More than apologetics or great theological responses, Christians need to commit to loving their neighbors in the face of evil.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. Impatience, unkindness, or intolerance for skeptics or people with genuine questions 2. Appearing brusque or prideful 3. Treating a legitimate question as if it could easily be answered
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
My hope is that Christians will become the apologetic—choosing to live in a way that is much more important than spoken words, no matter how articulate, profound, and convincing the arguments. They will, instead, work where there is human suffering and demonstrate to the world that God is doing something about it: he is sending us into the heart of it to heal it. Christians are not likely to produce many new and satisfying answers to why and how God acts in pain and evil. But, in the future, they can come alongside others in hardship as they, with their lives as much as their words, try to show others how God enters the places of dark suffering. In these situations Christians can demonstrate how God does deal with evil—not as a theoretical challenge to be solved but as a tragedy to be remedied. In this way, Christians can live as people who have been enlightened by Jesus Christ, who was both victim and victor over evil and suffering. Adapted from Frequently Avoided Questions. (Baker, 2005; ISBN 801065437) Used with permission. Copyright © Chuck Smith Jr. and Matt Whitlock. Reflect1. Describe a time when God's love was demonstrated to you in difficult circumstances. 2. Describe a time when a bad attitude got in the way of a good answer. 3. What ministries does our church have that allow church members to be involved with people in the midst of their suffering?    HomosexualityMinister with grace and love to men and women grappling with homosexual temptation  A Personal RetreatDiscover the power of the getaway. Use Your Voice to Capture Hearts Like a gifted storyteller, you can use your voice to captivate and communicate. Use Movement to Communicate the Message On stage, your body movements communicate as much as your words.
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