George is a very conscientious man. He makes it his aim to always do what is right, and to help guide others in the way they should go. George’s advice is usually spot on.
But it’s his reasoning that’s the problem. Allow me to explain by way of an example.
One day George was sitting in his living room chair, relaxing and reading a book. Suddenly, he heard a racket coming from the street. A group of neighborhood kids had decided to play football right in front of his house. George knew that playing in the street was dangerous, so he decided to warn the kids.
“Don’t be playing in the street!” yelled George through his living room window.
The kids stopped playing long enough to respond. One of the bigger kids, obviously the leader, yelled back, “But my mom always lets us play in the street. Why should we listen to you?”
“Because it’s dangerous to be in the street! A lion could come and eat you!”
His mother had told him the same thing whenever he was a kid. It was scary enough to keep him out of the street, so he tried it.
To George’s dismay, the kids laughed hysterically. “A lion! You’re funny, mister!” They went back to playing football.
George shook his head, mumbled to himself, “Silly kids,” and sat down in his easy chair next to the window to keep reading his book.
About an hour later a thunderstorm blew in. It came on so suddenly that it actually startled George. Lightning streaked through the sky, and thunder rattled his house. Even more distressing to George than the thunderstorm was the sight of those same neighborhood kids out in the street. Now they were dancing in the rain, and splashing in the puddles.
George knew the situation was serious. The lightning was close, and the kids were in danger of being struck. George cracked open his storm door and yelled out to the kids, “You had better get some shelter, or Zeus is going to strike you with a lighting bolt!” George had a superstition about lightning.
“Zeus?” yelled back the big kid. “Everybody know’s he’s just a myth!” He went back to splashing in the puddles, and trying to catch raindrops in his mouth.
George tried again. “Even so, it’s dangerous to be out there with the lighting! You need to find some shelter! You can come in my house if you’d like.” George opened the door a bit wider, stepped out, and motioned with his hands for the kids to come in.
This time the big kid thought he would be smart. He yelled back, “Hey mister, you’d better get back inside before Zeus strikes YOU!” All the kids fell in the street, holding their stomachs and rolling in laughter. One even acted like he had be zapped by lightning.
George was distraught now. He wanted to help the kids. But the kids didn’t want his help. He was torn, because he knew they were in danger, even if they ignored it.
As he came back into his house, the television screen caught his eye. It had been on, but with the volume turned down so that George could read his book. The screen showed a weather map with shades of green, yellow, and a huge blotch of bright red racing toward the dot that represented his hometown.
A bright red bar was taking up the bottom third of the screen. The white letters on the red background caused the hair to stand up on the back of George’s neck: “TORNADO WARNING.”
George fumbled with his remote control, trying to get the volume turned up. When he finally did, he heard the weather man say, “Spotters have seen a tornado on the ground...”
That’s all he needed to hear. George dropped the remote and ran to the door.
“Tornado! Tornado! Get inside now!” screamed George.
The kids stopped for a moment and seemed to think about what George was saying. Then the big kid yelled, “Yeah right, mister! Who told you that, your pet mouse!”
The other kids doubled over in laughter. This silly man expected them to believe there was a tornado coming?
Seconds later, George felt the wind change, and the rain suddenly let up. He knew what was coming. He ran back into his house, leaving the door unlocked for the kids. He made his way to his basement steps, and had just shut the basement door when his house began to be blown apart.
George’s story illustrates an important point that we as Christians sometimes miss: It’s possible to believe and do the right things, but for the wrong reasons.
George’s intentions were noble. His advice was good. But the reasons he gave were ludicrous, and caused the kids to reject his wisdom and stop listening.
You too might have noble intentions. Your advice might be good. But if your reasoning consistently has holes in it, people are going to dismiss what you say, even to their own destruction. You will never have credibility in their eyes, even when your reasons are right and good.
They would rather have sin destroy their life than heed what they deem to be your silliness.
That’s why it’s important that we defend the truth with the truth.
“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, (1 Peter 3:15 ESV)”
Peter uses the word “apologia” in 1 Peter 3:15 to describe the “defense” that a Christian gives when questioned. The word refers to giving an airtight legal defense. It means giving THE reason, not just any reason. This is true not only for defending “the hope that is in you,” but for every instance of defending the truth.
“Defend the truth with the truth. When you don’t defend the truth with the truth, you may as well tell a lie.”
We must always be careful not to “proof text,” or to allow superstitious views or less than credible information drive our decision making. This is especially true when it comes to topics such as alcohol, smoking, drugs, gambling, dancing, pornography, homosexuality, divorce, and other sins and vices that some people deem to be “gray areas.” We can’t have “gray reasons,” or arguments that look like Swiss cheese.
Defend the truth with the truth. When
Defend the truth with the truth. When you don’t defend the truth with the truth, you may as well tell a lie.
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