Engaging a Culture at War with God

Well, good afternoon. It is a delight to be here with you. It's always a delight to be at Louise St. Andrews. I've been looking forward to this for quite some time. I will say that in light of recent events, I've sort of switched gears a bit from what I was going to address in this first session. What I want to address in each of the times i'll be here for the lecture series is different aspects of cultural apologetics, different aspects of that intersection between our faith and the way that we live our faith and the way that we interact with our culture as it opposes various aspects of our faith. But in recent days we've seen a number of shocking things, culminating with the assassination of Charlie Kirk the other day. Basically engaging in dialogue doing what we hope all of us will learn how to do, and learn how to do well doing what you are preparing to be able to do what you're being taught to do, what you're being sharpened for, so that you can engage in the marketplace of ideas and proclaim the supremacy of Christ in every area and aspect of life. And I know that again I'm standing here as the father of nine, the grandfather of three so far until my kids fifty grandkids, I don't care how they divide it up, just get it done. But my kids range from thirty five to twelve. I have a son born in the same year as Charlie Kirk was born. And I also have teenagers in my house who who watched him and would you know, share videos of his interactions and debates on campus. And so I come here today as a pastor and as a father hoping to help you think about this biblically, hoping to help you think about this while avoiding extremes, because on the one hand, there's that tendency that we might have to say we just need to be careful, We just need to be careful. There are people who are afraid from me today because I'm here talking to college students right like like like all of a sudden, we just we can't talk to college students. That's one extreme. The other extreme is the people who are saying, you know what, Okay, fine, We're gonna flood the zone. We're gonna be in their faces, We're gonna right fill in the blank, and there's a ditch on on both sides of the road. We do have to engage the culture, and unfortunately, what has happened to us for the most part is we've been lulled into this false sense of security because we haven't lived like most Christians have had to live throughout the history of the Church. Most Christians have had to live as minorities wherever they were. Most Christians have had to live as persecuted minorities wherever they were. Some Christians still live in that way, but it hasn't been so here. We've had the incredible privilege of living in this land. And I don't care what people say or how often they say it. This country is rooted, grounded, and shaped by Biblical Christianity. That's why we are who we are. That's why the West is what it is, That's what Western civilization is. It's rooted and grounded in Biblical Christianity. And it's been a tremendous blessing, unbelievable blessing, the way that the Gospel has been able to prosper in our culture, the way that the Gospel has shaped our culture. And if you don't believe that, just go somewhere else for just a little while and you'll come to understand it. You know, we're back. My family and I lived the last decade in Lusaka in Zambia, and it's wonderful place. It's relatively safe place, a peaceful place. But my children came back as such amazing patriots because as wonderful as it was to spend a decade, and of our seven youngest children, you know, went there with us, and so all of them spent half their life for more in Zambia, but they came to appreciate the United States. In fact, I had two sons right now preparing to go to the Marine Corps. Just got back in December, and so you know, we got one looking for a date to go to boot camp in the next month or so, and another one looking to graduate so that he can go to Officer Candidate school and go be an officer in the Marine Corps because they love their country and they want to serve. Why because they've lived outside it here for long enough to realize that what God has done here is incredible and we can't take it for granted. We mustn't take it for granted. But because we've had that experience, there are certain aspects of Christian history and biblical truth that just don't land on us the right way. And one of them I want to share today in One Peter chapter three. We're very familiar with First Peter chapter three, and and and this is this is going to be part lecture, part pastoral exposition, part father grandfather, just just trying to help you. Amen. I would ask you if it's okay, but it's not like it matters because I'm doing it. But we hear that, you know in First Peter three, always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you. You know, we get that, we know that, but but do we really do we really understand that? And I don't think we do because most of the times when I run into people who talk to me about, you know, doing apologetics, and people know me for doing apologetics and writing on apologetic issues and you know, doing but public events that are apologetic in nature and going on different shows and talking about things that are apologetic in nature. More often than not, it's a young man who's coming up to me saying that he wants to go into apologetics. He's got a history and debate, he loves the sound of his own voice, and he's a bit of a jerk