“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
1 Peter 3:15 NIV
We often misconstrue gentleness and respect with avoiding “conflict” altogether and not confronting what we know to be against God’s standard for righteous living. Our Christian walk is not about conforming to the culture. True transformation occurs only when we allow God’s Word to work through us from the inside, not transform God’s word to acquiesce to the cultural demands of the world.
Doing so does not equate love. It is the very definition of COMPROMISE.
“…We must obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:29b
If you were to stand on trial today, will you be guilty of being a genuine follower of Christ?
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
John 14:15
Contend for the Faith
“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jude 3-4
“Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Matthew 7:20
Line up their talk with their stance on defending the truth. If you know a professing Christian who advocates that what is detestable to God is now okay, or if you know someone who is intent on “preaching the gospel” but shirks back on being active in important matters such as getting involved in Civics (yes, believe it or not, Politics) – which is directly tied to the laws and policies that affect YOUR FREEDOM to preach the gospel, know that their actions speak volumes contrary to what they profess.
If you are keeping company with people pleasers and one who has a defeated (can’t beat them join them) mentality, compromise is knocking at your door.
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.“
Proverbs 12:26
[Image Credit: Search engine result. Thanks to the OP]