Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the GospelSample

Many of us Christians have made only the first of two decisions God calls us to.

Let me explain.

Most of us understand the importance of evangelism in the life of Christians. Jesus told the apostles to “make disciples of all nations” and to instruct these disciples to obey everything He taught (Matt. 28:16-20). We call this the “Great Commission.” We are clearly commanded to make disciples, just as the apostles did in their own generation.

Understanding this, many of us feel ill equipped to share our faith. Paul seemed to recognize this and discussed evangelism as a matter of gifting (Eph. 4:11-12). Only some of us are gifted as evangelists; not everyone can share his or her faith like Billy Graham.

But the New Testament authors don’t let us escape our responsibility. Peter said no one is allowed to relegate his or her duty as a Christian case maker. According to Peter, all of us need to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [us] to give the reason for the hope that [we] have” (1 Pet. 3:15).

We aren’t just “Christians”; we are “case-making Christians.” We can’t allow ourselves to get comfortable and turn over the hard work of defending the faith to those who speak or write books on the topic. Our personal defense of Christianity may not be as robust as what can be offered by a scholarly, “full-time” apologist, but it can be just as powerful and persuasive.

Each of us must answer God’s call on our lives as Two-Decision Christians.

If you’ve already decided to believe the Gospels, take a second step and decide to defend them. Become a case-making Christian. That is, work in your profession, live your life faithfully, devote yourself to the truth, and steadily prepare yourself to make a defense for what you believe.

Prayer: Increase my trust in You, Lord, and help me to represent Your Word and gospel to others to the best of my ability.

This plan is presented to you by Cold-Case Christianity: Updated & Expanded by J. Warner Wallace. To learn more about this book, please click here.