who just likes to argue the case. Say, man, you want to say ouch, because because that's what we've that's what we've come to understand about apologetics, right, the apologist, that's the that's the that's the Green Ray Navy Seal Christian who goes out there and owns the libs. Right, that's not what First Peter three is about at all, like, not even in the least. And so I want us to look at this here in First Peter chapter three, and before we look at that familiar passage that begins in verse thirteen, I want to still look at what I like to call the lost paragraph that begins back in verse eight of chapter three. And this is part of a broader section where Peter is talking to Christians as sojourners and exiles, as strangers in a strange land. And whether you know it or not, or believe it or not, that's who we are. We're exiles, We're strangers in a strange land. And again that may seem like a contradiction, right, because earlier I talked about how wait a minute, didn't this guy just say that America is rooted and grounded, founded upon biblical truth and biblical reality. Yep. So then how can he now be saying you're a sojourner and a stranger in a strange land. Because as good as this place gets, it will never be my ultimate home. I am living for and yearning for a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God, and this will never be it. I do pray that Kingdom come. I will be done on earth, as it isn't heaven. Amen. But I pray that recognizing that ultimately, ultimately this ain't it. So even in the best of circumstances, we are strangers, and we are souljourners, and every once in a while, something happens to remind us of that, to shake us from our complacency. So Paul has addressed Christians in general. Peter rather has addressed Christians in general. He's addressed Christians as citizens, and then he's addressed wives, he's addressed husbands, he's addressed slaves and masters. And then he comes down in verse eight of chapter three and he says, finally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil, or reviling for reviling. But on the contrary, blessed, do we not need that right now? For to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing. For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. This is the paragraph that comes right before his words, and the famous paragraph that we know, the very place that we get the word apologetics from. When he says to always be ready to give an answer, to give a defense. He uses the word epologia to give an apology, to give an offense, a defense, to give a reasoned response. So this is the place where we get our word apologetics from. And this is the paragraph that comes right before it. It lays the groundwork and it sets the tone for what's about to come. He gives us the identity, the attitude, the conduct, and the character that are assumed in the next paragraph. So when he talks about being an apologist or doing apologetics, we have to remember this. By the way, the other thing that we need to remember is remember I said earlier that he has addressed a general Christian audience, and then he addressed different segments of the Christian audience, right, people in different walks of life, wives and husbands, you know, citizens in general, and then slaves and masters and so on and so forth. And then he says at the first finally, all of you. I wanted to spell another myth right at the outset the idea that apologetics is somehow just for a select few. Nothing could be further from the case from the truth. Peter makes it clear here just by the structure of this passage that what he's saying he's an addressing to all those who name the name of Christ, a savior and Lord. So it begins with our identity, like who are we? Who are we supposed to be? When people look at us? When we are giving this defense. The phrase finally, all of you again makes it very clear that he's talking about all Christians. But here he's summing up his teaching on submission and suffering that's the context here in one Peter the idea of strangers and exiles living a life that is marked by in many ways submission and suffering. His instruction about apologetics is given in the context of his instruction about suffering. What's our attitude? Well, first, our attitude is to be unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and the humble mind. By the way, that's the opposite of the way we normally think about apologetics. Amen, like just the last thing that comes to our mind. Usually we think, you know, he's quick witted, he's got a quick tongue's you know, can thinks quickly on his feet, always has to come back, and can put people in their place, and this and that and the other. