Can you stand?
As a student minister I stand back and watch many students who in many areas of their life can stand “on thier own two feet.” When it comes to fighting for their teams they can stand. Standing for their “girlfriend” they can stand. Having a break and running for the border they can stand. But that one stand many of the students can not make is for their faith. As the Aaron Tippin song went “If you don’t stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” Students are falling for anything! Why are they falling for anything? Well because they are not being shown (by parents) nor or they doing what I Peter 3:13-17 says, “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always {being} ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”
We look at al the troubles around us and we ask how did we get into so much trouble, politically, spiritually and morally? We go back to this same passage and can look into ourselves and ask, have we been ready to give an account for what we believe? Have we as Christians given up all “HOPE” in what we believe so we lay down and not say anthing? We have to make that stand both in the political realm and in the realm of sharing our HOPE with others.
