BE Prepared

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“BEING PREPARED ...”

(Giving Account of our Hope)

 

INTRODUCTION:  What is the earliest Graduation you remember?  Mine was 8^th Grade.  Our Day Care, at Community PC, WC. had graduation, children, some who had been with us since infancy, graduated from Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten in the public schools.   (They wore robes, mortar boards with tassels and received a large diplomas.)  It seems diplomas get smaller at each level of education. My graduation was low key, no robes or diplomas. I attended a Boarding School, 1^st- 8^th grade with 3 in my class.  

My Dad said: “This is more than a graduation, it is a commencement, a beginning.  You are prepared for the next stage in your education."  For me it truly was.

 

Were you born or raised in another country?  If so, what was your experience in coming to the USA?  I was raised in Guatemala and flew to the USA, alone after graduating from 8th grade.  My parents put me on a plane to Houston, Texas where I was to meet a man wearing a large cowboy hat.  Every man in the airport was wearing such a hat.  Fortunately, my hosts had a photo of me.  When I arrived in their home, I began walking around looking for water to drink. The hostess asked what I was looking for? I told her and she said:  "we drink water out of a tap."  In Guatemala, we always drank water our of a bottle.  Cultural Shock 1!  The TV was on and there were women walking across a stage in swim wear.  Seeing a women in shorts, let alone a swim suit, in public, other than a lake, ocean or swimming pool, was considered poor taste.  Yes, it was 1957 and dress codes were different then.  I learned I was watching the "Miss America Contest."  A couple minutes later, four teenagers walked in.  The boys were my hosts and their girlfriends were wearing short shorts. Culture Shock 2!

I was invited to go to a party with them.  We got in a Hot Rod and started driving on a Free Way when I young lady in a Corvette pulled up next to us and we were off on a Drag Race. Culture Shock 3! (I knew about Hot Rods and Drag Races, but this was first experience riding in or participating in either.)  We arrived at the party where everyone was dancing.  At the Boarding School we were told dancing was wrong and doing anything on Sunday other that reading the Bible, attending Sunday School, Worship or writing letters to home was forbidden. Thus Culture Shock 4!  After a little while, some said:  "Let's go TP."  We walked down the street and started throwing roles of toilet paper over trees.  Then some nut lit a match and the TP caught fire.  Every one ran away.  We got in the Hot Rod and arrived home, after dropping the girls off at their home, around 1:00 AM.  I had never been up that late.  Culture Shock 5!  The next morning we attended the First Baptist Church, Houston.  It was a multi story building.  We went to the terrace where their were youth playing basket ball.  Cultural Shock 6!  The Sunday School Class had hundreds of youth.  During worship I was asked by the pastor to say a word about growing up in Guatemala and what my parents did, as missionaries.  I was terrified, but believe I did OK. Culture Shock 7!

That afternoon the hosts put me on a sleeper car train to Minneapolis, Minnesota where I was to live with my grandparents while attending 9th grade.  I wrote a post card to my parents:  "I am ready to come home!"  My parents had prepared me for life in the USA but I was not prepared for all the Cultures Shocks I experienced in 24 hours.     

 

Are you attending some level of education?  Those of us who have completed our formal education have been prepared to move into the work force etc.  Many of us are beyond the years of “formal education.” Yet the lessons of being prepared still apply to us. 

 

In addition to my academic studies, I learned about the Bible, had music lessons  and was a Boy Scouts leader.  Each was invaluable in my being prepared. 

The Boy Scout Motto is Be Prepared.  Read I Peter 3:13-17

TEXT: Be ready at anytime to give a quiet and reverent answer to anyone who wants to know a reason for the hope that you have within you.  (I Peter 3:15)

 

In Peter’s day Christians suffered persecution because of their decision to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Some were  “banned from their families,”  others whipped, thrown into prison or placed in arenas with tigers and lions. Today Christians, every day, around the world are experiencing similar treatment for making the decision of following Jesus.+  (Nun is Arabic symbol for N.  It is painted on the homes, in Syria & Iraq by ISIS, of those who are called Nazarene.  ISIS will not use Christian.  Like, in Peter's day, these Christians join others around the world that have to choose each day whether to continue following Jesus or denying him and "converting to Islam or whatever religion is being imposed on a specific community. (I Peter 1:3-12)

 

Christians did not suffer because they placed their trust in Jesus, but because their faith permeated every area of their lives.  Roman Emperors were threatened because a Christian's first allegiance was to God/Jesus Christ & then Caesar.    Caesar was the “ultimate” accountable to no one.

