Taking A Stand For Your Faith

Have you ever had to take a stand for your faith?

In Joshua 1:9, God told Joshua (Moses’ right-hand man) to be “strong and courageous” in battle, and that He (the Lord) would be with him wherever he went.

Of course, in context, that assurance applied to Joshua.

Thankfully, and only by God’s grace, today’s Christian can also rely on God’s promises.

While the promise of Joshua 1:9 was specific to Joshua, the principle is affirmed elsewhere in Scripture as applicable to all believers today. God calls us to live courageously, without fear, knowing that God is with us at all times. – gotquestions.org.¹

“Be strong and courageous”

I like to think of that Joshua verse when faced with life’s challenges.

Taking A Stand May Cost You Some Friendships

Looking back, I remember this company I used to work for years ago.

One of my coworkers was getting ready to celebrate her 50^th birthday.

All of the girls in the office secretly got together so we could plan the big surprise.

We tossed out ideas at the first meeting.

Unfortunately, someone suggested we include some R-rated options and gifts.

Ughhhh.

Admittedly, before I became a Christian, I wouldn’t have had a problem with that.

Now, the thought just made me cringe.

Don’t we get enough of that garbage on TV now?

Not to rain on anyone else’s parade, I said that I would come for just the dinner portion of the party, but would sneak out during the R-rated part.

I thought that was a pretty good solution.

They didn’t.

Even so, their obvious frowns and complaints really didn’t matter.

I wasn’t interested in following the crowd.

Taking a Stand: Be Prepared For Negative Reactions

As Christians, we have to be prepared.

Taking a stand can earn you some disdain or even a few enemies, even on a smaller scale like at this former job.

The whispers of “church lady” said within my earshot were not hard to miss.

For several days, the gossip and sneers continued.

Even so, I stuck to my plan.

I wasn’t going to stop “them”,  but I didn’t have to take part in anything that would make me feel uncomfortable.

My faith is precious to me.

I try to remember what Christ has done for us on the cross when tempted by others to act like the world.

After a few, let’s call it “interesting” days at work, one of my coworkers came up to me and asked if I had any other party suggestions.

Thank You Lord for this outcome!

The R-rated stuff was dropped.

A Surprise Ending

You know what happened?

That surprise party turned out to be a “huge” success – complete with great food, a “this-is-your-life” script I co-wrote with the birthday girl’s husband, and an arranged surprise appearance by her best friends from outside of work.

Everyone agreed afterwards what a great time it was.

Did the sneering at me stop?

Not completely.

Days afterward, the whispers of “church lady” and gossip about me still surfaced every now and then.

You know what? 

Name-calling doesn’t bother me anymore.

I am His child.

If someone messes with a Christian for taking a stand for Godly values, they’re messing with Him.

What does matter is my relationship with Jesus Christ and my desire to glorify Him.

Who knows – maybe I planted a seed with someone there.

As the world gets darker around us, there will come a time for you to be courageous as well, for something temporary like a coworker’s birthday to actual persecution by our enemies.

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¹ Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “How would it impact the Christian faith if it was discovered that aliens exist? n.d., para. 6. Web. Accessed June 19, 2023. Joshua 1:9 application.