Weddings are always interesting spectacles. My niece was married last weekend and I am still chuckling about some things that took place. At a wedding you not only have your own family with all of the “characters” and the black sheep and “crazy Aunt Sally”, but you also get to meet a whole new group of “people.” I noticed that just in one family there is the spectrum of believers, non-believers, old line denominational types and the almost militant atheists as Mark talked about in his comments above. You have some people who know the same “religious” things you do, some that have heard something about that stuff, some that don’t want to talk to you at all about religion, and some that want to confront you and make you defend your views.

In the readings from Acts for this week, I was struck by a progression in the way that Paul was received in the various locations he preached. I think it parallels the US history Mark referred to above. In chapter 2, the Apostles begin to speak the languages of the people gathered around to check out the noises they heard. They were more concerned with how they could understand them but many accepted their words and believed. (by the way, has anyone else thought about the fact that these men all of a sudden could speak foreign languages and some people were more concerned about them being drunk like the language thing was less amazing than being drunk)

In chapter 17, Paul and Silas are preaching and converting until they must flee to avoid the Jewish leaders. they then go to Berea and preach to the “thinkers” of that area. In chapter 26, Paul is defending himself in front King Agrippa to keep himself from death or imprisonment.

I think that there is some level of hostility toward Christianity today that often requires one to defend themselves.

Well to get to my point, ( I won’t say to make a long story short because it is too late for that now), I think that Mark’s point about arming oneself with knowledge in order to be prepared to discuss your faith with others is right on the money. In all of the readings, Paul was using his knowledge of Jewish law and history and prophecy, as well as the Good News of Christ risen from the dead, to win converts for Christ. Even in defending himself to a King, he used that knowledge to get his points across.

To bring this full circle to my starting point, I have had some of the most interesting and challenging conversations with relatives over the years at family events. Much of the discussion relates to trying to correct misinformation or popular misconceptions about what is really in the Bible on the issues of todays culture. At times I have been comfortable, a lot of times I feel I am in over my head, and a couple of times I have said some things that I wonder where they came from (in a good way). But these encounters have led me to try to be more informed biblically, especially about current events. I think the key is to try to keep reading and be prepared to say something when you get an opening.

PS: that book title “Everybody’s Normal Until You Get to Know Them”, is so true at weddings.