 

If you as Christians suffer, Peter writes, you should know why you chose to follow Jesus.  You ought to take every opportunity of explaining why you are not afraid of human power or death & the hope within you.

 

The Apostle Paul never lost an occasion of telling his story.  Each Christian knew there was nothing too loose.  The worse that could happen was death and that meant joining their Lord in Heaven.

 

Few of us suffer because of our faith. Some of our friends colleagues may not know we are Christians.  Some, knowing we attend church, may tease or harass us/faith.

At some point they may ask “why are you different?”

Will you be ready to answer?  If you followed what the early followers of Jesus did in Acts 2:42-47, you will be ready.  They Learned, Fellowshipped & Prayed.

 

Peter gives Two Characteristics of good & effective responses to the hope within us.

 
1.  The First Characteristic is Reasonableness.   Reverence. 

 

Use language and illustrations understood by the person asking you. Theological and Philosophical terminology may impress but not clarify.  Unless one knows the names of the different knots used by scouts, a bowline, half-hitch or square knot they mean nothing to you.  Most know what a square knot is even if they do not know how to tie one.  If one can name the knots and tie them, & never uses them for their determined purpose, of what use are they?*

 

Scouts learn to tie the knots while camping in the wilderness.  More importantly they learn to follow instructions, set goals, work in teams, lead as well as many other interpersonal skills in assisting them in being ready/prepared for various situations.  (They sure helped me.)

 

Using words like “Born Again.” “Saved,” “Grace” even “Sin” in today’s world, have very little meaning.  If we have experienced the meaning of those words we can Reasonably, Intelligently and Temperately tell our story giving an explanation to the hope in which we live.

 

We can only do that if we know and live what we believe. That comes from Learning. It is one thing knowing Bible stories, reciting creeds and even answering the questions of Shorter Catechism, which at one time was required for church membership, it is another to understand what we are saying and have thought out the implications. We say “Jesus is Lord.” Is Jesus truly Lord of our daily lives? Are we following and implementing his teachings?

 

Unfortunately, some are not ready when challenged in College or at Work. We find ourselves tongue-tied or exasperated.  In Scouting one learns not only what to do but why.  So too with our Christian faith.  If we never wrestle with the why, we will not comprehend the what.

 

Experience is the best teacher.  Scouts learn about camping from a handbook and set up tents in the church, but if the scout never goes camping, all the knowledge will be of little use.  Scouts need the experience of setting up camp in the dark, rain and wind to truly appreciate the skills they have learned.

 

So too with our Christian Faith.  “We need a first hand discovery not a second hand story.”  (W. Barclay, 273)  The tragedy is that many Christians don’t know what they believe let alone why they believe.  (That is one reason for having Bible Studies.)

 

Can others see our hope in Christ?  Are we prepared to tell them what Christ has done in our lives?

   

Giving a reasonable / logical explanation of the hope within us is the 1st Characteristic

     

2.  The Second Characteristic is Gentleness.

 

Teachers instruct in a clear and sensitive manner.   Arrogance, belligerence or trying to cram something down someone’s throat will back fire.

 

Amazingly, some Christians try “sharing their faith” in this manner.  They think, “anyone not believing as I do is a fool or knave.”  Throughout history people have been forced to accept their conqueror’s beliefs. 

 

Jesus taught: “You are light and salt.  Light brings clarity to what is hidden in darkness.  Salt heals, purifies, enhances, preserves and causes thirst.  A friend of ours who had a battery of tests, including colonoscopy and endoscopy for cause of nausea, dizziness, dehydration learned that she had low sodium.  I wonder if part of the what is affecting our nation is a lack of Salt.

