Answering difficult questions about Christianity: Handling tough objections with grace
If you are going to share Jesus with people, sooner or later someone will ask a difficult question.
"Why would a loving God allow cancer?"
"How can you know Christianity is true?"
"Why are there so many religions?"
"What about people who never hear about Jesus?"
"Why are Christians so hypocritical?"
You may not have all the answers yet - and that is completely normal. That is why we are here, to help you tackle tough questions like these. While we cannot cover every single scenario, we have gathered the most common ones, and the Holy Spirit will guide you through the rest as you grow.
Following Jesus does not mean having an answer to every question right out of the gate, but it does mean being willing to grow up in your faith, do the hard work of learning, and engage people's questions with humility, courage, love, and truth. Peter writes, "Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ" (1 Pet 3:15–16).
Notice what Peter doesn't say. He doesn't say, "Always be ready to win the argument." He doesn't say, "Always have the most impressive answer." He says to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you - and to do it with gentleness and respect. That fits naturally with the way Jesus sent His followers into the world: not with a spirit of lazy ignorance, but with a growing, mature and thoughtful faith.
If you've arrived here directly, you're welcome to start reading - each page stands on its own. Or begin at the series overview to follow the full journey in sequence.
A question is an opportunity to love someone
Jesus did everything from a heart of compassion, and we should do the same. When talking to people first show compassion, then go deeper to spiritual concerns. Imagine someone asks:
"Why would a loving God allow cancer?"
You could immediately launch into an explanation of suffering, free will, the fall and God's purposes. But perhaps there is a better first response:
"That's a really difficult question. Is this something you've been thinking about generally, or has something happened that makes this especially personal for you?"
That one question could completely change the conversation.
Perhaps they are asking an intellectual question. Or perhaps their mother has just died. Perhaps they aren't looking for an argument. Perhaps they are hurting. The disciple of Jesus needs to learn the difference.
This is why difficult questions are part of discipleship. They reveal not only what we know, but who we are becoming. When someone challenges your faith, ask yourself: Am I more concerned about defending my position than loving the person standing in front of me?
Jesus calls us to something better. Be ready. Be truthful. Be humble. And above all, remember that the person asking the question is not an objection to overcome - they are a person Jesus loves.
The real question behind the question
One of the most important skills you can develop when sharing Jesus is learning to listen before you answer. People don't always ask questions for the reason we assume, or even ask the question they want answered. A question may be intellectual. It may be philosophical. It may be moral. It may be emotional. It may come from personal experience, disappointment, grief or anger. It may be someone genuinely trying to understand Christianity. And sometimes a question may even be an attempt to avoid dealing with the claims Jesus is making.
You don't always know.
So don't assume.
Learn from Jesus
Look at how Jesus interacted with people. Nicodemus came to Jesus with theological knowledge and questions about spiritual things (John 3). Jesus could have simply given him a theological lecture, instead, Jesus went deeper:
"You must be born again."
The issue wasn't merely whether Nicodemus needed more information. He needed new life from God.
Then consider the rich young ruler (Mar 10:17–27). He asked:
"What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
That sounds like a theological question. But Jesus eventually exposed something much deeper - the man's relationship with his possessions. The conversation moved from "What do I need to know?" to, "What am I actually willing to surrender?"
Then look at Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman in (John 4). They talk about water. Then husbands. Then worship. Then Samaritans and Jerusalem. The conversation develops until Jesus reveals who He is. Jesus wasn't simply answering isolated questions.
He was engaging people and leading them toward truth.
That is a powerful model for us.
