When the World Comes Against Us
Bob Yandian
The world comes against us with psychology, psychiatry, human reasoning, and self-help philosophies. They come armed with what they call “knowledge.” But our response isn’t to fight them with their own tools. We come back with the divine viewpoint of life—the Word of God. God’s Word provides a defense that no natural argument can withstand. The Bible is our solid ground, our final authority. When we stand on it, there’s no weapon formed against us that can prosper.
There is a Greek word, apologia. It’s where we get our English word apologetics, but it doesn’t mean we are apologizing for anything. It means we are giving a defense—a solid answer for what we believe and why we believe it. When people approach us with questions or arguments about our faith, we are to be ready with an answer. That answer doesn’t come from psychology, philosophy, or the wisdom of this world—it comes from the Word of God.
The Simplicity and Power of the Word
One of the greatest lies of religion is that the Bible is too complicated for ordinary people to understand. But God made His Word simple. Isaiah 35:8 says, “Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.” Jesus came to ordinary people—farmers, fishermen, housewives, and young people—and made the truth understandable. He told stories about throwing seeds in the ground, casting nets into the sea, and putting yeast into dough. Everyone could relate. This is the way God intended His truth to work—simple, practical, and powerful.
The Word of God carries its own power. You don’t have to make it complicated. When it’s spoken in faith, it produces results. Some verses in Scripture are deeper and require spiritual growth to grasp, but even the deepest truths become simple as your mind is renewed by the Word. When dealing with unbelievers, don’t get drawn into endless debates or try to prove theology. Stay simple. Quote the Word. Bring the conversation onto God’s territory.
Jesus did this constantly. When confronted by religious leaders or critics, He always answered from the Word. He pulled the discussion out of the natural realm and into the spiritual. And when He did, their arguments fell flat. They had no defense. That’s the power of apologia—a defense built on Scripture, not on opinion.
The Weapon of the World: Words
In 2 Timothy 3:1–3 Paul said, “In the last days perilous times will come.” We are living in those days. Men will be lovers of themselves, proud, unthankful, and unholy. He said they would be slanderers—using words as weapons. The world’s weapon is words, and they know how to use them to attack, intimidate, and confuse. But as believers, we don’t return slander for slander.
First Peter 3:13–17 tells us, “Who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?” Even if we suffer for righteousness’ sake, we are blessed. We are not to be afraid of their threats or troubled by their words. Instead, Peter said, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense (apologia) to anyone who asks you for the reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
Our defense is not anger or argument. It is the Word of God, spoken with grace and humility. When you quote the Word, you bring divine power into a human conversation. You move the battle into spiritual territory—and the world has no weapon that can stand against that.
Answering the World with Grace and Salt
Colossians 4:5–6 gives us our marching orders for how to talk to unbelievers:
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.”
Wisdom is the correct application of the Word of God. Knowledge is knowing the Word, but wisdom is knowing how and when to use it. When we speak to those outside the church, our words should be gracious—full of love and kindness—and seasoned with salt. Salt preserves and adds flavor, just as the Word of God adds life to our speech.
You don’t throw handfuls of salt at people—you season your words with it. Don’t preach at them or overwhelm them with verses. Just let Scripture flavor your conversation. A simple statement like “The Bible says…” can stop a critic in their tracks. You’re not debating—you’re witnessing.
A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath
The world comes at us with lies in anger, but we are to answer with truth in love. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath.” When unbelievers come at you with hostility, respond gently and confidently. Jesus did this. His calm answers often exposed the foolishness of His critics.
When we answer the world, we don’t rely on cleverness or debate tactics. We rely on the Holy Spirit. Matthew 10:19 says, “When they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak, for it will be given to you in that hour what you should say.” The Holy Spirit will supply the words and the wisdom you need. You won’t be drawn into their arena; you will draw them into yours—the realm of the Spirit and the truth of the Word.
