When Defending What You Believe Stops Looking Like Jesus

At a recent conference, my colleagues and I met a man working at a booth near ours. We hit it off, laughing about attendees more interested in the free stuff than in learning what we offered.

When the conference ended, we said goodbye and went our separate ways. Or so we thought.

A few hours later, we saw him at the airport. His delayed flight was leaving from our gate, so we invited him to sit with us. The conversation that followed put my Christian witness and listening skills to the test.

Conviction Without Contempt

That encounter brought Daniel to mind. He understood life under leadership he didn’t choose.

Daniel and his friends came from Judah’s nobility. Then Babylon invaded and took them from home. Given new names and taught Babylonian culture, they were prepared to serve King Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel didn’t confuse Babylon with the kingdom of God, but he didn’t make himself useless within Babylon either. He served and respected those in authority without surrendering his convictions. When the king’s food crossed a line, he stood firm without becoming hostile. He honored God without dishonoring the people around him.

Daniel understood that God—not Nebuchadnezzar—held ultimate authority. Romans 13:1 says, “There is no authority except that which God has established.” This doesn’t mean every leader is godly. Nebuchadnezzar certainly wasn’t. It means no election can remove God from His throne or put our preferred candidate there beside Him.

We respect human leadership, but our allegiance belongs to God. That allegiance is also revealed in how we treat people whose views differ from ours.

The Faith He Saw Before the Debate

Back at the airport, we began talking about California and its beautiful beaches. I mentioned that while working there for two months, I had driven up and down the coast without seeing a single church. He seemed to celebrate that fact.

“Well, I love Jesus,” I told him, “so I was pretty bummed.”

That opened the door for him to explain why he felt differently. He told us he was gay and described Christians who had talked down to him and made sure he knew where they believed he was going.

But then he said something that hit a home run in my heart. He had watched how I treated him throughout the week. Many Christians talked about their faith, he said, but he could see mine through my actions. Before we discussed what I believed, the way I treated him had already said something about Jesus.

Then the conversation turned to politics, where we couldn’t have been farther apart. He dismissed everything I said. I tried, “We can agree to disagree.” When that failed, I considered, “Not to change the subject, but I need some ice water.”

For forty minutes, my flesh wanted to fire back with facts. But winning the exchange would make Jesus look less desirable. My job wasn’t to change his views. I needed to make sure my behavior didn’t contradict what I had told him about Jesus.

So I listened—not to prepare my response, but to understand where his point of view came from. Looking back, I can see the fruit of the Spirit in the way God helped me respond, especially with patience, gentleness, and self-control.

I don’t share this to boast. We face the same choice online, at work, and around the Thanksgiving table. Showing Christ through our words and actions matters more than winning an argument.

Satan Loves Division

I recently heard that Satan doesn’t have to win a Christian’s soul to make use of a Christian’s day. Political division gives him plenty of opportunities. That left me with a sobering question to ask before I speak, post, or respond: Who am I working for right now?

Study the issues. Vote. Speak the truth in love—and know when to say “uncle.” We can end an unproductive argument without compromising our convictions. We can pray for those in authority without giving a party, candidate, or nation the allegiance that belongs to Jesus alone.

What Will People See?

What we believe matters, but so does what people see when we defend it. What if an opposing view is an opportunity for someone to see Jesus in our response? We can share our beliefs without tearing down the person who disagrees with us.

Are we so focused on defending biblical truth that we neglect Jesus’ command to love our neighbor? Could we be missing an opportunity to become part of God’s story in someone’s life?

Daniel’s story wasn’t only for his time. His world looked out of control, yet he remained faithful to God and treated others with wisdom and respect. He showed us that honoring authority doesn’t mean giving it the allegiance that belongs to God.

Your vote matters, but it isn’t the only choice that matters. We also choose how we speak, what we post, and how we treat people who see the world differently. Election Day will come and go, but those choices may leave a greater impression than any political argument we could win.

Despite what it looks like, God is in control. May the way we carry ourselves give others a glimpse of Jesus and show that our confidence rests in the King of Kings.