, he had been performing miracles and doing the work of the Lord. Then some men started a debate with him, and they turned against him as they realized they were no match for his wisdom. The men who challenged him were most likely descendants of Jewish men who had been freed from slavery or imprisonment.

None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. Act 6:10

The reality is that Stephen wasn’t any smarter, more educated or a more qualified debater than those challenging him. The difference was that he had the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon him, and he spoke truthfully and fearlessly. He had soundly defeated them in the debate, and they were set to get even. They were disputing his authority in these matters.

So this group of men turned the tables on him, and the situation quickly got ugly. Oh. Stephen kept his cool. But these men secretly persuaded others to lie about him. Then they stirred up the people and others in the area and took him to face the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was no laughing matter. This was basically the Supreme Court of Israel. And not only that, these accusers then produced false witnesses who testified against Stephen in the courtroom. They claimed he was blaspheming Moses and God.

Suddenly, everything went wrong for Stephen. He was put on trial. And the witnesses brought in to testify lied about him. There was nothing factual about the evidence that was brought before the court. Yet, there he stood. Facing his accusers, his face shone as bright as an angel’s. Oh. Stephen may have known what the end result would be. And he most likely knew that he would soon be standing in front of God Almighty instead of this Sanhedrin. But he wasn’t fazed by the prospect. He was ready to meet his Maker.

When asked by the high priest if the accusations were true, Stephen preached a mighty sermon to this crowd of mockers. He shared the story of mankind from Abraham to their current day. He didn’t let any detail slide. Those in the crowd knew the story. They were men educated in the Jewish worldview. They knew the Scriptures and could recite them from memory. So what was their problem?

In his defense of Christianity, Stephen called out his accusers. He made no effort to conceal the truth about their willingness to persecute the prophets and even kill the Messiah. He accused them of deliberately disobeying God’s law. So, of course. It’s easy to see how the Jewish leaders of the high court were immediately incensed at his allegations. He was quickly dragged out of court and stoned to death.

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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:15-17

But, oh, we say. Why didn’t he just keep his big mouth shut? Why did he have to point the finger of accusation and judgment at them? And to their face? After all, this was the high court of the land. What did he think they would do after he said those pointed words? Did he expect a slap on the wrist and be let go? Or, was he answering to a higher calling?

The thing is. Stephen’s faith was no different from other Christians of his day. The difference was that he was willing to risk all for the sake of Christ. Others weren’t so willing. He represented Christ gracefully, not weakly, in a moment of provocation.

Stephen was able to apply Scripture to the challenges he faced. In the heated confrontation, he was able to speak biblical truth to his detractors. I wonder. Can I do that today? When I’m engaged in a conversation about my faith, can I uphold my beliefs with Scripture? Would I stand strong in my convictions? Or am I just spouting my opinion? Do I even engage in those types of conversations, or do I run and hide? Do I always take the easy way out of hard conversations? Do I know the Bible well enough to back up my faith with Scripture? Or, would I just fake my way through and hope no one was the wiser? Would I be willing to put my life or my liberty on the line for my faith?

If I knew that others would lie about me, bring in false witnesses and take me to court, would my faith stand strong? Would my faith be as firm in court as it is with my friends and fellow Christians? Or, are there certain groups of people I shy away from so I don’t have to face an uncertain future?

There are many questions we must ask ourselves if we stand for Christ. Are we willing to make a stand?

As believers in the Christian faith, we must know the Scriptures and be able to apply them relevantly to the cultural challenges we face today. That is exactly what Stephen did, and we are no different from him today. The challenges we are up against in this world today may look a little different from the issues Stephen faced, but they all have a spiritual consequence. We must be able to defend our faith from a Biblical perspective when we discuss those issues.

You can read Stephen’s story in Acts 6:8-7:60.

Early Voting

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The election is a few days away. We’re being told that this is the election of a lifetime. Aren’t they all, though? Doesn’t it seem that each presidential election is a make or break it time for one of the parties? But this time, it seems to be true. That’s what they say. Whoever they are.

I voted early. I stood in line in the cool weather waiting my turn. For an hour, I listened to the couple behind me discuss many topics that were of no interest to me. She went through each of the presidential elections since she was eligible to vote. She discussed which candidate she had voted for and why. Her husband asked how she had ended up voting for a certain party when her parents were staunch supporters of the other side. She gave her reasons. She firmly knew where she stood on certain issues and specific candidates. She voiced her pleasure in switching her husband to her party. She brought him over to the good side. She said.

She shared that the reason the first president she ever voted for got her vote was because he had appeared on MTV. Wow. That should definitely be a deciding factor on who to vote for in the most important election every four years. But she was impressed that he had put himself out there on a channel known to attract young people with impressionable minds. And guess what?! He won the election that year and again four years later.

Vote early. That’s what we’re being told to do. And millions are. We’re casting our vote and letting our voice be heard. We’re doing our civic duty, and we should be proud of that. It’s our responsibility and our right. Let’s not forget that.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

We also vote early on our eternal destination. We live our lives as a vote for either heaven or hell. For most people, this isn’t a decision that can be made at the very last second. Because we don’t know when our time is up. We must be ready at any moment of the day. However, some people do have the opportunity to make a last second decision. But why take the chance? Why not be prepared way ahead of time?

Each of us places our vote every day on the authority of our lives. We have two choices. God or Satan. Heaven or hell.

I think about the conversation I overheard. She could give a reasonable argument for each presidential candidate she had ever voted for. She knew where she stood on the issues. Good for her. I wonder if she could give such a thorough and eloquent answer for the eternal destiny she has chosen.

I wonder about myself and my decision about eternity. Can I give a reasonable argument for why I believe what I believe? Can I defend my faith? Do I know where I stand on issues of biblical truth?

I’ve chosen God and heaven. With that choice, I wonder if I can actually defend my decision. Can I wax eloquent on the merits of God and heaven? Can I explain why hell is a choice no one ever should make? Can I give the reason for the hope that I have? I should be able to do so. I should work diligently to bring others to the side of following Christ. I should be proud to defend my beliefs. At all costs.