By Philip Mullins
It is always easier to walk with the
crowd, to agree when everyone else is agreeing, to go with
the flow. However, it is how we stand when we have to stand
in opposition that is often the real test of our faith in
God.
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil"
(Ephesians 6:11). To be a true Christian means to oppose
evil. To stand with Christ often means to stand against
people and ideas that are set against Him. While a Christian
is to be patient and loving, he or she is not to be passive.
A Christian is a soldier in a war.
Christ displayed such a character. While
He was meek and gentle, He could also be aggressive and
bold:
“I tell you, no: but unless you
repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
“For laying aside the
commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men...” (Mark
7:8).
“Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win
one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as
much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15).
It was not that Jesus was trying to be
offensive, but in standing for what was right it was
necessary for Him to oppose certain beliefs, teachings, and
even people. It was necessary to tell people what they
needed to hear rather than what they wanted to hear.
Some religious people who claim to follow
Christ are not willing to oppose anything or anybody. They
believe the way of Christ dictates a totally positive
approach where one never challenges any belief or practice,
even if it is in clear opposition to the way of Christ.
How much do you believe in God? How much
do you trust the Bible as God's word? How convinced are you
that Jesus is God's Son? How committed are you to the
Bible's standard of righteousness? If you are truly faithful
to God and firm in your devotion to His will, then you must
stand against whatever opposes these things.
It is easy to speak up for Christ when
others are doing the same. The real test, though, comes when
we must speak for Him when others are speaking against Him
or His word. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but
of power and of love and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7).
- Philip Mullins; via the Belvedere Beacon, the weekly
bulletin of the Belvedere church of Christ, Belvedere,
SC. Ken Chumbley preaches for this congregation, and
he may be contacted at their website:
Belvedere Church of Christ
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