 

Treating those with whom we are sharing our faith with love, gentleness, and appropriate manner, may open opportunities of giving account of our hope. Bludgeoning  closes opportunities of explaining our faith. 

 

Illustration:

Story of a Christian Barber convinced he needed to share his faith in Christ with others.  He decided that the next Saturday he would tell one of his clients about Christ.  Throughout the day opportunities arose but he froze and was unable to say anything.  As the day drew to a close the tension was building.  He said: “hook or by crook” I am going share my faith with the next person who comes in.  In walked a man asking for shave.  The barber thought: “this is the one!” Preparing himself mentally and winding up the courage, he lathered up the man’s face, picked up the razor and sharpened it on a leather strap. Walking to the front of the chair, his voice quivering and his hand shaking he blurted out: 

“Brother are you prepared to die?” The man jumped up and ran right through the plate glass window, tearing down the street screaming.”  (D. Roper. “Loving Life”)

 

Fortunately, that is not the way of sharing our faith.  Sometimes we may come across too heavy or argumentatively scaring people away. 

 

We may not be able to keep people from slandering us for sharing our faith.  We can stop supplying them with ammunition.  As long as we are “light” and “salt” living as Jesus taught, their accusations will be empty and embarrass them. 

 

Let us keep our conduct above criticism. Remembering that:  Gentleness opens doors to giving a logical reason for our hope within us enabling us to live without fear.

Pray for opportunities to share the Hope we have in Christ with others we come in contact with during this journey. Pastor John Foye, CPCWC, before meal introduces himself & me and asks: “Is there anything for which you would like us to pray?”  She was surprised and then said:  "Yes, my mother is failing in her health and I am afraid."

CONCLUSION:   Even as scouts learn, practice and experience first hand being ready  means, applying the knowledge when necessary, so we as Christians can do the same, so we are ready when called upon explain our faith.

When we are confident of what and why we believe we may be instruments of God’s love.  The Holy Spirit will enable us to respond in a reasonable and gentle manner. 

When we are not ready, we will likely stutter and become argumentative. 

 A Godly conduct will silence slander & disarm criticism.

The only un-answerable argument for a Christian is a life that is light and salt consistent with Jesus’ teachings, causing an eagerness in believing in God.

That life is one securely anchored on knowledge and experience of the saving activity of Jesus Christ. How we live, How we handle difficulty and

How we treat others will say more than all our words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is live, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law...Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

                                                (Galatians 5:22,23,25)

 Two Illustrations:

1.  Weaver who did more talking than work: 

          “He needs to let his Christianity come out

          through his fingers rather than his mouth.”    

2.  Woman who got into a shouting match with her husband.  Enraged, stormed through the kitchen swearing under her breath – opening all the cupboard doors then slamming them shut.  Walking by an open kitchen door – she was startled to see a neighbor on the other side of the screen door.  Terror raced through the woman when she recognized the neighbor as one for whom she had praying and was seeking a way of leading her to Christ for two years.  She thought: “I have really blown it this time.”  She invited the neighbor to come in, apologized, admitted her own weakness & of the Lord who forgives.

Her neighbor was so impressed with the woman’s honesty. courage and certainty of God’s forgiveness that she invited Christ into her life that day.  The Christian woman had been prepared to lead her neighbor in starting of a new life in Jesus Christ– beginning a new chapter and being prepared to tell others of the change in her life and reason for the hope within her.  Read Again:  (I Peter 3:15)

 

Be ready at anytime to give a quiet and reverent answer to anyone who wants to know a reason for the hope that you have within you. 

 

It is not failure that discourages us – it is not being ready to give a reason for the hope within us.  May that not be so!

Continue Learning, Worshipping faithfully and Praying & Keeping in step with the Spirit who reminds us of all we have learned about Jesus & assisting us in telling others of the hope within us, that enables us to live with joy & without fear in a time when it is risky talking about our faith in Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives.       
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