Gimme a Reason

 Scripture tells us "... if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him..." (I Peter 3:15, TLB).

That seems in tune with "secular" (if it is in any sense) reality.  Our current president may be the only person on earth who considers himself so immune to challenge, so god-like, that what he says should be believed because he says it.

For rational people, the question "why do you believe that ?' should be no affront.  For wise people, it may even be welcomed as a chance to explain oneself..  For Christians, doubly welcomed as an opportunity to proclaim the "hope that is in you"...and practice the discipline of self-examination (II Corinthians 13:5).

 And self-examination is where I want to take this.

For Christians asked "why do you believe that ?", the only right answer is "Because Jesus says so."

When a Christian can't truthfully answer "Because Jesus says so," he needs to intensively examine his belief.  If he cannot assure himself it has Jesus' absolute imprimatur, he must abandon that belief...or his claim that Jesus is his bench-mark.

I'm thinking particularly of today's self-proclaimed "conservative Christians," and hoping they'll repent, and return to Christ.