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with all of those things, but ultimately the idea of unity of mind said, but they brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. That's our attitude, Because that's our attitude. There's Christians. That's not to say that engaging in apologetics is always calm peaceful. It's not. Jesus was not always calm and peaceful when he addressed people who disagreed with him. He referred to people as of vipers turned over tables in the temple. He was not always lowly Jesus meek and mild amen. It's important to remember that because people will often try to use that. If people try to use that against me all the time, you engage in a debate or discussion, and things, you know, kind of get a little heated, a little more adversarial, and especially if people are not doing as well in the debate as they want to do, then all of a sudden, there's a problem with your tone. It's not so much what you're saying, it's it's your tone, like what tone? Is this tone better or this tone? But like what were you talking about? Usually what they mean is, right now, I have this picture of you standing with your shoulders squared and your feet ten toes down and saying what you're saying, what's your whole chest? I don't like that. I don't like that. And usually what they mean at that point is I don't have an answer for what you're saying, and it's making me uncomfortable, maybe even a little embarrassed. And so right now it's just much easier for me to call you a bad person and to say that your tone is just somehow not Christian. So please don't hear me saying that we need to bow to that. We absolutely do not amen. We need to say things confidently. We do need to stand ten toes down. Absolutely we don't need to apologize for the truth. But our attitude still needs to be one of unity and mind sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. What about the speech of the apologist. He goes on to say, do not repay evil for evil, or reviling for reviling. But on the contrary, bless to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing. Now, the Greek word translated here for reviling means to speak in a highly insulting manner. And I just need to just be all the way honest right now. One of the things that people know me for is a little phrase that I sometimes used. It's just it's no Texas phrase. I can't say a man you all to say ouch, right, this is an ouch one for me. I'm a revialer. I grew up like that. I was raised by a single teenage Buddhist mother and drug infested, gang infested South central Los Angeles, California. I can revile with the best of them. I mean, I just I just can, right. We In fact, when I was a kid, we had this game that we used to play. It was called playing the Dozens. Now, you guys will not like you just won't be right, but playing the dozens was. It was your mama jokes, right, Oh yeah, well your mama's so ugly. See you know, oh yeah, well your mama. So we used to do that as sport. I was so good at playing the dozens. I really love and so when I read here in this text. But on the contrary, bless what to this, you were called right, and don't exchange reviling for reviling. And let's be honest, we kind of like that. The algorithm feeds that stuff to us. But you know, so and so shuts down lib so and so. Right, We just we love it, right the mic drop. But we don't revile for the sake of reviling. That's not the goal. Our goal, at the end of the day is not to win the argument, but to win the man. We don't do that by reviling. Now, let me quickly come back and say I'm not against banter good natured banter. That's different, and again, don't let people use this to move us away from things like good natured banter. He puts a fine point on it when he says, whoever desires to love life and to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. The speech of the apologist is important. Our character is important, our identity and our attitude. This is all rooted and grounded in our Christian character. That's what we have to be known for. We can't be people who have the same kind of character as the people in the world, but just arguing for different premises, are characters different. One of the things that has been encouraging over the last several days is the number of people who've talked about Charlie Kirk in terms of his character and him as a husband and as a father, even people who've talked about talked about him as a boss, as an employer, just a man of character, even people outside of Christianity. And for those of you who don't know when he started doing all this, he wasn't a Christian. He was a conservative, didn't necessarily have much room in his mind for Christian conservatism. His life was changed, came to faith, and I became a husband and then became a father. It was transformed. Our character needs to be at the forefront when we're engaging like this. Earlier on, Peter urged believers to in verse two, Chapter two, verse twelve, keep your conduct among the gentiles honorable. They're watching you. Keep your conduct among the gentiles honorable. Be mindful of the fact that governors are sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good, he says in chapter two, verse fourteen, Chapter two, verse twenty, he said that just even to slaves, if you center and are beaten for it, and you endure, there's no value, that, no honor in that. And later on he's going to say that about all of those of us who name the name of Christ and who are apologists. We don't want to be people who suffer for doing what is dishonorable. We've seen enough of that in recent days as well, have we. Not men who name the name of Christ, men who are preachers and pastors and Christian leaders who are discovered to be dishonorable, men who bring shame and dishonor to the name of Christ. And at that point, it doesn't matter how many arguments you want. At that point, it doesn't matter how skinned you were at answering objections. At that point, your lack of character just negates everything that you stood for and everything that came out of your mouth. So Peter addresses that here first before getting to the critical text. So let's look at that now in verse Peter three, beginning at verse thirteen. That's the paragraph that comes from before that we just looked at. But let's look at