The Word at Work: A Personal Story
Years ago, I was invited to speak in Oklahoma City on the subject of capital punishment. The woman who invited me—a senator and a member of my church—told me it would be a small meeting. She lied. The auditorium was packed with thousands of protesters shouting against capital punishment.
When I stepped up to the podium, the crowd grew quiet for a moment, but soon a man shouted from the back, “How can you serve a God who murdered His own Son?” I had never heard that argument before. For a moment, I froze. Then, silently, I prayed, “Holy Spirit, give me the answer.” Instantly, it came.
I said, “Sir, Jesus did not die because God killed Him. Jesus said, ‘No man takes My life from Me; I lay it down of My own free will.’ On the cross He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I dismiss My spirit.’ He gave up His life voluntarily for all mankind. God did not kill His Son—He raised Him from the dead! And through that resurrection, all sin—past, present, and future—was paid for.”
The crowd went completely silent. I asked everyone to bow their heads and led them in a prayer of salvation. Hundreds prayed that day. The same people who shouted in anger just minutes before were now quiet before God’s Word. That is the power of the Word, spoken under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
It Is Written
Every argument the world brings will eventually crumble under one phrase—It is written. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus didn’t debate him, He didn’t explain doctrine—He simply said, “It is written.” Each time, the Word silenced the enemy.
If Jesus could overcome the devil with Scripture, so can we. But you have to know what is written before you can say it is written. That means spending time in the Word, letting it live in your heart until the Holy Spirit can draw it out when you need it most.
The Word of God doesn’t need outside proof or defense. Romans 3 says, “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” God exalted His Word above His own name. The Bible never quotes other philosophers or religious leaders because every idea outside of it is beneath it. When Scripture wants to prove something, it quotes itself. This is why the New Testament constantly quotes the Old Testament.
The phrase “It is written” in the Greek is in the perfect tense—meaning “It stands written.” It was true yesterday, it is true today, and it will be true forever. The Word of God never changes. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word will stand forever.
Jesus—The Living Word
Jesus Himself declared that He came to fulfill everything written about Him. Hebrews 10:5–7 tells us that when He entered this world, He said to the Father, “A body You have prepared for Me… Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.”
Even as a baby in the manger, from His divine nature He was declaring the purpose for which He came—to do the Father’s will and to fulfill every prophecy written in the volume of the Book. Jesus’ life, ministry, and resurrection were the living proof of God’s written Word.
At twelve years old, He was already in the temple saying, “I must be about My Father’s business.” At the beginning of His ministry, He stood in the synagogue, opened to Isaiah 61, and read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…” Then He said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” That single statement turned His hometown against Him—but it proved that He was the Word made flesh.
The Word Stands Alone
Jesus used Scripture as His defense in every situation—whether answering critics, teaching disciples, or facing Satan himself. He quoted Genesis about marriage, Deuteronomy in the wilderness, and the Psalms on the cross.
The New Testament writers followed His example. Matthew said, “It is written” five times. Mark said it seven times. Luke used it fourteen times in his writings. John used it seven times. Paul declared it seventeen times. Peter said it once—and once is enough. “It is written” is God’s signature of authority.
The Word has been twisted, distorted, and attacked—but it can never be changed. When we speak it, we stand on the highest standard God has ever given. We don’t defend the Word; the Word defends us. It is eternal, unbreakable, and undefeatable.
Our Confidence in the Word
When the world comes at you with clever arguments, philosophies, and human wisdom, don’t panic. Just rest in the Word. Be quiet for a moment, let the Holy Spirit bring Scripture to your remembrance, and speak it with love and confidence. Your defense doesn’t come from debate—it comes from divine revelation. You don’t need to explain the salt; just season your words with it. You don’t have to prove the Bible; just quote it. The Word of God carries the power of God, and when spoken in faith, it changes hearts, silences critics, and brings light into darkness.
So stand strong. When the world questions your faith, your values, or your hope, remember your response is not an apology—it’s a defense. And that defense is built on one unshakable foundation: “It is written.”