Ask what's underneath the question
Consider some common questions - please note this is not an exhaustive list, just an example.
| Question | What might be underneath it? |
|---|---|
| "Why does God allow suffering?" | "I've been hurt and I don't understand where God was." |
| "Are all religions basically the same?" | "Why should I trust Christianity?" |
| "Why are Christians hypocrites?" | "I've been badly hurt by Christians." |
| "Does God really exist?" | "I've never encountered God personally." |
| "Why would God judge people?" | "I struggle to reconcile God's justice and goodness." |
| "Can't I just be a good person?" | "Why do I need Jesus?" |
| "What about people who've never heard?" | "Is God actually fair?" |
These are possibilities - not diagnoses. Please don't psychoanalyse people. Never respond with:
"I know what your real problem is."
Instead, ask questions and stay curious. You might ask:
"What makes you ask that?"
"Is that something you've always wondered about?"
"Did something happen that led you to think about this?"
"What do you think the answer might be?"
"When you say 'Christianity', what do you mean by that?"
"What concerns you most about Christianity?"
"Can you tell me a little more about what you mean?"
Sometimes that question will reveal something you couldn't have known otherwise.
Don't answer the question you wish they had asked
We’ve all watched politicians pull this trick, and we despise it when they do. Let's make sure we don't fall into the same trap. Imagine someone says:
"Why are there so many religions? How can you possibly know Christianity is true?"
You could immediately begin comparing every major religion.
But a far better response is to ask:
"That's a fair question. Are you asking whether all religions basically teach the same thing, or are you wondering how anyone can know which one is true?"
Now you know what you're actually responding to.
Or perhaps they say:
"Why are Christians so judgmental?"
You could start defending Christians. But we'd suggest instead:
"Have you had an experience with a Christian that made you feel that way?"
You may discover that they were deeply hurt by someone who claimed to follow Jesus - that changes how you respond. Perhaps they need an explanation. Perhaps they need an apology. Perhaps they need to hear what Jesus actually taught about hypocrisy. Perhaps they simply need someone to listen.
Suggested additional resources
- Are all religions essentially the same path to God?
- Why does God allow evil and suffering if He is good?
- How can Christianity be the only true religion?
- Why are there so many hypocrites in churches? What Jesus actually said about it
Listening is not avoiding evangelism
Some Christians worry that asking questions means they're failing to share the gospel. The opposite is generally true, as long as you actually share the gospel. Good questions can open doors for the gospel.
Jesus listened. Jesus asked questions. Jesus told stories. Jesus confronted. Jesus comforted. Jesus challenged assumptions. And Jesus brought people face-to-face with Himself. Our goal is to become more like Jesus.
So when someone asks a difficult question, slow down. Listen carefully. Pray silently. Ask a clarifying question. Then respond to the person
It's okay not to know
One of the most liberating things you can learn as a Christian is how to say:
"I don't know."
You don't need to know the answer to every difficult question before you can share Jesus.
In fact, pretending to know something you don't know can damage your witness far more than admitting that you don't have the answer.
The Christian isn't called to appear omniscient. We're just called to be faithful witnesses. Scripture itself gives us reason for humility. Paul says, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know" (1 Cor 8:1–2). There will always be things we don't understand completely.
Proverbs 18:17 reminds us that the first account of a matter can sound convincing until another perspective is heard. That's a good reason to slow down before confidently declaring that we have everything figured out.
And look at Apollos in Acts 18. Apollos was knowledgeable in the Scriptures and spoke boldly about Jesus. Yet Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. Apollos didn't become a failure because he had more to learn.
He was willing to learn - that's discipleship.
Three honest responses
When someone asks you something you don't know, try one of these:
"I don't know."
"That's a good question. Let me look into it."
"I don't know the answer to that, but I do know why I follow Jesus."
Where possible look into the question from the Bible, so you have an answer the next time and in the event you meet that person you could share it with them.
That last response can be particularly helpful, though. You aren't pretending that your testimony answers every philosophical question. You're simply bringing the conversation back to what you genuinely know. You could say:
"I don't want to give you an answer I've just made up. I don't know how I'd answer that. But I can tell you why I've come to trust Jesus, if you'd like."
That's honest. And honesty creates trust.
