Many of us in one way or another are adamant about being a voice for what’s right from a religious standpoint or a fairness/justice standpoint. In my conversations with friends and acquaintances within my social circle over the last month, I’ve concluded that a large percentage of them prefer to go along with the flow and turn off what they perceive to be “wrong” that they encounter, rather than standing for the truth regardless of how they feel.

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
John 8:32

Can you really say you know the truth; If you can’t stand up for it?

And can you really say you are free; If you can’t stand up for knowing the truth?

Table of Contents

Standing Up For the Truth!

Is there any way to stand up for what is right while at the same time not stand against what is wrong? Some believe that and have no publicly proclaimed stand against error, but they have an inner commitment to the truth. There is a generation of preachers/teachers/students/people who are unable to resist the gaze of ridicule which is why they adopt an uncompromising, non-negative, and not controversial, position in the pulpit/class and environment.

The “for nothing” and “against nothing” attitude isn’t an oath-taking position for the Lord (Matt. 12:30).

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 12:30 NIV

Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
Matthew 12:30 NLT

The song is “Who is on the Lord’s side, Master, here am I,” and we do not realize that the phrase “here am I” requires commitment.

In a culture that is eager to be tolerant of everything and everyone without regard to moral consequences, it now seems very easy for Christians to be enticed by the temptation to kneel before compromise. Instead of being a strong advocate to defend The Truth of God’s Word, we succumb to a “go along to get along” mindset. Everyone can acknowledge that conflicts are not always pleasurable, but if we compromise our beliefs or avoid speaking out on biblical issues, are we actually doing anyone a favour?

Let’s take a look at some Biblical examples of situations where it might be much easier to compromise and decide who it would have benefitted.

John the Baptist could have easily saved his head had he compromised his beliefs regarding divorce, marriage, and remarriage to King Herod, but John boldly stated, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:18). Was John’s intention to hurt Herod’s feelings, or he had Herod’s best interests in mind? John had more concern with Herod’s soul than making him feel happy for the moment.

I wonder if God was pleased with what John said, or should he simply have kept his nose in his own business; minding his business?

Jesus would have lived longer; if he had accepted the false Pharisees in their form, just the way they are, just the way they liked things, ignored the sins of Scribes as well as tax collectors, and was a believer in the “I’m okay, you’re okay, your truth, my truth” idea. If Jesus had done these actions, would He have been our Savior, and would He have been in the favour of God? No! Jesus was the greatest Teacher as well as the King of Israel due to His ability to stand up for God’s truth, the truth over the desires of human beings and emotions. From these great men in the Bible, we are taught that bowing to an altar of compromise won’t serve anyone, even ourselves a favour today or in the future.

Preaching the Word of God requires that the heart be touched, the conscience pricked, that men be built up, and that there be a “root up and destroy” evil, error, and untruth thrust. In simple terms, it is time and more than okay We did some stepping on toes regardless of how we feel and the cries of horror; if we’re true to standing up for the truth of God’s Word. Can one preach the whole counsel and then do less? I doubt it.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
2 Timothy 4:1-4

“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.

Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.

For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
Acts 20:25-29

What happens when we realize that it is not possible to stand up for what is right, and then be indifferent to the things that are wrong? King David stood up for what is right, even with his own imperfections. He confessed his mistakes and sought forgiveness, then declared:

I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
Psalms 119:102-106

It is impossible for him to stand for what was right without being in opposition to the wrong. If we’re what we say we are then we must stop striving to promote truth and remain in a passive manner when it comes to errors; it does not work like that; Let’s not force a loophole because there really is none. We must face the controversial and the negative regardless of how we feel and the cost. The principle of warning the wicked of the error of his way is as true today as it ever has been:

When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.

But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Ezekiel 3:18-19

How do we know and hold this truth, hold our peace, and find rest while attempting to middle the ground? Something is not right!

How to Feel Your Feelings and Stand for The Truth

Have you faced a situation in which you’ve accepted something in your life simply because you didn’t have the courage or determination to stand up for what you are a firm believer in? What I have observed from my university days to working in the corporate world is it is that as people become comfortable with the social norms of their surroundings, more they are likely to overlook the values they are a part of. These norms can range from workplace culture and social traditions to tribal affiliations or the lust for status; though some people may not agree with me on this, I think it is vital to defend the truth, what you believe to be true, or for what is right strongly and persistently regardless of what you feel.

