Question:  Why won’t more Christians speak out about what God’s Word says concerning today’s social issues?

Answer:  Many times they don’t want to speak out because they are afraid of the backlash they might receive.  Stories of Believers receiving harsh consequences for speaking out about social issues are spreading quickly through the Christian community.  Believers are seeing the punishment be even more severe when they not only speak up about their beliefs but live out their faith by refusing to follow the anti-Christian demands of others.

Take the case of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Monifa Sterling. While stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina,  Sterling was convicted at a court-martial for disrespecting an officer.  She had refused to remove a plaque from her desk that said, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”  This popular scripture comes from the verse in Isaiah 54:17.  Sterling believes she has a Constitutional right to keep these words on her desk.  She is appealing her conviction under the protection of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  (Read her story http://www.christianpost.com/news/marine-convicted-for-failing-to-remove-bible-verse-that-says-no-weapon-formed-against-me-shall-prosper-139626/ )

There’s also the case of the Christian bakers who decided to speak up and take a stand for their biblical beliefs. Even though they had been serving gay customers, they refused to make a wedding cake specifically for a gay marriage. They refused because of their religious beliefs since the Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage to be between one man and one woman only.  But recently the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that this family-owned bakery cannot refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex marriages.  (See the story here: http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/colorado-court-rules-against-christian-cake-maker.htm )

Retaliation can also come in the form of bad grades in school.  A student at Polk State College in Florida was given zeroes by her professor for not writing her essays to agree with his beliefs on her religion.  For example, he would ask questions such as: “Why does Christianity and its male gods seek to silence these women (in this case, nuns)?”  He expected the student essays to reflect his belief that Christianity is false, violent, and oppressive to women.  (See story http://www.wnd.com/2015/05/christian-girl-given-zero-grades-for-her-beliefs/ )

These cases represent just a few of the ways Bible-believing Christians who speak out and stand firm for their beliefs may encounter negative responses.  These Christians may have avoided their problems by just obeying when they were told to “just be quiet and get with the program”.  But they were right to follow the commands of God and not those of sinful man. Like them, all Believers must stand strong for God’s Word.  We must remember that Jesus warned in Matthew 24:9,  “Then they will deliver you up for tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (NKJV)   And, the Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecutions.”  Famed Pastor Greg Laurie does a great job of teaching about this in his writing:  Christians: Stand your Ground. (See http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/christians-stand-your-ground/ )

So, the next time you feel afraid to speak up about what you believe, remember that God is our protector. Pray for the guidance of His Holy Spirit to know when to speak up.  Make sure that your words and actions reflect the love of God to others.  Show kindness, stand strong, and know that the only real program Believers need to “get with” is God’s!

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