Don't manufacture certainty
Never invent an answer to protect your image. Never confidently repeat something simply because you've heard another Christian say it - check for yourself like the Berean church in Acts. Never force Scripture to say something it doesn't clearly say. And don't be afraid to tell someone:
"I'm not sure. Let me think about that."
Then follow through.
If you tell someone you'll come back with an answer, come back with an answer.
That simple act demonstrates integrity.
Let questions expose where you need to grow
When someone asks something you can't answer, don't only think, "I need a better argument." Also ask, "Lord, where do I need to grow?" Keep a list of questions you struggle with.
Study Scripture. Talk with mature Christians. Use trustworthy resources. Pray. Learn. Then go back into the conversation with greater understanding. The goal isn't to build a collection of arguments so you can defeat people. It's to become a more mature disciple who can faithfully represent Jesus.
The Credible Way has some answers for many of the difficult questions people commonly raise - including suffering, other religions, Jesus' identity, hell, science, miracles, hypocrisy, Scripture and salvation. Use it as a deeper study resource when a conversation takes you further.
Explore Answering Life's Questions on The Credible Way for deeper answers and research.
You don't have to know everything.
But you should be willing to keep learning.
Answer with grace and truth
There are two common ways Christians can go wrong when answering difficult questions.
The first is truth without love:
"Let me prove you're wrong."
The second is love without truth:
"Everyone believes different things, so it doesn't really matter."
Jesus gives us neither.
We are called to speak truth with gentleness, courage and love.
Peter's instruction is remarkably clear, "Give an answer… with gentleness and respect" (1 Pet 3:15–16).
Paul tells the Colossians, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt." (Col 4:6).
And Ephesians 4:15 speaks of speaking the truth in love.
That combination matters.
Jesus wasn't afraid of difficult conversations
Jesus could be extraordinarily direct. He challenged Nicodemus. He confronted the Pharisees. He challenged the rich young ruler. He corrected His disciples. He engaged the Samaritan woman. He stood before Pilate. But Jesus wasn't argumentative simply for the sake of being argumentative. His purpose wasn't to collect debate victories.
He was calling people toward truth, repentance, faith, obedience and Himself.
That should shape the way we answer questions. Before you respond, ask:
"What response would most help this person take one step closer to Jesus?"
Sometimes the answer will be a direct explanation. Sometimes it will be a question. Sometimes it will be Scripture. Sometimes it will be a story. Sometimes it will be your testimony. Sometimes it will be, "I don't know, but I'd love to explore that with you." Trust Holy Spirit to direct you.
Grace doesn't mean avoiding truth
Being gentle doesn't mean becoming vague. If someone asks what Jesus taught, we should be willing to tell them. If Jesus made an exclusive claim, we shouldn't soften it because we're afraid of offending someone.
If Jesus calls people to repentance, we shouldn't remove repentance from the gospel.
If following Jesus involves surrender, obedience and counting the cost, we shouldn't turn discipleship into a comfortable invitation to add Christianity to an otherwise unchanged life.
Grace doesn't mean hiding the truth. It means speaking the truth in the character of Christ. That includes humility. It includes patience. It includes refusing to mock. It includes listening carefully. It includes treating people with dignity even when they strongly disagree with us.
Before you answer, check your heart
When someone challenges Christianity, pause for a moment.
Ask yourself Am I angry? Am I becoming defensive? Am I listening? Am I trying to understand them? Am I willing to admit when they have a legitimate point? Am I depending on the Holy Spirit? Am I trying to help them see Jesus? - and this question may be the most important.
Because Jesus didn't send us into the world to accumulate debate victories.
He sent us to make disciples.
So answer honestly. Speak courageously. Listen carefully. Love genuinely. And keep bringing the conversation back to Jesus.
Don't turn every conversation into a debate
When someone asks a difficult question, it can be tempting to treat the conversation like a contest. They raise an objection. You answer it. They raise another. You answer that one. Soon you're trying to defend Christianity against an endless stream of questions, and neither of you is really listening anymore. That isn't what Jesus commissioned us to do.
