Question:  How do I handle feeling uncomfortable standing up for my beliefs in front of friends?

Answer:  First, you should be concerned when you find yourself feeling uncomfortable standing up for your beliefs in front of others.  If a friend asks you where you stand on one of the “hot button” social issues of today,  you have to decide right then  and there whether or not to share your biblically based moral beliefs.  When you are making this decision, you would be wise to keep in mind what the Apostle Paul said to Timothy concerning Jesus, found in 2 Timothy 2:12:   “…If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” (NKJV)

Second, if these people make you  feel that  uncomfortable  sharing your beliefs, are they really your friends?  In today’s culture,  Christians who stand up for their beliefs  in God’s Holy Word are increasingly ridiculed and called intolerant and haters.  It’s understandable that no one would want to be treated this way.  No one wants to be rejected by their peers.  Usually, this strong need for peer acceptance is a problem mostly associated with one’s teen-age years.  Today, this need is becoming  an issue for adults as well.

The fact is that our society is growing more and more divided on many social and cultural issues of our day.  This can make it difficult to stand against the views of the majority of the crowd you find yourself with.  Going against the views of the crowd can even lead to negative treatment not only from friends, but also from co-workers, your boss, or even family.  In the past, you might have been able to keep your beliefs to yourself.  That way, no one would turn against you because they would not know that you disagreed with them.  However, it is becoming harder to avoid revealing what you believe. Fast-changing laws and court rulings are demanding you to accept lifestyle choices the Bible clearly teaches are wrong or face job loss, lawsuits, or even criminal charges.

So, what are Believers to do?  We are to stand strong for what God says is right.  We must go out each day, as it says in Ephesians 6:11, having “put on the whole  armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  And, as we have conversations with our friends as well as others, we must pray as the Apostle Paul, himself, prayed  in Ephesians 6:19-20:  “…that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel….that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

As we stand strong in our faith, we must always treat our friends and others with love and kindness for we are to be Christ’s reflection to them.  And, if they are truly our friends, we should be able to agree to disagree on some things, but still remain friends.  If they refuse to accept our differing beliefs, then the Believer should part ways with these people.  For, if you continue to try to stay in their good graces, you could be tempted to try to join in with the wrongs they are doing.  You may want to give in to their peer pressure.  Instead of you encouraging them to change and become Believers, they will start causing you to change to please them.  In 1 Corinthians 15:33, the Bible warns, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’ ”  Also, 2 Corinthians 6:14  says, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?”  Check out additional teachings on being “unequally yoked” at http://www.GotQuestions.org.

And if you’re saying, “But didn’t Jesus hang out with sinners?” — that would be true.  See Luke 5:29-32.  But, Jesus called on sinners to repent of their sins.  Jesus never joined in with them and started sinning Himself.  God hates sin!   Unlike Jesus, we may end up being the ones who change because we want to keep our friends.  Believers have to make the sometimes tough decision to just stop hanging with the wrong crowd.  Instead, pray for them to come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ and to live their lives to please Him!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    www.focusonthefamily.com

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

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

World Magazine    www.worldmag.com