Take A Stand
I have always been a peacemaker, a people pleaser, a stand backer (not sure that's an actual word but it is in my dictionary!) I have often let others run over me, often let others say what they think and I just keep the peace and walk away. I used to really worry about what others thought about me, what they might say about me. As I get older, and much credit to my very supportive and loving husband, who is not a people pleaser, who always stands up for what he believes in and for who he believes in, I am getting better and I do not care as much about what others think of me.
Recently in a conversation with my daughter, we talked about how so many people protest about the things they believe in, the causes that offend them and what not. We also discussed how Christians including us are not always the ones on the front lines standing up for what we believe in or standing up for the who we believe in. Instead, we are sitting down, being quiet, letting others run over us, we are being people pleasers and stand backers. I believe American Christians, for the most part, have become Laodicean Christians. In the book of Revelation 3:15-16 it says, "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." You see if we were "cold" we wouldn't be Christians at all, but if we were "hot" we would stand up for God and our beliefs. So, we must be lukewarm, yuck, have you had lukewarm water or worse lukewarm coffee? It's no wonder Christ says I spit you out of my mouth!
We have become lukewarm closet Christians, or Christians when we are in the comfort of other Christians. We are so afraid of offending others, or not fitting in, or maybe even losing a friend we just keep our mouths closed. We let everyone else have their way, take away this and that and legalize the things they want even it is against our beliefs. But, do we stand up, do we protest? Now, do not get me wrong, I am not saying to go out and be a bully, not at all. But friend, I think we have turned the other cheek and the other cheek again and now it is time to take a stand. If we do not take a stand for what and who we believe in, those that are standing against what we believe will take away our rights to worship who we believe in.
We see the example in the New Testament, the Sadducees and Pharisees did not want Jesus preaching and healing or going against their customs so they killed him. Even after Jesus had risen from the dead and had ascended to heaven the Sadducees and Pharisees wanted to stop the gospel message and did not want the Apostles to preach in the name of Jesus. They did not want them to go about healing and teaching in the name of Jesus. The Council told the Apostles to stop or they would be arrested or even put to death. Instead of tucking tail and running and zipping their lips and keeping quiet, they pressed on, the Apostles kept teaching in Jesus name, kept healing and preaching. Even when brought before the council the Apostles basically preached to the council! They stood up, they were not backer downers! Even if it meant it would cost them their lives, which all of the Apostles were Maryters for Christ.
For you and I and the majority of Christians except in some other countries, we are at this time not in fear for our lives to stand up for Christ. So what makes us keep our mouths closed? I mean, let a referee call your kid out at second and you are all over him like gravy on biscuits. Let another kid call your kid a name and you will organize peace treaty talks between the two of them and the kids' mom before you are out of the carpool line. Let someone insult my dog Lizzie and I will break out my ninja skills and escort them out of my house before they even finish their sweet tea! But stand up for prayer at the football game or the bible study the students want to have at school, stand against baseball practice on Sunday's, just to mention a few, no way, we don't want to rock the boat or make anyone mad.
Now, friend, this takes me way outside my comfort zone, remember, I am usually a peacemaker and a stand backer. However, after my prayer, Jesus break my heart for what breaks yours (You can read about this in my post "A Heart Like His") Jesus has broken my heart over this issue. You see, Jesus reminded how far out of His comfort zone being born in a stable was, how out of his comfort zone being tortured, spit upon, and beaten, crucified and hung upon a cross, how taking the sin of the world upon his shoulders when he was spotless, had never sinned not once, this was way out of his comfort zone. He reminded me he was a king that came and lived as an ordinary man, way outside of his comfort zone, he did all of this for me and you but he reminded me he would have done it even if it had just been for me. 1 John 3:16 says "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us;" When I think of my little comfort zone compared to what Jesus did for me, I just really do not have a choice y'all, I have to stand up for Jesus.
I like what Revelation 3:8 says about the church in Philadelphia, "I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." Christ tells this church you have just a little power, which is how I feel a good majority of the time like I am not strong enough to stand against or stand up for Christ. But, he says even though your not very strong, you kept my word and have not denied my name. Now you may be saying, "well I would never deny Jesus" but truthfully when we don't say anything at all isn't it the same thing as denial?
Beloved friend, I am not sure about you, but I sure want to be like the church at Philadelphia, I may not have much power but I want to keep the word of God and never deny his name. I want to be strong and take a stand! My prayer for you is that you will want to take a stand as well. If we all take a stand, maybe those on the other side of the protest line will see something in us they want and change protest lines. John 12:32 says, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
This reminds me of a song I sang as a kid in Sunday School;
"This Little Light of Mine"
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Letting our light shine, so that others see Jesus in us! Standing up for Jesus, standing up because He died for us. Letting our light shine so others want what we have, what makes us shine. Standing up for what we believe in and our rights to share what we believe so others can hear the gospel. Standing up so others can love them some Jesus just like we do.
Heavenly Father, help us to take a stand, help us to step out of our comfort zones, help us to be brave even though we may not be very powerful. Father do not let us be stand backers and help us to speak up for Jesus. We love you so much, thank you for loving us.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13