{"id":11347,"date":"2013-10-23T08:00:58","date_gmt":"2013-10-23T12:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=11347"},"modified":"2026-06-12T14:53:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T18:53:46","slug":"for-or-against","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/for-or-against.htm","title":{"rendered":"Are You For or Against?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Seek<\/a>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?<\/span> —\u00a0Be 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

Is it little wonder so many in the world around us look at Christians as intolerant, as people who stand against so much?<\/p>\n

Where to Put the Focus<\/h2>\n

Here are some suggestions:<\/p>\n

Let’s focus on what we stand for, not what we stand against.<\/p>\n

Let’s focus on what we have in common, not our differences.<\/p>\n

Let’s focus on what we can agree on, not our disagreements.<\/p>\n

Let’s focus on the real enemy, not one another.<\/p>\n

What to Do When We Feel We Must Take a Stand Against Something<\/h2>\n

For where we are different, disagree, and have to respond by taking a stand, let’s do the following:<\/p>\n

Let’s still show the love of Christ rather than hostility.<\/p>\n

Let’s learn from one another rather than totally dismiss the person.<\/p>\n

It is possible to gain favor without compromising truth<\/a>. It’s not about rolling\u00a0over 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.<\/p>\n

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).<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, We’re All Personally Accountable<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n