Standing Up For What You Believe In

         A missionary told this true story to a congregation while being back in the US.  He was on the mission field at the edge of the jungle near the Columbia-Venezuela border.  

        As the service began, one Sunday morning, several guerrilla uniforms walked to the pulpit with automatic weapons pointed on the congregation and took the pastor outside. Everyone presumed that they were going to execute him. The leader returned and faced the terrified congregation and demanded that anyone who believed “this God stuff” must step forward. For some few minutes nobody moved, then a man stood and walked slowly to face the guerrilla leader. He then said, “I love Jesus.”  He was then taken outside with the pastor. Then several other Christians came forward and each, in turn, was roughly escorted out. When there were no more willing to identify themselves as Christians, the leader shouted at the remaining congregation; “Out! All of you! You have no right to be here!” And with that, his men herded them out of the church. The pastor and small band of astonished believers waiting outside were brought back inside and ordered to continue the service, while the others were sternly warned to stay away until they  had the courage to stand up for their beliefs.  With that the guerrillas disappeared into the jungle again.

Jesus tells us not to fear others. How many times do we cower down to others, because we are afraid of being made fun of or being singled out? Our country was built on the principles of God and yet, today, we see those same principles being laid aside or even worse becoming unlawful to uphold.

How did this happen? When did the Christians’ stop standing up for the faith that they believe in?  When did they say, I’m to scared or to busy to stand against this injustice to God’s Word and Will?  When did we stop considering the effects this will have on the future generations?   Just as those Christians’ were made to realize their faith was being tested, we too can now see that the lack of standing up and defending God’s Word has impacted our world today. As I am sure they all walked away feeling ashamed, we too should feel that same shame at what our lack of standing up for God’s Word has accomplished.

  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt.  10:28

         Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:38