Skip to main content

What Your Stand Says About You.


What you stand against will reveal what you truly stand for.

Taking a stand is never easy. When we do, we must be ready to speak often and speak plainly about our position. Doing so will expose what it is we are really standing against and standing for. I often feel the urge to cry out against what I consider nonsense and am frustrated by so much around me. Especially within the "Christian Church" community. I have both reacted and responded to that urge in the past. Some will understand the difference between reaction and response better than others. Being a slow learner, and learning the lessons I have, the way I have (the hard way), I am getting pretty good at the self-evaluation part of the process. It usually goes something like this with me.
_____________________________________

Self,

A) Is my frustration due to the Gospel being compromised, dismissed, or abandoned? If so, pray and proceed to "B". If not, get over it.

B) Is the goal of this stand to edify and encourage, after much prayer, with hopes that correction will take place so that the Gospel will go forth and God will be glorified? If so, continue to pray and proceed to "C". If not, repent for lying at "A" and get over it.

C) Is this stand based on the framework of correcting and edifying one another from Scripture for the sake of the Gospel so that you can be confident that "B" is not just you justifying this stand to make you feel better right now? If yes, continue to pray and proceed to "D". If not, you are just going to keep lying at this point. You are just mad at whoever. Go home. You are sorry. Repent. Nasty. Just nasty.

D) Is this a situation that you could handle differently than the way you are about to? Is there a Biblical principle that would warrant a different response for the Gospel's sake and the glory of God (i.e. "peace when at all possible" etc.)? If so, continue to pray and proceed to "E". If not, why? Why are you still.....

E) Will you be able to share the Gospel better by making this stand? Will you be able to share the Gospel uniquely through this stand? If so, continue to pray and proceed to "F". If not, dude... I'm not playing no more.

F) Stand for the Gospel without compromise for the Glory of God. The Gospel matters too much for you not to stand. If that is what this is about then do it. It's too important not to. You've prayed and you know there is nothing else motivating you and that it is the Gospel that is at stake. You have to make a stand.

 _______________________________________

 The truth is, I haven't always done this right. I rant and I lose sight of the goal day to day. This is why I have to constantly remind myself of the Gospel and who Christ is. I am prone to wander, prone to fall back on my own tendencies and weaknesses. I have a bend towards motivations and preferences that are jaded by selfishness and pride. If I am not careful I will make even the good things I do about me and not the glory of God through Christ and the Gospel. There are battlefields worth dying on and there are those that just aren't. The Gospel is worth the fight. I'm just not sure about the rest anymore. I'm just not sure.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Finding My Place

  *If you're new here and aren't familiar with me, or our story, I think it's important that I make a critical disclaimer here: "The only thing in this life that I am owed or deserve is the full wrath of God's judgment. Because of Christ, I don't have to. Anything beyond that is astonishing. Redeeming love has been my theme, and will be till I die. To follow Him and be called in Christ to serve is my greatest and only joy. This is not a bitter diatribe about "church members" or another blog from a depressed and overworked preacher on the brink. This is just about finding my place in Him, today where I am.
Post a Comment
Read more

Understanding Our Mission: The Work of Faith & Labor of Love

  I am always humbled and grateful to be able to share the hope of the Gospel in foreign fields through short-term mission trips. Unfortunately, I am often saddened and frustrated by the way many respond to these opportunities. No Christian (regenerate, born-again believer and follower of Christ) can ignore or deny the Biblical mandate to reach our world with the Gospel. It begins from where we are, and to the ends of the earth. Any Christian (see above definition) also understands that not all believers are called in Christ to physically go to a foreign field, whether short-term or permanent. But all Christians (see above) are missional. All Christians (again...) know that global missions are born from local missions.  Fulfilling the mandate of Matthew 28:18-20 , the Great Commission, is the responsibility of every true believer. Jesus promised to be with us every step of the way and "to the end of the age."  We are "ambassadors for Christ" , and God is graciousl...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Found A Good Thing.

Marriage is a picture of the Gospel.  Go back and read that again.  One more time.  If you are like me you've heard it more times than you can remember but I doubt you've considered the weightiness of that statement.  Read it again now, but spelled out in a bit more detail:  The union between a man and a woman in marriage is reflection and demonstration of God's message of salvation in Christ Jesus; the message of the Gospel (Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Peter 3:1-7, and others).
Post a Comment
Read more