Among the many pastoral responsibilities that clergy and congregational church leaders juggle, our prophetic responsibility to defend the faith and tell the truth about what’s happening in our world is one of the most complex, least discussed, and arguably most urgent, given the social and political climate in which we live. The rise of Christian authoritarianism – using Christianity to control others, silence dissent, and hoard power – seems to be filling a vacuum where a more deeply formed, sustainable, hopeful faith might have been.
It is, admittedly, a sticky wicket.
Against this backdrop, we wrestle with how to most faithfully engage in public discourse. We find ourselves squarely on the front lines of defending the faith.
But what does this look like in practice?
1 Peter 3:15–17 (MSG) offers timely counsel:
“Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick… It’s better to suffer for doing good… than to be punished for doing bad.”
Peter is writing to persecuted Christians scattered across Asia Minor, urging them to speak up and defend the faith by following Jesus’ example. As William Barclay observes, “In a hostile and suspicious world, it was inevitable that Christians would be called upon to defend the faith they held and the hope by which they lived.” That description fits our moment all too well. Misrepresentation and misunderstanding of Christianity are at an all-time high, requiring leaders who are spiritually grounded, strategic, and subversive.
Speaking up “with the utmost courtesy” does not mean being passive or avoidant. It means engaging respectfully and intentionally. Developing spiritually grounded, strategic, and subversive approaches makes us unstickable—able to withstand the mud without letting it cling.
A powerful illustration comes from the 1974 heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, famously dubbed the Rumble in the Jungle. Ali knew he could not out-dance the younger, stronger Foreman in the Zaire heat. Instead, he leaned back against the loose ring ropes, absorbing punches while allowing Foreman to expend his energy. This counterintuitive strategy—the rope-a-dope—exhausted Foreman and shifted the momentum of the fight. Ali ultimately won by knockout.
Ali’s rope-a-dope was:
- Spiritually grounded – he believed he could win despite the odds and trusted his endurance.
- Strategic – he recognized his limitations and turned them into advantages.
- Subversive – he defied conventional boxing wisdom that prioritized constant movement and avoidance.
Defending the faith is risky, uncomfortable, and, as Peter suggests, muddy work. But the promise of the gospel is that the mud does not stick. Ali’s rope-a-dope made him unstickable in the ring. When we follow Peter’s wisdom—grounded in faith, guided by strategy, and willing to be subversive—our leadership can be unstickable too.
Questions for Reflection:
- What does defending the faith look like in your context?
- How might being spiritually grounded, strategic, and subversive shape your engagement?
- What fears hold you back, and what scriptures can fortify you for this work?
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