How & When to Stand Up

There has always been and always will be (until a new heaven and earth) tension and conflict between Judeo-Christian beliefs and those of the rest of the world. Sometimes, the difference between the two are gods worshipped, other times morality issues, and yet other times it's political. One thing's for certain: if you're a Child of God, you're gonna face down the world at some point whether that's with unbelievers or fellow Christians swayed by worldly ways.

Be heartened because, no matter how surrounded and put on the spot you may feel in that moment, you're not alone. There are millions of us facing down the world in that same moment just as you are and probably feeling just as lost in how to proceed. Part of the reason I write this blog is to invite you in my own search for answers, and you're about to learn with me.

Determine who:

There's a way to speak to our brothers and sisters and a way to speak to unbelievers.

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. - Acts 20:28

We're meant to call out, correct, and guide fellow Christians. In fact, although everything is to be done in love and gentleness, these are the only people you can truly call out on their behavior. I'll go more into that in a minute. But, you MUST be humble and understand you are not speaking from a place of perfection but a place of love, using the Word of God as a basis.

First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - Matthew 7:6

"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." - Matthew 18:15-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Okay, so say this is an unbeliever who's asking questions or, alternatively, trying to argue with you. Not everyone who disagrees with you hates you. However, some DO hate our beliefs or seek to demean you in order to feel better about themselves.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ - John 15:18-25

No matter whether they're speaking out of hate and anger or simple curiosity and joy, remember that you should be prepared for this. I mean, you do know you'll be called out on your beliefs at some point, right? You do regularly study the Bible, right? (See, I'm calling you out in love, fellow Child!)

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. - 1 Peter 3:15-16

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone - Colossians 4:5-6

Remember, that although you're defending yourself, you have no need to defend God, who has no need for defense. The truth stands on its own. So, if someone is an unbeliever, you do not call them out on their behaviors and beliefs. I'm not talking about legal punishments or natural consequences here. I'm talking about calling them out. Let me repeat this.

DO NOT CORRECT AN UNBELIEVER'S BEHAVIORS AND BELIEFS.

Why would you expect an unbeliever to act or think like a believer? They are awash in an ocean without an anchor. You're calling from your place on the Rock yelling at them to be still. That's folly. After they find the Rock, expect them to stand firm, not before. It's impossible. Not only that, but it's potentially harmful to them and YOU.

Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. - Matthew 7:6

Determine how:

When faced with questions or being opposed, simply answer the questions to the best of your knowledge. If you don't know, say so and offer to find out with them. Truth stands on its own. However, for those who simply want to demean or fight, you don't need to argue. Sometimes, it's good to stay silent and maybe even walk away.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. - Proverbs 13:3

A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; - Ecclesiastes 3:7

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. - Ephesians 4:29

Be kind (respectful), build others up, speak in love or not at all.

As a caveat, Jesus was sarcastic and caustic with some people (particularly the Pharisees) when He corrected them. That is to say, He was respectful with regular people, but He could definitely be searing when speaking of or to powerful oppressors.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:25-32

Did you know most communication is non-verbal? You can stand up for your beliefs, defend yourself, and correct others simply by walking the walk.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - James 1:19-27

Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. - Ephesians 5:8-14

Determine when:

There are situations when it doesn't matter who you're speaking with, who is listening in, or why they're confronting you. When you must defend others' rights, lift the downtrodden, and illuminate the darkness of corruption, you just do it.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. - Ephesians 5:11

Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. - Proverbs 31:9

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. - Proverbs 31:8

You should always remember to follow God's example. Jesus showed us how to face the world, correct others, lift the broken, and speak so others will hear all without being dragged down into the darkness of the world and its anger. Don't be afraid to speak up when necessary: when building up fellow believers, answering the curious minds of unbelievers, or lifting up the downtrodden and vulnerable. Don't be afraid to stay silent: when speaking would do more harm or would be in vain (arguing with the close-minded). Be bold with both your words and your silence. You're standing up and speaking up either way.

"...But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” - Acts 4:17-20