Standing Up
for God

Standing up for God may mean standing alone. And no question about it, that’s tough.

Do I have the courage? Do you? Are we willing to have our convictions challenged and our beliefs ridiculed? Or will we adjust our standards for the sake of fitting in?

Taking a stand as a Christian is not for wimps. It’ll take steel in the backbone because being made fun of is no fun. Being insulted hurts. Being rejected brings pain. However, as Christians, that’s exactly what God is calling us to. Remember Jesus’ words? He said, “If any many will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Others have done it. The flames of the furnace could not induce the Hebrew children to bow down to a pagan idol. Daniel spent a night eyeball to eyeball with the lions because of his stand. Moses frequently had to face down an angry mob with only God on his side. Pretty radical, right? But the same challenge faces us!

Understand, we’re not talking about some undercover decision to be a Christian that nobody needs to know about. We’re talking about a full-scale, up-front commitment that is lived out in our words and actions. The truth is, if God dwells in us, that fact should be apparent.

Let’s get specific.

What do we talk about? Does our speech reflect an honest, caring, humble character? That’s not the norm. Tune in to what goes on around you in the hall at school, riding the bus, or walking down the street. Bad-mouthing, gossip, bragging, ill-tempered words, and foul language are commonplace. If our words reflect a God-centered, pure heart (and they should!) we’ll stand out!

Where do we spend our time? Could God walk through our day with us, going where we go, and feel perfectly at home? If our answer is yes, we can be sure others will notice. It doesn’t take a lot of spiritual perception to figure out that Jesus wouldn’t fit in at wild parties, bars, or any questionable place. And when we take a stand for God, we won’t be there either.

Trite but true, actions speak louder than words. Reciting pages of the Bible from memory and singing hymns with the best of them might attract attention all right. But if we turn around and cheat on a test, we might as not bother proclaiming our Christianity. How we act shows others what we’re really made of.

Sometimes our hesitancy to stand up for God comes from fear. Nope, not fear of fiery furnaces, hungry lions, or angry mobs. Just a simple fear of rejection. If our peers disapprove, we are tempted to waffle just a little, or even back down entirely. If we want to be strong spiritually, we must be willing to deal ruthlessly with that fear. We must decide to stand true, with God’s help, no matter what or who comes against us.

Jesus knows what it’s like to stand alone. He stood firm with everyone around Him mocking and hurling threats. With all the people screaming for His life. Without anyone to stick up for Him. And He calls us to follow Him.

Will you? Will I?