“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” (1 Peter 2:15)

We’re always making an impact on someone, somewhere – “leaving a mark” of sorts. Sometimes positively. Other times, not so positively.

Years ago, Focus on the Family radio host, Mike Trout, admitted to having an affair. Predictably, the secular world seized the opportunity to take their shots at Christianity. One such shot comes to mind.

Politically Correct host, Bill Maher, invited three non-Christian guests and one poor Christian soul to be on his show. Maher quipped, “How come so many of the ‘Family’ people get caught? I mean, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Henry Hyde, Strom Thurmond….they get caught. Why?”

The one token “Daniel-in-the-lion’s-den” Christian timidly replied, “Because people make mistakes and people are human…” Maher cut him off and said, “It’s because they’re perverts to begin with and they try to cover it up by becoming a Christian…[which is a] 12 Step Program for those people!”

Ouch.

What do we do when high-profile believers give Christianity a public “black eye” and further confuse a lost world? A number of things come to mind. But, for brevity’s sake: Don’t make excuses. Instead, quietly and humbly “stay the course.” Jesus doesn’t need our help defending Christianity. He said, “…the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Certainly, our failures cause our lost friends to question and criticize Christianity. But, according to Scripture, our daily, quiet triumphs can silence them – or better yet – cause them to consider the Power that lies within us.

Having lived under the tyranny of Nero, Peter knew a thing or two about how to respond to severe criticism.  “It is God’s will,” Peter wrote, “that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”

Soli Deo Gloria, Nick