Here's a layered question from the inbox from a podcast listener named Scott.

Pastor John, in our current day, we see a spectrum of persecution developing for Christians

from beheading by ISIS to the suing of bakeries by gay rights groups.

In preparing his disciples for persecution, Jesus noted that this persecution would be

quote your opportunity to bear witness, Luke 21 13, clearly persecution is an opportunity

to glorify Christ.

However, Jesus goes on to instruct this, quote, settle it therefore in your minds not

to meditate beforehand, how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none

of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict, Luke 21 verses 14 to 15.

And yet the apostle Peter in a similar context of instruction on responding to persecution

notes this, quote, have no fear of them nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ,

the Lord is holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for

a reason for the hope that is in you, as first Peter 3 14 and 15.

As we seek to make much of Christ while enduring persecution, how do we reconcile the apparent

contradiction between Jesus saying don't prepare with Peter saying always be prepared?

How would you put those two pieces together?

So let's get the whole textual picture in front of us, there's one other piece that

I'd want to stir in besides those two apparently contradictory passages and that would include

Matthew 10, 19.

So all three of the texts that I'm going to mention, two of which Scott already mentioned,

all three of them picture the Christian life in a hostile setting given the opportunity

to testify about our faith.

...