If you are part of the Church of God, you've probably already heard these questions many times. They simply reflect others' astonishment at the beliefs we hold. As most of us realize, our beliefs aren't very popular. Frankly, these beliefs make us quite different!

Many people who claim to be Christian don't believe in absolute truth. They assume that there are "many roads" to salvation (heaven, as they would say) and that one shouldn't proclaim any particular way as the only way. On the opposite extreme are the nonreligious—atheists and agnostics who have no religion and think of religious people as ignorant. We often come into contact with all of these types of people when we are at school or out with our friends.

When people hear that we hold strong moral convictions (and even call it "truth"), we can suddenly become the odd ones out. People will then want to know why we believe what we do.

Eventually, it seems, all of us have to explain our beliefs. How can we best do so without losing our friends? Should we debate the truth? What approach should we take? This article will attempt to answer these questions.

Know what you believe and why

Simply put, how can you defend what you do if you don't know why you do it? Many teens in the Church of God over the years have faithfully kept the Sabbath and Holy Days, tithed on their allowance or paycheck and kept away from worldly holidays—but did not understand why they did the things they did. They just did it because that's what their parents said to do.

So how do you gain a good understanding of your beliefs? One obvious answer is by reading your Bible. Though it is true that teens often have very busy schedules, it is wise to set aside time each day to read the Bible. The Bible is the source for all doctrine in the Church of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and is the best place to start to get an understanding of what God wants us to do.

It is also very helpful to read the literature published by the Church (as you are doing now). Specifically study the fundamental doctrines of the Church. The Fundamental Beliefs study aid is an excellent source for basic explanations of our key doctrines. Since Holy Days, holidays and the Sabbath are such distinct beliefs, it is likely that we all will have to defend these sometime in our lives. In preparation for doing so, it is wise to memorize key verses pertaining to these beliefs.

For example, to explain the Holy Days, it is good to know that Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 contain commands for "the feasts of the Lord" and Zechariah 14 shows that they will be kept in the Millennium when Jesus Christ returns to establish God's Kingdom.

For the Sabbath, it is good to know that Exodus 20 contains the Fourth Commandment and that Mark 2:27-28 shows that the Sabbath was made for humanity by Jesus Christ. This is just the bare minimum. It would be much better for us to know where to find many more of the vital scriptures on key issues.

Of course, the Church does not want you to blindly follow its teachings. Before we can explain the truth with all our hearts, we must examine everything carefully then "hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Once we have proven the truth to be truth, it is our duty to hold on to it, never let it go and pass it on to others who are interested.

When you are put on the spot

So you're at school and it finally comes up—your beliefs. A teacher asks you, "Why are you leaving my class for a week?" A student asks you, "Why aren't you coming to the Christmas party?" A coach asks you, "Why can't you practice or play on Friday night?" What do you do? Do you avoid the subject and immediately get out of the situation? Do you go into a sermon on why they are sinning by not doing what you're doing?

We first need to understand that we must not be ashamed of what we believe. Christ gives this strong warning: "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory" (Luke 9:26). It is easy not to be ashamed of Christ at Church, but when we get out in the world, all of us are tempted to try to hide our beliefs so we don't look different.

The apostle Peter instructs us: "Always be ready to give a defense [explanation] to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). We are not just to give a defense for the truth, but be ready to provide an answer! That's why we need to "be diligent [study, KJV] to present yourself approved to God" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Occasionally, we may lose a friend because of our beliefs. When this happens, we can be encouraged by the words of Scripture: "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29).

Remember, God does not want us to lose friends. If we remember to be kind and honest in our explanations, we may be able to maintain our relationships. But regardless of the outcome, we can always take comfort in God's promise to remain faithful to those who respect and obey Him. As Hebrews 13:5 explains, He will "never leave you nor forsake you."

To learn more, read the article "Four Keys to Use When Explaining Your Beliefs."