It’s very good to get along with people. But when you can’t, you must stand for what you believe in. If it is an important principle, it’s worth fighting for…
We are in fractious times: times when wrong is considered right and right is considered wrong; times when freedom of speech depends on who’s doing the talking or what the speech is; times when evil is called good and good, evil. We live in fractious times, so let’s stand for what is right.
There are times to keep peace and a time for war (Ecclesiastes 3). Even though we fight — not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6) — still we must learn to hold our ground over issues of faith, freedom, and righteousness.
There is a lot of robust debate and in-y0ur-face accusation at present. We need to learn which fights are worth engaging, and walk away from the rest.
There are different ways to fight too. Jesus used words to teach and to warn. He used love to touch the heart of a person, and truth to turn them from evil. We must do the same.
Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery. He did say, “Go and sin no more.” He did not condemn, but nor did He condone. He set a standard and for humanity’s own good, He encouraged — and encourages us to keep to it.
Choose your battles and take your ground
There are moments (only a few) when I wonder if I’ll post something that I’ll be censured for. I’m not looking for trouble but I do consider: Is this worth fighting for?
It is… if it’s worth posting at all, it’s worth standing by whatever I might say.
Luke 14:28, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it”
I need to count the cost, and if it’s valuable, if it’s important, I need to post it. I also need to be aware: I might cause friction. I might get into trouble. Well, if it’s worth writing, someone won’t like it. But others may; others may learn. So, I need to forge ahead.
Don’t be Petty… But don’t compromise
How many times does it say, “fear not” or “do not fear”in the Bible? Apparently, once for every day of the year (Gregorian Calendar, ie 365 times). Why does it say it? Because as human beings, we tend to fear: fear what others may think; fear what others might say; fear what others might do.
Instead, I seek to be life giving, and life affirming, and also life convicting. To live a purposeful life, we need to have principles and to stand by them.We live now in a world of relativism, a time when ‘everyone does what they think is right in their own eyes’. Well, throughout the book of Judges, the Israelites did this and there was utter chaos: disobedience, defeat, repentence, a pleading-for-help, victory, disobedience — a cycle that ran over and over again.
So, can we lead the way back to righteousness, by modelling it? Can we lead the way by loving others and accepting them? Then when they ask us a question of morality, can we speak boldly, gently, truthfully, lovingly, honestly? It’s a risk. But let’s do it! Not to pick a fight but to stand for morality in a world that so desperately needs it.