Defending the Gospel

by Doy Moyer

If we must say we are sorry (and at some point, we all must), then do so over poor behavior and ungodly thinking, but never be sorry for the impact of the gospel itself and what it stands for.

Further, be careful about conflating bad behavior with the gospel, for it is easy to act poorly, be ungracious, and speak uncivilly while thinking we are just defending the truth. But when we do that, we aren’t defending the gospel; we are selfishly putting ourselves over others and trying to manipulate or intimidate them into our mold. This can only hurt our cause and efforts to stand for truth because it does not point to Jesus. Let us not think that defending the reason for the hope within us (I Peter 3:15) is to be riddled with insults.

Firmness for truth and kindness in demeanor are not mutually exclusive. We can be unashamed of truth and also speak with grace. In our current culture, both are sorely needed.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17). Cf. Also Colossians 4:5-6; James 3:10-12.