Question: At my recent class reunion the conversation turned to more socially controversial topics. When asked my opinion, I froze. I was afraid that if I gave my biblically based view, they would not like me anymore.  How do I be stronger next time?

Answer: It’s true that in these days and times, it can be easy for Believers to feel intimidated during conversations on socially controversial subjects. Most of us have seen for ourselves how expressing our biblically based views can be met with a great deal of retaliation by those who disagree with us.

Retaliation can come in a variety of negative reactions.  On one level, we might find that we are no longer invited to certain parties. We may lose longtime friends. We may even be shunned or disowned by our families.  Of course, the loss of these relationships hurt us deeply.

On a different level, we might find ourselves facing backlash on our jobs or during our community activities.  For example, your co-workers may want you to join a union that uses your dues to support political candidates and policies which go against the teachings of God’s Word. Refusing can at the very least make you very unpopular or even hated by the others.  Refusing to go against your Christian beliefs can even lead to you losing your job in some situations where you get accused of being intolerant.

Or, if you choose to participate in a peaceful political rally or protest, you could be threatened by opponents. Recently this happened to a pro-life lady praying in protest near a clinic of the nation’s largest provider of abortions, Planned Parenthood.  In this case, the person doing the harassing was a state representative.  He posted a video showing himself making derogatory comments to her, and he offered to give $100.00 to anyone who could give him her home address. Then he could make her information public and pro-abortion supporters could protest outside her private home.  (See story here)

This behavior is obviously wrong — as wrong as it would be for abortion opponents to physically harm anyone running an abortion clinic. But in our world today, fueled by social media, holding a different view on an issue can potentially be dangerous.  People representing both sides of a variety of issues often receive death threats against them and even against their spouses and children by those who disagree.

Understandably, knowing the possible backlash we could face makes us hesitant to stand strong for the teachings of God’s Holy Word. The Apostle Paul himself even had some of these concerns. Read Ephesians 6: 18-20. He asked his fellow Believers to pray for him “that utterance may be given to me (by God’s Holy Spirit), 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.” ( vs 19-20 NKJV ).

Therefore, Christians are to pray!  Pray for God to be glorified in every situation. Pray for revival in our land. Pray for all those who haven’t already done so to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And, pray that as Believers we follow God’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves. And be bold like Paul to stand strong for God’s Word!