Question:  How do I stand up for my beliefs in an environment hostile to Christians?

Answer:  First, study God’s Word so you’ll know what beliefs you’re standing up for, and pray for wisdom and strength to stand strong for God.  These days, living out our Christian faith can create great conflict with those who are not Believers.  Sometimes these conflicts can bring on a variety of threats, even physical harm, to the Believer.  As a result, we must be ready to be challenged while exercising our constitutional rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion!

In fact, all Christians should ask themselves how they would react if they found themselves in a situation like Meriam Ibrahim’s.  Meriam is an 8 months pregnant  married Christian woman.  Recently,  a judge in Meriam’s African country of Sudan found her guilty of  “apostasy” and adultery.  According to the judge,  Meriam is guilty of converting from Islam to Christianity.  This is against their law — “apostasy” in Sudan.  She was born to an Orthodox Christian mother and a Muslim father who left their family when she was young.  Meriam’s  Christian mother raised her.  Since she was born to a Muslim father, the law says she is Muslim.  And, even though she is married,  the law does not recognize her marriage  because her husband is a Christian — therefore, the “adultery” charge!

The judge gave her 4 months to recant her Christian faith.  She refused!  Now, she is  in prison sentenced to receive 100 lashes and to be put to death!  Her sentence is to be carried out after her baby is born.  (Read the CBN coverage of her story here:   http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/May/Sudanese-Judge-Sentences-Pregnant-Christian-to-Death/.)  Let’s pray that the charges against Meriam are dropped and that she is released from prison.

Most of us have not been faced with a death sentence if we  didn’t recant our Christian faith.  However, in this era of political correctness, we are faced with possibly being wrongly accused of being intolerant or of hating those who don’t share our beliefs.  We know we share our faith out of love,  and we want to be obedient to God’s great commission found in Matthew 28: 19-20.  Here, Jesus says,  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NKJV)  Still, we continue to hear stories of Christians being fired from their jobs or even receiving death threats because they shared their beliefs!   Take the recent case of the Benham brothers of Charlotte, NC, who were already filming their new reality show on HGTV.   After receiving complaints from some groups angry over the brothers’ past statements of their beliefs, HGTV decided to cancel the Benhams’ show.  They did this even though HGTV was aware of the brothers’ Christian beliefs.  (Check out their story here:  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/May/SunTrust-Cuts-Ties-with-Benhams-after-HGTV-Flap/   )   Christians must follow the workplace rules without checking their faith at the door.

Remember that Jesus said in John 15:18, ” If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”   Then in verse 20, Jesus goes on to say, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”  Believers should draw comfort and courage from knowing Jesus is with us always.  He wants us to share our faith in Him with others with love and guidance from the Holy Spirit.   So, whether we are spiritually led to witness to family, friends, or strangers, we should shake off the fear factor.  We must trust God to give us the right words to say to take His Gospel to the world!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine        www.worldmag.com