“C. S. Lewis once said something to the effect that no Christian doctrine ever looked so threadbare to him as when he had just finished successfully defending it. … In order to defend the faith successfully — which is the business of apologists — they need to reduce it to a defendable size. It’s easier to hold a fortress against the enemy than to hold a landscape.”
~~ Frederich Buechner, Whistling in the Dark
A is for Apologists defending a landscape, not a fortress.
My faith is pretty threadbare these days. I look at my country embracing “Christian” principles and am ashamed.
Jesus never behaved the way these people are behaving. We’re back to The Crusades, a most shameful part of Christian history.
When we feel that we have to defend God, we are, in a sense, thinking ourselves bigger and stronger than God. He doesn’t need me to defend Him. Seriously.
What He wants is for me to be kind and loving. To emulate Him.
We “defend” God not with a sword, but by being kind. We demonstrate not with angry words and violent actions, but with gentleness. If someone thinks differently than we do, we still call them beloved, not lunatic.
I will defend the landscape that is my faltering faith by planting seeds. My sword has been beaten into a plowshare.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
I love C.S. Lewis. I’ve been trying to live by “Love God. Love People. All People.”
Yes yes yes yes yes
I have typed two comments and both times it has booted me out to log in to WordPress. If you have a bunch of comments from me, I apologize!!
Someone else had problems with that. I apologize!!
Love and kindness is the best way to defend the faith. Thank you for this reminder. 😊
A brave post. I am glad to hear that you have your own faith and relationship to his that transcends all that is happening.
Sometimes it’s hard to respond with love when the other person is trying to destroy you and yours.
I like your “A” graphic
I totally agree. It IS so hard to respond with love. I struggle a lot with that — and fail most of the time.
Oh Sally I’m so in agreement! They have forgotten or worse perverted the basis of Christianity – Love thy neighbor as self and Love God above all else. Christ commands us to be Him to the world – to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, comfort the sick and imprisoned… no where does He tell us to condemn, exclude or withhold love! 🙏🏻💗💗
Yes! I don’t understand where they derailed but they are so far off the track that it’s scary.
Amen! Scary is a little of an understatement!!
No truer words…
Beautiful thoughts.
Excellent!