CONVICTION to KNOW & COURAGE to STAND

Conviction in Christ doesn’t tiptoe; it doesn’t even tread lightly. Conviction in Christ stomps loudly where indifference attempts to influence subtly. As a public speaker, I get to travel a lot.  As such, it grieves me that so many “believers” are silent amid the pervasive lies that have permeated our culture. Too many of us retreat when staring into the face of immorality. It ought not be. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once stated, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” If I’m going to stand on a platform called @TruthOverTrend, then I have to be willing to speak the truth in spite of a world that follows the fickleness of trends. Trends that are often secular and far from biblical. Trends that have Christians honoring tolerance over obedience. Listen, it’s not my intention to step on toes, but it is my motivation to step on shoulders. You see, men like Bonhoeffer dedicated their lives to confronting evil. Though it frequently led to their demise, it was their character and conviction that they left behind that gave others courage in such perilous times. It is impossible to remain comfortable and be courageous at the same time. It takes conviction to know what to stand for and courage to stand. Within the confines of the church--and when confronted in our culture--remaining comfortable with immorality is to remain under the damage of spiritual apathy. Please don’t hear what I’m not saying: Jesus had no interest in being involved with any political movement. He was solely in the business of transforming lives. And as hearts are regenerated, so are attitudes towards sin.  However, when confronted with the immorality of His day, He always spoke truth with indifference to political ramifications.  You see, we will not make any difference by talking endlessly and ranting aimlessly about the cultural bent of perversion; but according to God’s Word, it is prayer where we can make our greatest statement of persuasion in this world. We cannot allow the spiritual numbness in America to deaden our godly influence. You see, the pulse of Jesus’ greatest conviction is that He wanted the world to know His love. A love so strong He died to bring a moral pulse back to our souls. Let us, on Jesus Christ’s behalf, be those who reconcile this world back to God. It’s going to take men and women of conviction to be living examples of the love of Christ, while having the courage to stand up for what’s biblical. One Christian who is bowed down to the Lord is capable of standing strong against anything in this world. We don’t need numbers to have a greater voice. Hitler had millions. Jesus had only 12--and they revolutionalized the entire world.