Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15.

People often conceive of defense in terms of controversy. At times Christians will fight for the truth. But we ought not to conceive of defense of the truth in terms of a controversial spirit. Much controversy loses its sense of proportion. Minor issues become major. Major truths are lost to view. People ride hobbies. Phrases are elevated to the place of facts. Group labels crowd out distinctions of character. Discussion often falls into the hands of incompetent practitioners.

When we think of the throbbing world needs to which our church appeals, and of the restless search of great multitudes for a divine message that has the ring of truth and reality about it, any reduction of the gospel and the truth to the level of bickering is tragic. People get weary of doubt and negation.

Those who habitually raise questions or make denials respecting the Word of God are barren of positive realities. There are times when we need to make a critical investigation as to what we believe. But witnessing positively and constructively from our own experience with Christ gets results. That persuades. That edifies. Nothing so persuades the mind and wins people to the truth as does an enthusiastic witness to the great affirmatives of our message.

Personally, I have always believed that my church is challenging the youth with the greatest moral and spiritual assignment in two millenniums. The third angel's message is for all of us an eternal matter, not of sham or figment, but of life or death. It is supremely needful for men everywhere. It is needful for every professing Christian who would fain hide and pride himself under an easy conformity to the faith. It is needful for every one of us, who, desiring sincerity and genuineness above all things, would fain see the return of Christ in our generation. Are we keeping, not as a dead letter, but as the living word of God to us, those plain, unvarnished Ten Commandments, the laws of honesty, kindness, purity, and truth, without which the gospel message is an idle name? He that abideth in Christ "ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6).