If You Believe, Say So
Posted by: ba <ba@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Scriptures Speak
If You Believe, Say So
by Jimmy Jividen
One of the greatest tools of the devil is
intimidation. If he can cause people to be afraid
of social rejection or physical persecution, he is
satisfied. A man who will not stand up for what he
believes will soon stop believing at all. A man's
faith does not fail all at once, it is lost one
compromise at a time. One little compromise will
lead to another, until there is nothing left to
compromise.
In many social circles it is discomforting to
speak of one's faith in God, of love for Jesus, or
of faith in the Scriptures. It does not seem like
the time or the place to discuss spiritual things.
Social intimidation causes one to remain quiet
when others profane God's name or sneer at His
teachings. It is hypocritical to confess faith
before an approving audience and then keep silent
when others would be disapproving.
One of the most cowardly groups recorded in
Scriptures were faint-hearted Jewish rulers. John
says about them, "Nevertheless many even of the
rulers believed in Him, but because of the
Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they
should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved
the approval of men rather than the approval of
God" (Jn. 12:42,43).
These rulers had faith, but they wanted to keep it
a secret. A secret faith cannot last. The secrecy
will destroy the faith, or faith will overcome the
secrecy.
Peter was bold to confess his faith when summoned
before the Council. Forbidden by the rulers to
speak anymore in the name of Jesus, he said,
"Whether it is right in the sight of God to give
heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;
for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and
heard" (Acts 4:19,20).
Those who believe in someone or something strongly
enough will welcome the opportunity to speak up.
If you are a Christian, stand up for Jesus and His
teachings.
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