that familiar paragraph because even in this paragraph we know part of it, right, we know verse fifteen kind of and we don't even usually refer to all of verse fifteen, but we don't know that the paragraph as a whole. Let's listen to that and again think about this the current context. I remember, I told you everything that he's saying here is in the context of suffering and submission, your exiles, your strangers. So he starts off, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? Speaking directly to that fear, who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the 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, not if, but when 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. Several things about this righteousness of ours. First, our righteousness makes us strangers and aliens. That's what makes us outsiders. Not the way we dress, not the way Christianity is not like other faiths in that regard. We don't walk down the street wearing certain religious garb that makes everybody go, oh, that's a that's not It's not our distinction. It's our righteousness that makes us strangers and aliens. Earlier on, in Chapter two, verses nine and ten, you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. We are strangers and aliens because we've been called out by Christ. We are strangers and aliens, not because of political affiliation. We are strangers and aliens because we've been called out by Christ. It's interesting. I've had the opportunity to be a part of some political movements and different political events because of the rise of a numbers umber of issues in our culture, chief among them the abortion issue, the critical race theory issue, and also the whole alphabet mafia. These things have allowed me to be in some different circles. I've written on these issues, and again have had the opportunity to be in a number of different circles. And it's tempting in those circles to do what I'll call shaving off the edges. Right, It's tempting to be in those circles and to recognize that, like we agree with each other on this cultural issue, however, they don't come at it from my perspective. So let me just shave off the edges of the Gospel and just talk about this from this perspective so that we can sort of keep this alliance. No, no, absolutely not. And the minute we refuse to do that, we recognize that even among people with whom we identify politically, we're strangers and aliens because we're rooted and grounded in the Gospel and not just political theory. So even there it makes us strangers and aliens. Eventually, our Christian citizenship manifests itself. We can't hide it. Secondly, our righteousness is what brings the opposition and the suffering Verses thirteen and fourteen. Now, who is going to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. The understanding here is that they're suffering that often comes. And our Lord warned us about this, did he not? If they hate me, they will also hate you. And by the way, the suffering that Peter is talking about here in one Peter three is not people calling you names. The suffering that he's talking about here in First Peter three is people taking your life. And that's what's come crashing in on us here. Not that Charlie Kirk was a preacher and a pulpit somewhere, but that in large part it's those issues in those areas that have directly confronted Biblical Christianity that he spoke to in the public square. Issues like biblical manhood and womanhood, marriage, human sexuality, the same issues that biblically we stand ten toes down on. These are the ones. And by the way, here's what you need to understand. The game has changed. We don't debate anymore. You see. Now we look at issues not through the lens of our underlying philosophy, but we look at issues through our identity and our lived experience. So when someone is taking a position on political issues today, oftentimes because of this neo Marxist ideology, the suppress or oppressed ideology, because the way we sort of divided the world, we look at it through that lens. And so this is not just my political opinion or position. This is my identity and this is my lived experience. So we can't have a debate on that. For you to have a debate on something that I have declared as my identity and my lived experience is for you to negate my identity and to negate my lived experience. And by the way, we've already decided that words are violent. So if your words are violence, and they are violence against my very identity, it's reasonable that I would respond to your words with actual violence. Just know that. So that's what brings the persecution and the suffering. You don't even have to declare your position for those of you who think you can hide, for those of you who think you can be quiet enough, for those of you who think you can put your head down and not experience some of this just saying that you're a Christian, just people knowing the church that you go to. I get flat every time I come to Moscow just because Doug Wilson lives here and it he's my friend. By the way, there are other people who get in trouble because they come where I live and they miss their friend. So when you've staked out that position, when they know, for example, that you believe that life in the womb is precious and ought to be protected, When you believe that God made the male and female and one can't become the other. When you believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that regardless of what the Supreme Court said