How to Respond When Attacked for Your Beliefs

By Lauren Rose Correa, September 12, 2025

Have you been wondering how to respond when attacked for your beliefs? Right now, there is so much disagreement and discord in our country, especially between folks of different religious and political backgrounds. I think the Charlie Kirk shooting has really highlighted these tensions, if they weren’t already evident enough. I’m not a political person. I personally have taken a bit of a break from following politics. This is mainly because I see corruption on both sides, and I don’t feel that Jesus was one to take a political stand. I believe his focus was on the kingdom of God.

Something I’m seeing a lot of is people getting attacked for holding Christian beliefs. Disagreement with lifestyles that aren’t biblical is being painted as bigotry and bullying, even if the person taking the stand is doing so respectfully. Gone are the days of agreeing to disagree. With many folks, the only right way is their way. Anyone who disagrees is not only wrong, but they are evil.

A Passage Written by Peter

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere 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.” – 1 Peter 3:13-16 NIV

In this passage in 1 Peter 3, Peter talks about suffering for what is right. He first lets us know that if we suffer for doing right, we are blessed. I believe that God will reward us in eternity when we do right and are persecuted for it. He also says that we ought to be ready to give an answer for the hope we have. I believe this means being willing to share our testimony of how God has worked in our lives with those who oppose us. But the next thing he says is what I want to focus on: do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience.

How to Respond When Attacked: A Christian’s Reaction

How we respond to folks who try to argue with us says a lot about our character. It also is supposed to reveal something about God’s character. When people disagree with your beliefs, do you respond with fire, or do you respond with gentleness and respect? Do you live to argue, or do you live to love and serve others? Do you want to demolish the other person with your arguments? Or do you choose caring words intended to point them to the love of God?

Peter writes that when we choose to respond with gentleness and respect, those who speak maliciously against us for doing right will be ashamed of their behavior. I don’t think this will always happen right away. But ultimately, anyone who opposes God will have to stand before him. When they do, they will be ashamed when they realize what they have done. We don’t need to try and shame them ourselves. We need to let our love for God and for others shine through. It’s important to share how God has saved us from our sin. We need to be gentle in hopes of leading them to Christ. Bringing down shame and wrath is God’s job, not ours.

How to Respond When Attacked: Your Reaction to Hatred

The next time someone attacks you for holding Christian beliefs, consider your response. Choose to represent the love of Christ through your gentleness and respect. Meet their hatred with love. This type of response has power to change hearts.