{"id":5323,"date":"2011-03-16T13:00:57","date_gmt":"2011-03-16T17:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=5323"},"modified":"2026-07-24T11:53:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:53:12","slug":"favor-without-compromise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/favor-without-compromise.htm","title":{"rendered":"Gaining Favor Without Compromising Truth – How?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We can learn from the early church.\u00a0 Breaking down the words of Peter, one of the Early Church Apostles, in 1 Peter 3:15-16<\/span> helps us know what we need to pay attention to if we are going to likewise gain favor without compromising Truth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But in your hearts set apart 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How Can We Gain Favor Without Compromise Per 1 Peter 3:15-16?<\/h2>\n

If we break down the above verses, we can learn how to gain favor without compromising.<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0 Proper Motivation<\/strong> (but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord)<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is in our heart?\u00a0 Are we seeking to please people or the Lord?<\/p>\n

2) Consistency<\/strong> (always be prepared)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Consistently study the Word to be ready to consistently share Truth.\u00a0 Being prepared to simply stand on a “soap box” about some issue is not what gains favor.<\/p>\n

3)\u00a0 Inclusiveness<\/strong> (give an answer to everyone)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the quickest ways to lose favor is to demonstrate bias in who we are willing to associate with.\u00a0 We need to be willing to share with “everyone” who asks which sometimes might include those who make us uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

4) Sensitivity<\/strong>\u00a0 (give an answer to everyone who asks)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Timing is not everything but it sure does help to keep pace with the Spirit’s work in people’s lives. Pushing what we have to say on people who are not ready is like throwing your pearls to the pigs.\u00a0 “If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces” (Matt. 7:6)<\/span>.<\/p>\n

5)\u00a0 Positive Focus<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 (give the reason for the hope that you have)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This doesn’t mean that you never confront what’s wrong in this world (sin), but that you encase it in hope, not condemnation.\u00a0 Jesus came to bring the hope of salvation (Jn. 3:16-17)<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0While people need to understand that they are sinners in need of a Savior, put your focus on the solution to people’s problems not the problem.\u00a0 That’s what people want to know.<\/p>\n

6)\u00a0 Godly Attitudes<\/strong> (do this with gentleness and respect)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As the saying goes, the end does not justify the means.\u00a0 But notice, the “how-to” is not about technique but deals with attitude.\u00a0 This is “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).\u00a0 “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-25).<\/span><\/p>\n

7)\u00a0 Accountability<\/strong>\u00a0 (keeping a clear conscience)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of the day, you must give an answer to God.\u00a0 Did you reach out with His love to the people around you?\u00a0 Did you reach out without compromising truth?<\/p>\n

Gaining favor without compromising truth doesn’t mean people will always agree with you<\/a>.\u00a0 And, it doesn’t mean no one will ever speak out against you.\u00a0 However, when we follow all of\u00a0the above principles, those who malign you will\u00a0be the ones in shame\u00a0— “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

Let’s examine ourselves and ask God to bring us into alignment with 1 Peter 3:15-16<\/a> so those who speak ill of the church today are not justified in their accusations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We can learn from the early church. Breaking down the words of Peter, one of the Early Church Apostles, in 1 Peter 3:15-16 can help us know what we need to pay attention to if we are going to likewise gain favor without compromising Truth. . . . Continue reading Gaining Favor Without Compromising Truth – How?<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-outreach"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t