STANDING UP FOR YOUR CONVICTIONS IN A GODLY MANNER

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

Have your convictions ever been tested? Many of us are put in situations all the time where our belief system is pushed to the limit. Often we fail to handle these pressures appropriately. We live in a world of compromise and tolerance. It’s often easier to roll over and give in to the tendency toward conformity than to fight for truth. Sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us and we tarnish the truth by how we defend our convictions. While standing up for your beliefs is difficult, we are called as Christians to be witnesses and watchmen of the truth. Jesus is our role model in this area.

 

Jesus always stood up for His convictions. Sometimes he took physical action. The driving of the moneychangers out of the temple would be an example (John 2). He was righteously angry at the greed that was manifested by the money changers in the temple courts, but this was holy anger for a good cause and controlled in a godly fashion. Jesus expressed Himself appropriately in this instance and demonstrated how to fulfill Ephesians 4:26-27 in every detail; “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

 

Often Jesus was always patient and loving in how He responded to criticism and persecution. One such example of Jesus standing for truth and respectfully responding to persecution occurred in Luke 4:14-30. Here we see Jesus returning to Nazareth where he was raised as a young boy. He enters the Synagogue and reads from the book of Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” He shares with those present that this scripture had been fulfilled in Him. The congregation becomes incensed with anger. Jesus had just declared in no uncertain terms that He was the Messiah. The people did not receive this interpretation of scripture in a positive way, and a conflict arose.

 

The angry crowd physically removed Jesus from the Synagogue. They continued in their ravings and escorted Him out of town. They eventually led Him away to a cliff nearby. Their pride had blinded them to the ministry of Jesus and they had intentions of killing Him by throwing Him over the cliff. One interesting observation is that there is no mention of Jesus protesting His removal. Even though Jesus had every reason to resist, He chose not to at this time. He allowed them to remove Him from the Synagogue to the high cliff that could assist in His death.

 

Jesus may have allowed His removal for several reasons. Possibly He was hoping that during the process of removal the people would come to their senses? Possibly He was praying that they would consider what He had said and repent of their violent anger?

 

Whatever the case, this is an excellent example of how to deal with persecution and criticism. Sometimes as followers of Christ we fail to choose a Christ-like response to conflict. How often do we push back in anger when we are verbally shoved with questions? How often do we seek revenge or promote discord to validate ourselves when we are challenged? Jesus did not fight the crowd but rather allowed Himself to be removed. Possibly He wanted to retain order in His Father’s house or to pick the place to make His stand. Jesus probably knew He might minister to these people in the future and used wisdom and control in dealing with them.

 

When the vengeful crowd sought to take His life by throwing Him off the cliff, we see Jesus demonstrate character and courage. Jesus knows it is not time for His death, nor is this the appropriate manner in which He is to die. He has allowed the crowd to have their say, but now decides to make a stand. Does He do this with physical force or violent words? No. Scripture simply states, “He walked through the crowd and went His own way.”

 

Jesus’ actions can teach us several things when we are put in situations where our convictions are challenged. Jesus waited for the right time to take a stand. Patience is a virtue in dealing with issues of conflict. While Jesus is always correct in His judgments, we aren’t. We need time to evaluate and contemplate. Patience will allow us to pray for wisdom, seek out wise counsel, and allow for the development of a well-balanced response to the issues at hand. Scripture instructs us to be slow to speak; and quick to hear (James 1:19). It is always wise for us to listen to others involved and to make sure we consider all sides of an issue when conflict occurs. Only by walking in someone else’s shoes can we seek to understand their point of view.

 

We see that Jesus took action at the correct time but also in the proper manner. Often you or I will jump into an argument or respond with an inflammatory attitude when pushed to the limit. We often justify our anger or impulsiveness by the fact that truth is being violated. Even if we are right in our stand for the truth, the manner with which we express our concerns is crucial. Jesus was able to respond boldly yet without arrogance in the situation. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love. God’s truth can defend itself; it does not need our fleshly efforts of power to establish its validity.

 

Another lesson we can learn from Jesus’ experience is that truth always wins. Jesus was able to walk through the crowd and proceed on His way because He was standing for truth. When the convictions of the incensed crowd were pushed to their limits they could not stand against the truth of God’s word and His Son. We must be sure when we make our stand that we have established that it really is truth we are standing for and not selfish personal opinions. Truth comes from God’s word, wise Christian counsel and time spent in prayer. Sometimes we are prone to form God and His word in our own image rather than letting it mold and shape us in His image. God’s truth can take care of itself. We are simply servants God uses to proclaim it.

 

One last lesson we can learn from an experience Jesus had with persecution is when he was being interrogated by the high priest before his crucifixion. The conversation can be found in John 18:19-23.

 

“The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. “Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”

 

Jesus was simply responding to the questions the high priest was asking and gave some advice as to how to verify the truth. Apparently the officer present didn’t like Jesus’ response. “Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

 

We see in Jesus’ response a brave and confident resolve to stand for truth, but at the same time, an unwillingness to be treated like a doormat. He responded to the violent action of the officer with truth in a dignified manner. He questioned the rash action of being struck in the face with godly control and peace.

 

What do you do when your convictions are tested? You make sure you are standing for truth. You seek the proper time to take your stand. You take care to express truth in the proper manner. “Do everything in love.” I Corinthians 16:14.

 

When we stand up for our convictions we should also to seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and seek to remember that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is our example to follow in controversial situations.

 

Philippians 2:1-8

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”