With Gentleness And Respect

With a hearty bowl of pasta featuring lavish lashings of sauce, this ad was well constructed. Pity about the execution.

garbageroomtaste

There’s an Apologetics lesson here.

Why?

1 Peter 3:15-16 are the classic verses guiding the discipline of reasoned arguments for the Christian worldview (Apologetics)…

“But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.”
1 Peter 3:15-16

Here, Peter makes the point that it isn’t good enough to give the right answers. The right answers need to be given in the right way.
A graceless answer is much like the ad above. The ad may have enticing writing and photography, but they matter little when it’s placed where “Garbage Room” features directly over the food, the very thing that’s suppose to entice the reader.

Gentleness and respect, it becomes Children and Ambassadors of The Most High.

“There is no point giving a man a rose to smell after you’ve cut off his nose.”
Indian Proverb.

How

  1. God first: It can be easy for “apologetic types” to major on the theoretical points in the discussion and forget what we’re really supposed to be doing.
    We’re showing people Christ, not a textbook. Show them the person, not just the points.
  2. People next: It can be easy for us “apologetic types” to major on the theoretical points in the discussion and forget there’s a person with a history and heart on the other end of the conversation, not a computer. Points are easy to say but hearts are harder to engage but engage we must – I guess that’s what wisdom and experience is for right?
  3. “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”
    1 Corinthians 3:6

    Journey on: We’re jealous for God’s name and passionate that people connect with Him. So it can be easy to let that consume us and forget the above. But let’s always remember – as much as we want to uphold God’s name and draw people to Him, we won’t ever be as passionate or competent about it as He is.
    So let’s relax. Let’s be prepared and competent but always remember that God doesn’t need us to defend Him though He delegates, enjoys and encourages our efforts to do so. Draw on Him to draw people to Him.
    And let’s remember that the one we’re conversing with is on a journey. We may only be a stop along the way to their final return home. Let’s make sure we keep doing it with gentleness and respect so they keep stepping homeward. We may be watering so that another harvests but it’s always God giving the increase 🙂
    It’s never about us and always about Him.

What

In terms of doing this, I read a great little acronym on what to do:
BLESS them

  • Begin with prayer
  • Listen
  • Eat
  • Serve
  • Share

 

Image©Kevin Tam

3 Responses to “ With Gentleness And Respect ”

  1. […] Love does good. And the good thing to do is often the hard thing. And the hard thing includes getting outside of your comfort zone where the demons prowl but confront them we must. You may be the only one who can where you are and that only makes you all the more powerful. And when we do, we must do it as love does – uncompromisingly, clearly, graciously and lovingly. […]

  2. […] with rights come responsibilities. But truth can sometimes cause offence. The real task is ensuring one isn’t offensive in stating it but state it we must. Some points along this […]

  3. […] if you’re getting persecuted because you’re being obnoxious and not a true Ambassador of God, then that’s self inflicted. However, if it’s after a clear and gracious presentation […]

Leave a Reply to Mother Bear - All Of Us Cancel reply