Everywhere you look there are extremes in the faith. On one hand some Christians are ready to stand on their preconceived principles of their faith with no regard for the other person whom they are attacking. In their aggressiveness they often times make something out of nothing rejecting those who don’t fall in line. They so concentrate on the non-essentials of our faith that you can’t help from wondering if they are really saved in the first place. But then on the other hand there are many other Christians who are so weak in their faith that they are very gullible and accept as truth whatever is presented to them. Many of these later folks say, “Let’s just focus on loving one another and all will be fine.” As these two groups bounce off one another neither group advances in their faith, achieving what God desires, but they typically remain as mere infants blown about by every wind of doctrine, unable to stand firm.
So, what is God’s counsel? We must strike a perfect balance by standing firm on the foundational truths of our faith while extending God’s love in every situation. The Bible says, “Be on your guard stand firm in your faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.” (I Corinthians 16:13) The Apostle tells us “be on your guard” for many will come against your faith and therefore you must be ready to give a good defense by standing firm on the rock solid essentials or teachings of our faith. As a sentry who guards his post we must be on guard for those who would malign the gospel and attack the very fundamentals of our faith. As I have said over and over we must concentrate on those things that would destroy our faith and leave the non-essentials to the prideful and arrogant to wrangle over. To “stand firm in our faith” then it is absolutely essential that we know what it is that we are standing for. We as Christians have our citizenship in heaven and trust in Jesus Christ alone as the only Way through His death, burial and resurrection. We trust in the sufficiency of Scripture to give us everything we need for life and godliness, to make us into a beautiful new creation, to be filled with His Spirit.
Are you really ready to contend for the faith? It will take a great deal of courage to stand up to the world and tell them that we no longer need their counsel or their psychotropic drugs to control our behavior or solve our problems. It will take every ounce of courage to stand up to the world and tell them that we can no longer associate our self with any institution that no longer recognizes the holy Bible or permit it to be used for the teaching and admonition of our children. It will take even greater courage to stand up to the world and tell them that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and that all other so called ways will send them straight to hell. That courage will always be tested at the ballot box, where we must ask our self does this leader believe the truth or have they accepted all religions on the same level. To be “men of courage” we must lead in our families to ensure that our children get a good Christian education that filters out all the false doctrines of a fallen world. To be “men of courage” is to stand firm on the essentials even if it means rejection, persecution, or even death.
”Be strong” in the Lord. Real strength is found in no other than the risen Lord. The battle belongs to the Lord. When we stand for the truth then it is not up to us to fight as the world fights, but allow God to take vengeance. “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.” Standing behind everyone who contends for the faith is a mighty and powerful God. God is not blind to the insults, nor is He deaf to the slanderous accusations lodged against His children. Space does not permit the number of times where I have witnessed God fighting my battles by leading most to reap what they have sown by casting some in hospital or turning them over to the devil. I have also humbly witnessed many who in time have humbled their self before almighty God making a public confession and asking for forgiveness. The battle belongs to the Lord!
This leads me to the last point which is to “do everything in love.” Reason with me for a moment, if the battle does not belong to us then winning is not important, only speaking the truth in love. It is not up to us to convict the person to believe the truth that we just presented. It is not up to us to win the argument causing others to cower to our way of thinking. Dear friends, as we fast approach the end of days, I have no problem telling the self-righteous leaders of this country that they will reap what they have sown. They don’t need to be concerned about some supposed militia or gun totting citizens, but they do need to fear the One who is still sitting on His throne and if they mess with the Christian community then they will rest under the powerful wrath of God. “So let it be said, so let it be done!” Dear children, strike a perfect balance by standing firm in your faith, but always in love.
Copyright © 2013 Rev. Daniel W. Blair – All content (blog articles) have been published in my new book: “Revelation Truth” available in our bookstore or at a bookstore near you.