Over the decades, the culture in the West has become increasingly hostile toward Christianity. The internet is flooded daily with clever memes, TikToks, and Tweets that like to point out the silly things that can be found in the Bible. Or they find passages in the Bible to try and show how Christians have gotten one social issue or another wrong. And, despite thousands of years of consistent teachings, Jesus is really in favor of the current social trend. Or maybe it’s not something on the internet. Maybe it’s something that gets brought up while sitting in the barber’s chair. Or the dinner table on holidays. Or a water cooler conversation at work.

A lot of this kind of content can use very clever rhetoric that is rather convincing. Sure, one meme might not affect you. But, for some people, engaging with this kind of stuff frequently takes its toll over time. With each post, the blocks of the Jenga tower that is your faith can be pushed out slowly one by one. Until, eventually, the base is unstable and the whole thing comes crashing down.

But, there’s good news. Today, we’re going to talk about the one thing you can do to make sure you’re prepared for any snarky TikToker, every clever meme, and the conversations with Floyd the Dentist while he has a drill in your mouth. No other thing with help you to grow as a Christian and prepare yourself for challenging conversations. What to know what it is?

Read your Bible.

That’s it. Read your Bible. The answer is pretty simple, actually. If more people who claim to be Christians read their Bibles, the more equipped we would be to give reasons for what we believe, the less likely we would be to fall for clever rhetoric, and the easier it would be for us to share the gospel with others. Just by doing this one thing.

If people don’t read their Bibles but consider themselves Christian, then that means they are relying on others to tell them what it means to be a Christian. Rather than going straight to the source for themselves. As a result, we get what we have right now – a church that holds a vast spectrum of views and oftentimes holds inconsistent positions.

It’s really tempting even for me to watch another apologist who I generally agree with break down a challenging meme that has gone viral on the internet and then stop with his or her take. But, that’s only the beginning! The next step is to dig in on my own to see if I agree with their take or not.

And getting started couldn’t be easier. All you need is 10 minutes a day. Don’t own a Bible? There are dozens of free apps on the various smartphone app stores. Download one, pick a book and dig in! I would suggest starting with one of the Gospels – either Mark or John. And then just go from there. Take your time. It’s not a race.

If you’ve ever found yourself struggling with your faith, rattled by things you see on the internet, or wanting to be able to give good responses to the challenges that come against you, the solution is easy. And, even though getting started can be challenging, it’s something that will be more valuable for you than any other thing you invest time in.