in a burgerfeld Man does not have the right to redefine the institution of marriage. When you believe I mean, and I can go down the list. When you believe these things, you don't believe in a slate of positions that are debatable. You have identified yourself as a person whose very existence is violence against the identity and lived experience of others. And you are not worthy to live. That's where we are today, and we've seen the most brutal outworking of that. So when he says, who is there to harm you? If you prove zealous for what is good, each of you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. Just know, just know that those are the stakes we're talking about here. He addressed that also in chapter two. Listen to what he said, for to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten. He continued in trusting himself to him who judges justly, He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. We move This is important for us, and I want you to get this because this is the only way that we avoid living in feet. When we legitimately ask this question, who is there to harm you? If you prove zealous for what is good? It's better that you suffer for righteousness sake if that be God's will? Like, really, what can they do to you? What can they do to you? Well? Or they can take my life? No they can't. You have eternal life if you belong to Christ. Really, what can they do to you? I love the words of Luther's him that reminds us how we ought to think in moments like these. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim We tremble not for him his rage We can endure below his doom is sure one little word can fail him. Our righteousness is ultimately born of our devotion to Christ. First part of fifteen and words reminiscent of Isaiah. Paul urges us, But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as Holy. I keep saying Paul. I know, I mean Peter. You're peaching for few Pauline's sermons, and then go to the book of Peter. You're gonna say Paul a whole bunch of times. Stay in Peter long enough, and go to one of Paul's books, and you're going to say Paul. In fact, stay in Peter long enough and go to one of John's books, and you're going to say Peter instead of John. But especially when it's Peter and Paul. Peter's adapting Isaiah's words in Isaiah eight thirteen, where Isaiah says, but the Lord of hosts him, you shall honor us Holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Of course, the context is telling Christom Marker says this. In his day. Isaiah told the people not to fear the invading Assyrian armies, but to revere God, and his epistle Peter has the same encouraging message. Even when the Assyrian army is on the march, we don't fear them, We fear God. We set apart Christ the Lord as Holy, We revere him, and we fear Him, and we trust him. Our devotion to Christ is what gives us the courage to face whatever it is that we have to face. And our righteousness, by the way, is what requires an explanation, continuing in verse fifteen, always being prepared to make an offense to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you our righteousness. And by the way, don't buy the lie that says you know. Ultimately, we just live our lives, and people will watch us, and then they will want to know. And then, you know, you'll be mowing your lawn and your neighbor will come and say, I watch the way you trim your head. Just will you tell me about Jesus. No, that's not how it works. We engage. We live in the midst of this fallen world. We engage with our neighbors on mundane things, and even on those mundane things, it becomes clear that we have different priorities. It becomes clear that we have a different worldview. It becomes clear as we speak about our work, as we speak about our families, as we speak about our children, it becomes clear that's where the opportunities come from. Finally, our righteousness also shapes our explanation. He says, Yet, do it with gentleness and respect. Get do it with gentleness and respect. I've often told this story that, you know, I never heard the Gospel till my first year in college. I came to Faith and I played football in college, and I had a couple of teammates of mine who actually discipled me. They bought me, you know, my first Bible and teaching me how to how to read it and study it. And I really needed their help too, because I got this Bible. And the first night I got the Bible, I took it home and I didn't know where to start. And so I decided I'd try to see how the whole thing ends. And I read Revelation. That's the first thing I ever read. Do not recommend it. I do not recommend it. And so I really needed help after that, right And I remember, you know, I was living you know, off campus Bridge, and I got married somewhere between my sophomore and junior year. So I'm living off campus and these guys come to my door and they're talking to me, and some of it just seems off. So I go back to practice the next day and I'm like, these guys came to the door and talk to me. They wanted to talk about the Lord, but something just seemed off and they looked at me and they went Mormons or Jehovah's witnesses. I was like, I don't know. And the other guy goes, badges, are no badges? I said, no badges, and they looked at each other and they go, Jaw's right. And so they were like, here Jehoah's witnesses. And they told me about Joba's witnesses. And I went to the library and I went and this is before smartphones and all that sort of off from debting myself here