3 Ways to Love in a Culture Opposed to Christianity
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When we think about a culture that opposes Christianity, we might imagine a foreign nation in which believers are imprisoned, exiled, or even killed for their faith. However, persecution comes in many forms and although most of us may not experience these specific challenges, we may undergo persecution from our society. This can come in forms of hate speech, legal suppression, and a society that censors our freedom to share of the faith that we have in Christ.
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Ephesians 4:15 says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
We are not called to be silent. Jesus did not hide who He was, and neither should we. In John 3 we find Nicodemus asking direct questions to Christ. He asks, “How can someone be born when they are old?” (John 3:4). “How can this be?” (John 3:9). Jesus does not hesitate to give him direct answers that led to the famous John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Maybe you feel like if you are honest about your beliefs that you will be rejected. Remember that you are not called to be silent. If Esther had kept quiet about her faith, a people would have been murdered. If Paul had kept his conversion silent, we would not have many books of the New Testament today.
1 Peter 3:15-17 clearly says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."
This tells me that we need to always be prepared to give an answer about why we believe in Jesus. We need to share in gentleness and respect. Even if others are vicious, we stand firm. Suffering for the sake of Christ is worth more that bowing to evil.
As we learn to love in a culture against our faith, it is important that we remain true to who we are in Christ. We need to live by the Spirit and not our flesh. We need to represent our Savior well because others are always watching. Pressing into relationships with people of different faiths is so valuable to sharing the love of Christ. Becoming a good listener will be a lifelong gift to others and our witness. Sharing the truth in love will be the moments when the Holy Spirit takes over and we leave the results to God, unashamedly telling of the hope that we have in the Lord.
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