Jesus said, "Go and make disciples of all nations…" (Mat 28:19). He didn't say, "Go and win arguments." There is certainly a place for reasoned discussion. Paul reasoned with people in the synagogues and marketplaces (Acts 17–18). Apollos reasoned powerfully from the Scriptures (Acts 18:24–28).
The problem isn't discussion. The problem is when winning becomes more important than loving the person. Paul is clear: don't get drawn into foolish arguments that only produce quarrels (2 Tim 2:23; Tit 3:9). Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment - He knows when a conversation is still genuinely open and when it has become a contest no one will win.
Knowing when to stop
You don't have to answer every question immediately, and you certainly don't have to finish every argument. Look for these hard indicators that a conversation is going nowhere and it’s time to disengage:
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The emotional temperature is rising: Voices are getting louder, faces are flushing, or sarcasm is creeping in. Once a conversation turns into a fight, intellectual progress stops immediately so stop before that point.
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You're looping the same points: You've both said the exact same thing twice, and nobody is moving an inch. You're no longer exploring truth; you're just firing fixed rounds at each other.
-
You're defending your pride, not the faith: You realize you care more about getting the last word or proving them wrong than about their actual well-being.
When you spot those signs, just hit pause cleanly and kindly using one of these:
"This is getting pretty heated, and I'd rather protect our relationship than win an argument. Can we pick this up another day?"
"I'd love to keep thinking about what you just said, but I think I've hit my limit for today."
The aim is not to get the final word. The aim is to faithfully represent Jesus and love the person in front of you, even if that means walking away while the dust is still settling.
Know when the conversation has become a distraction
Not every difficult question is sincere. But don't become cynical. Jesus encountered all kinds of people. Some genuinely wanted to know Him. Some were confused. Some were searching. Some were hostile. Some asked questions because they were trying to trap Him.
In Matthew 22, people repeatedly question Jesus with the intention of trapping Him. In John 3, Nicodemus comes with genuine questions. In John 4, the Samaritan woman engages Jesus in a conversation that eventually leads to a profound revelation of who He is. The difference isn't always obvious at first. That's why Christians need discernment rather than suspicion.
A conversation may be becoming unproductive when someone repeatedly changes the subject after you've answered, or keeps moving to another objection without engaging the previous answer, or demands an impossible level of certainty. Sometimes they may continually mocks or insult you or they may treat the conversation as entertainment rather than genuine inquiry.
If that happens, you don't need to become angry. You can simply recognise that continuing the argument may not be helpful. You might say:
"I’m happy to keep talking about this, but I don't think we're really getting anywhere at the moment."
Or:
"I'd rather think about that properly than keep throwing answers back and forth."
"Why don't we come back to this another time?"
Let difficult questions lead back to Jesus
This is where answering difficult questions becomes distinctly Christian. Christianity isn't ultimately a collection of correct answers to objections. Jesus is the centre. Questions about suffering, morality, death, meaning, forgiveness, justice, truth, other religions, Scripture and hypocrisy are important - but eventually they need to encounter the person of Jesus.
What about suffering?
You may need to explain something about the Christian understanding of suffering. But don't leave the conversation there. Eventually ask:
"What do you make of Jesus - the God who entered our suffering, suffered Himself, died and rose again?"
Christianity doesn't teach us to look at suffering from a safe distance. The cross shows us God entering into our broken world.
What about other religions?
Comparing beliefs can be useful. But don't let the conversation become a competition between religious systems. Eventually ask:
"What do you make of Jesus?"
Who is He? What did He claim? What did He do? What does He ask of those who follow Him?
Can't I just be a good person?
This is generally thought of as acceptable but leaves a lot of room for ambiguity - what classifies as "good" - especially in this day and age? How much "good" is needed and who decides? Eventually ask:
"What do you make of Jesus?"