and I just I started devouring information about the Jehovah's witnesses. And they told me that, you know, these guys would probably be back because you know, I had engaged with them and I had. He was like, yeah, they'll be back. So when they came back, I was loaded for bear. So I go back to practice the next day and I Max Mawson Brent Napton were my two teammates, and I told him. I was like, man, the guys came back, and they were like, what happened? I said, Bro, I was so ready for them. I whooped them like a tied up goat. I mean it was just, you know, I was ready. I knew this, and I knew that, and I knew. I was like, they'll never come back to my door. And then Brett looked at me and he said, what a pity, and he walked away. I could have punched him, because I knew exactly what he meant. I won the argument, but I didn't win the man yet do it with gentleness and respect. I just wanted to own my opponent. I had been in speech and debate. I just I was studying free law and international business. I wanted to be a lawyer, no truth be told. I just wanted to be the most powerful black man in America. That's what I would have told you, I promise at nineteen that would have been my answer if you asked me what I wanted to be. And I had to learn this. I had to learn this with gentleness and respect. By the way, gentleness is not a lack of strength, it's strength under control. Gentleness is me wrestling with my little grandson. I could crush him like a one, but I don't. I don't, right, that's gentleness that's gentleness. It's not being afraid or effeminine or weak, or it's not that, it's not being sissified. It is strength under control. It's that confidence that we talked about earlier ten toes down what's your whole chest, yet respecting the individual as having been created in the image of God and desiring their salvation more than their demise. Ultimately, our righteousness vindicates our explanation sixteen seventeen. 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, then for doing evil, you're going to be slandered. You're going to be reviled. And it's wonderful when those who slander you and reval you are put to shame. When you've lived your life in such a way, when you've conducted yourself in such a way, when you engaged with people in such a way that there's just nothing for him to hold on to. Well, he's just mean, or like, where was he mean? What part was mean? It was just his tone? Or what? Like? What what tone? What was what was that? Because what I heard was gracious, respectful, confident, very well prepared. You see, when that happens, your opponent has put to shame, because when that happens, what is revealed is they don't have an answer, They don't have a response, so they resort to argument at hominem. Do you disagree with my position? Do you have something that you can offer? And they're just reduced to you're just a bad person. May it be that, and may it never be. They don't hear you because you actually are sinful in your presentation, You actually are unkind, disingenuous, because then all of a sudden, the rest of your argument loses its steam. So as we think about everything that's happened, and as we think about really the way the whole culture has turned and changed in regard to debate, let's keep this in mind that apologetics. When Peter teaches us about apologetics, the context of this passage is not how to stand over your opponents having vanquished them, but how in the midst of suffering and slander, we can always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us the reason for the hope that is in us when they look at us and deep down, they're going why this person who we revile, this person who we hate, this person who we despise, this person who we call names like fascists and then Hitler and friend of Doug Wilson, and you know, all of this stuff. Why why? Why? Why? Why do they continue to come back? Why do they continue to stand firm? Why do they continue to hold their head high? Why do they continue to love me even when they're telling me how wrong I am? Why do they look to the future with faith and hope? They're always thinking that on the inside and in various ways that will come out. And when it does, always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you, and do it with gentleness and respect, because our desire is to win the man, not just win the argument. And do not be afraid, because at the end of the day, who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good. Let's pray, our gracious God and our Father, we thank you, and we praise you for your goodness and your kindness and your mercy toward us through the person and work of Jesus Christ, who suffered and was reviled and laid down his life to redeem us from sin, to bring us out of darkness into your marvelous light. But Father, in doing so, he set us in stark opposition to this lost, hurting, and dying world, this world that opposes you at every turn, and consequently opposes us. The greater our commitment to you, the greater our resemblance to you, the more despised we become. Grant by your grace that this would not make us cowards. But grant also, Lord, that we might live in such a way that it would make us hypocrites, Either that we might always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us the reason for the hope that is in us, so that with gentleness and reverence we might make much of Christ, our Lord, our Master, our redeemer, and our soon coming King, and whose name we pray and ask all these things. Amen,