Standing Up For Christ

In an environment where anything goes, standing up for one's beliefs can be costly. In some countries around the world, Christians who face persecution and resulting hardships every day because of their faith are far more aware of this than we are in the West. Yet, they stand firm in the face of difficult circumstances while holding fast to the profession of their faith.

It is not easy swimming upstream when it seems everybody else is swimming downstream. It is not easy to say "no" when it seems everybody else is saying "yes". It is no wonder genuine Christians stick out like sore thumbs; they find it impossible to accept and embrace much of what society deems acceptable simply because certain behaviors and attitudes are contrary to the Word of God. Unfortunately, some professing Christians choose to remain silent and in the process they unintentionally allow the perpetuation of those behaviours and attitudes. It is so easy to go along with the crowd instead of "rocking the boat" by taking a stand.

John the Baptist had other ideas. In a culture where criticizing the king was to sign one's death warrant, he had openly rebuked King Herod for taking his sister-in-law, Herodias, as his own wife. Fearing that John's preaching would start a revolt against him, Herod had him thrown in jail. According to the narrative, Mark 4:1-29, Herodias, who was smoldering with hate and wanted John killed, completed a series of manipulative moves that boxed the king in a corner. After a couple glasses of wine too many, he had promised Herodias' daughter anything she wanted. The mother promptly saw her opportunity and told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist (V.24). Not willing to take a stand, Mark tells us, "And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother" (vv. 26-28, KJV). We can only imagine that she looked at it with immense satisfaction. She had silenced the voice of rebuke. This despite the fact that having John killed did not change the reality of the inappropriateness of her marriage to the king.

Standing up and speaking out cost John his head. He knew the probable consequences but instead of compromising by remaining silent, he chose to stand up for truth and righteousness. In a culture of darkness, his light shone brightly. What about your light? When things are going the wrong way in your spheres of influence - your offices, your homes, your churches - and when things get out of hand, do you speak up? Christians are supposed to be the light of the world (Mark 5:14) and the whole purpose of light is to repel darkness. If you are not shining where you are and if no one knows what you stand for, then something is wrong. Maybe it is time for a light check?