What did Jesus say about entering God's Kingdom? What did He say about sin, repentance, forgiveness and following Him? Jesus doesn't simply offer people a better moral system. He calls them to follow Him.
What about Christian hypocrisy?
Don't defend Christians as though Christians have never done anything wrong. We haven't. Instead, take them back to Jesus.
"You're right that Christians can be hypocritical. But what did Jesus Himself teach about hypocrisy?"
Jesus repeatedly confronted religious hypocrisy. The failure of His followers doesn't make His teaching irrelevant. It makes His call to genuine repentance and obedience even more important.
The question behind the question
Don't stop at the objection. Ask where the conversation can go next. A difficult question can become a doorway. Suffering can lead to Jesus. Guilt can lead to forgiveness. Questions about morality can lead to the character of God. Questions about truth can lead to Jesus' claims.
Questions about religion can lead to the gospel.
Questions about hypocrisy can lead to what Jesus actually taught about authentic obedience.
You aren't trying to force Jesus into every conversation artificially. You are remembering that He is the reason you're having the conversation in the first place.
It isn't simply for someone to walk away thinking "That Christian gave a really good answer."
The actual greater hope is, they walk away thinking "I need to think more seriously about Jesus."
Depending on the Holy Spirit
Answering difficult questions requires preparation. But preparation isn't dependence. You can study books, read Scripture, learn from mature Christians and become better equipped to explain your faith - and you should. But none of those things can produce spiritual transformation in another person. That belongs to God.
Jesus told His disciples, "The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say" (Luk 12:12). And before His ascension He told them, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…" (Acts 1:8).
Notice the connection - The Holy Spirit and witness belong together.
We prepare ourselves, but we don't try to control the outcome.
Preparation and dependence belong together
You can know the right answer and still respond badly. You can have excellent arguments and fail to love the person. You can know exactly what you want to say and completely miss what God is doing in the conversation. So pray.
Before a conversation, "Holy Spirit, help me listen well, speak truthfully, love this person, and point them to Jesus. Give me wisdom to know what to say and humility to know when to listen." During a conversation, you can pray silently, "Lord, help me." And afterwards, "Lord, show me what I could have done differently."
You don't have to manufacture the moment
Evangelism isn't about becoming a perfectly polished Christian who can handle every question. It is about faithfully joining what God is already doing. You don't need to manipulate someone into a decision. You don't need to force a conversation to continue. You don't need to have the perfect response.
Be ready. Be faithful. Speak truth. Love people. Listen. And trust the Holy Spirit. Your responsibility is obedience.
The results belong to God.
Put it into practice
You don't become better at answering difficult questions by simply reading about it - you practise. But don't turn this into another study project where you spend six months preparing and never actually talk to anyone. Start small - do it this week.
Choose one question, not ten
Choose one difficult question that you would genuinely struggle to answer. Write down what you currently believe. What would you actually say if someone asked you tomorrow? Now study it. Look at Scripture carefully.
Then use trustworthy resources to help you understand the question more deeply. The Credible Way's existing answers can be useful here rather than trying to reproduce an entire apologetics library on this site. Other good examples are Frank Turek's Cross Examined and multiple resources from Ray Comfort's Living Waters resources
Ask a mature Christian, how they would you answer this question. Pay attention not only to their answer, but to how they would have the conversation.
Practise a two-minute answer
Don't prepare a twenty-minute lecture. Try to explain the heart of your answer simply and naturally.
Pray for an opportunity.
Ask God to give you an opportunity to have a genuine conversation with someone - not merely an opportunity to demonstrate what you've learned.
When the opportunity comes, listen first
Don't rush. Ask questions. Understand what they mean. Then respond. You don't need to have the perfect answer. You need to be a faithful disciple. So the next time someone asks you a difficult question, don't see it as an interruption to your mission.
It may be an opportunity for it.
Listen carefully. Depend on the Holy Spirit. Speak with grace and truth. And keep pointing people toward Jesus.