On occasion I will get a contact in which I can tell the person is trying to force an issue, start a debate, or coerce me into taking a side … all the while making it clear they are right and everyone else is wrong. And, they may indeed be right in some cases but their approach leaves me cringing. Where is the love of Christ in this kind of divisive approach? What about verses like Ephesians 4:2-3? — Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Is it little wonder so many in the world around us look at Christians as intolerant, as people who stand against so much?
Where to Put the Focus
Here are some suggestions:
Let’s focus on what we stand for, not what we stand against.
Let’s focus on what we have in common, not our differences.
Let’s focus on what we can agree on, not our disagreements.
Let’s focus on the real enemy, not one another.
What to Do When We Feel We Must Take a Stand Against Something
For where we are different, disagree, and have to respond by taking a stand, let’s do the following:
Let’s still show the love of Christ rather than hostility.
Let’s learn from one another rather than totally dismiss the person.
It is possible to gain favor without compromising truth. It’s not about rolling over on doctrinal beliefs or moral issues. Notice that I wrote, “Let’s FOCUS on” what we have in common and can agree on. “Let’s FOCUS on” what we stand FOR, not what we stand against. When we FOCUS on something, that gets most of our attention but it does not mean we ignore everything else.
We can’t turn a blind eye for we are “the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). God exhorts us to “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (Eph. 6:14).
Remember, We’re All Personally Accountable
Convictions are good but we will all stand before God for what we believe and what we do with that belief, not for someone else’s personal convictions. Know what you stand FOR and stand for it in ways that respect others as God’s Word clearly instructs us.
- Speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15)
- Always pursue peace not the need to be right. (Eph. 4:3; James 3:17; 1 Pet. 3:8-12)
- Be ready to defend and give an account of what you believe to anyone who asks, yet with gentleness and respect. (1 Pet. 3:15)
- Correct an erring brother with gentleness and respect. (Gal. 6:1-5)
- Be kind, as the Lord’s servant, not quarrelsome. (2 Tim. 2:24)
- Show care for one another rather than divide. (1 Cor. 12:26)
These explain some commands to all believers. Fine and Educative
Although I agree with much of what you said, you leave the impression that Christians are supposed to be wimps and let others run over them, but that’s not what sincere Christians are to be. We are to be “soldiers” for Christ and even Jesus will return as our “warrior King”. And, if we do not stand firmly against those, even in the Church who are apostate to Biblical teaching, by exposing them aren’t we doing a disservice to our calling if we let them marginalize the Word and what being Christian means?
Hi, Winston. First let me say that this post most definitely is not intended to suggest that Christians are supposed to be wimps and let others run over them. Re-read the two paragraphs around the middle of the post beginning with “This is not to say we roll over on doctrinal beliefs or moral issues. …” When the article is read as a whole, it suggests that when you do take a stand, there are ways to do it. Just as we don’t want others to run over us, neither should we run over them, as seen in the verses at the end of the post.
Since we cannot ignore the commands and exhortations God gives in the verses at the bottom of the post, we need to think of what it means to be “soldiers” for Christ. In Ephesians 6 where it refers to putting on the armor, we are told to stand firm against the devil’s schemes and it makes it clear that our battle / struggle “is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” — Nowhere in Scripture do I read of us being soldiers in the sense of attacking people. Likewise, nowhere in Scripture do I read the phrase “stand firm” being to stand firm against people.
The main passage that talks about us being like soldiers is 2 Timothy 2:3-4. There it likens us to soldiers in the sense of the discipline required. It begins, “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” The passage goes on to also liken us to an athlete and a farmer for similar reasons.
When Jesus comes again He will indeed come as Judge and will triumph over those who wage war against Him “because he is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14). Perhaps we could use the term “warrior King” as you suggested, though I couldn’t find Him called that in the Bible.
But, let’s remember that when Jesus first came to earth, He came as a servant, and that is what He expects of us as well (Phil. 2:1-8; Matt. 20:25-28). Though Jesus came as a servant, nowhere in the Gospels do we read of Jesus acting like a wimp. Being a servant does not mean we let people run all over us. Rather, it means when we do speak the truth, we do it in love (Eph. 4:15). It means we will care about the person, not merely being right. It means we will be humble, not arrogant because we stand on the side of truth. It means we will exercise grace and not merely blast people with truth. I could go on, but let’s let God’s Word speak for itself by reading the Scripture verses at the bottom of the post.
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