Be Prepared Part Two

So we’ve been talking about being prepared to give an answer to those who ask us why we believe what we believe. And I thought it might be good if we dig in to what being “prepared” means.

1) First, we need to know what we know. Do you know where you stand on issues? Do you have a thought or opinion on “hot topics”? What is the basis for your belief system?

2) Now that we know what we know, we need to know WHY. Why do you believe the way you do? Why do you look at a particular issue the way you do? What prompted your belief system? If its spiritual, you need to know Scripture to back up what you believe. And let me just say here, you need more than ONE verse, taken IN CONTEXT to back up your stuff.

We have all experienced the folks who take a stand based on one Bible verse that is completely out of the setting of Scripture and lay a whole life philosophy around it. Did you like that? Did that just give you warm fuzzies and make you want to know the rest of their mind? (Although no matter how you felt, you probably got the rest of their mind, didn’t you?) DON’T be like that.

Take Scripture in its context and have a back up Scripture to witness to it. That’s not only Biblical, its logical. And allows your listener to see that you’ve done your research; gives some “umph” to your view.

3) Know the flip side to your opinion. What does the opposite view think? And why? Is there any validity to it? Is there more than one way to see the same issue? Could they both be right and its just a matter of preference?

I like what Beth Moore said about serving multi-denominational groups: there are “spine issues” and “rib issues”. Spine issues are the absolutes, the things you cannot and will not waiver on. Just like the spine in our body, they are the backbone of the skeletal (or belief) system, without which the body would fall apart… in effect, the things you will “go to the wall” for. Rib issues are important, they support your spine issues; but as important as they are, they are not life and death. You could have a difference of opinion, and in the end, both sides would still be okay. Mislead maybe, (in your opinion) but okay. Know what beliefs you have that are “spine” beliefs and “rib” beliefs.

4) Be able to give your thoughts with respect. You may think that you have the right answers, the right beliefs. You may believe it with all your heart. And the person you are talking to may feel exactly the same way about their beliefs; just as passionate, just as certain. Be careful. Be gentle. Be respectful. Honor them and their thoughts so as to allow them the room to listen without feeling attacked. Whatever you do, do not put them on the defensive. Their heart will be hardened to anything else you have to say.

5) Be brief. (Obviously by the length of this post, something I still struggle with.) Be able to share your thoughts in as few sentences as it takes to get the point across. Long-windedness usually means you are full of hot air, not full of great ideas. You will begin to lose your audience after 2 minutes, every time. Giving an answer is not time for a soliloquy.

What else? Can you think of other ways to be prepared in giving an answer?