When a reputation takes a hit, the world immediately calls for a “character witness.” But how exactly are believers supposed to step up and defend each other?
By Gene Ho
When a reputation takes a hit, the world immediately calls for a “character witness.” But how exactly are believers supposed to step up and defend each other?
It takes a lot more than just handing out spiritual participation trophies. Scripture gives us the exact playbook with Barnabas defending Paul.
“But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:27
Notice what Barnabas deliberately left out. He did not say, “Trust me guys, he means well.” He did not rely on sappy emotional manipulation. He brought hard, undeniable evidence. He provided a firsthand witness to Paul’s actual fruit, pointing directly to his absolute boldness in preaching the Gospel.
The lesson here goes both ways. When the critics inevitably question your faith or your motives, you better give your brothers and sisters real ammunition to defend you with. Stop relying on good intentions. Live so unapologetically that your defenders can simply point to the facts and, like Paul, ensure that you “…spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 9:29
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