Examples of common experiences that people are unable to resist or take action against include misreporting financial information to those who are affected or using corporate services for personal gain, creating opportunities by utilizing conflicts of interest such as bribery, adultery, cheating (infidelity), domestic violence, applauding politicians based on tribal affiliation or any other accepted social behavior that moral systems, in general, conflict with.

Some of the reasons people aren’t speaking out for the truth are fear of being rejected, personal financial or material gains, lack of courage to confront the consequences and the resistance they’ll be confronted with, and lack of regard for the facts.

As expensive and time-consuming as it might be to defend the truth with vigour and force I believe it should be done, and above all the bible instructed that it should be.

It is essential to recognize that being a strong advocate for the truth, and what is right is a commandment of God in Christianity. It enables the alignment of the expression of the life of God in the believer and moral conduct with the eternal reward of the afterlife. Being a strong advocate for truth is the fundamental principle of Christianity which encourages honesty and active support and standing for truth, as well as the rejection of falsehoods. Christianity will also promote debate and disagreement to safeguard the truth, as well as shift the perception of falsehood.

How do you do this regardless of how you feel in the moment:

Acknowledge Your Emotions

We let ourselves examine our emotions; we’re open about our feelings and the reasons for them. We don’t hide or conceal any feelings of shame, disappointment, embarrassment, inadequacy, not worthy, or rejection. We feel it! When we feel it we are reminded of the Truth of God’s Word that is greater and more powerful than feelings. We are able to feel what we feel however, we are anchored by what is true.

Validate Your Emotions

It’s been a long process to understand that sometimes the most effective thing we can do is gaze into an emotion and allow ourselves to feel these emotions. The act of letting our emotions run free doesn’t mean that we’re stuck in a discouraged pit, doesn’t mean we’re weak.

Feel Your Feelings With the Healer

If we stop at 2, we are very likely will be in despair because of this, God is eager to constantly reveal Himself as the God of Faith, Hope, and Provision; He asks us to offer to him our prayers and concerns:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

He is soft and kind and so attentive that he counted and gathered the tears of our souls:

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8 NLT

Send your raw emotions to God and request him to bring his wisdom to your situation. Ask him to reveal the things you should learn about your struggles. He is an expert; He will give you the perspective you need to process your grief and talk the truth about your pain.

Speak Truth to Your Emotions

Look through Scripture for words that directly provide insight into your current situation. Make a note of those words and then repeat them as many times and consistently, repeat the truth of God’s into your emotions, your life.

Brain research suggests that you can literally change the wiring of your brain; if you dwell on your painful feelings, that triggers toxic thoughts in your mind, and you create negativity. Concentrate on what is truthful, pure, and admirable and you’ll make a healthy brain matter; this might sound like a philosophy but that’s not what it is intended to be, God is very very much interested in the totality of your being.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8 ESV

If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
1 John 3:20 NIV

Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.
1 John 3:20 NLT

Are You Standing up for The Truth?

“I believed therefore, I spoke,’ we also believe, Therefore, also we speak.”
2 Corinthians 4:13

The Christian life of the Apostle Paul is a story of grace, glory, and suffering. God worked miracles in and through Paul as He used him to speak the truth in love, plant churches, and lead multitudes to faith in Christ.

When Paul explained the truth of man’s sinful nature and Jesus’ death and triumph over death, sin, and hell as well as the tomb, a lot of people felt their feathers were ruffled. In reality, it was the case that both Jews as well as Gentiles often responded to the gospel’s message with violence. Paul was imprisoned and beaten numerous times for speaking the truth and following the Lord. His unwavering dedication to Christ as well as His word led to him being beheaded.

Is There Any Way to Avoid The Suffering?

What was the reason Paul got such savage treatment? Was there anything he could have done to prevent all the pain? Yes! He could have stopped preaching the undiluted truth. He could have toned down his message to please the ears and blend in with the sinful society. He could have surrendered at the request of Rome and played the game with corruption-ridden Jewish spiritual leaders. He could have stayed away from the Lord and his call and saved himself from a great deal of pain and suffering. He could have given in to the pressure but he didn’t! He believed in the fact that Jesus died and rose from the dead and he proclaimed the truth with no stutter or stammering, without apology, or even equivocation. He remained faithful to Jesus Christ all the way to the end of the road, regardless of circumstances and the negative reaction. Aren’t you glad?

The Day In Which We Live

We live in the very final days, the signs of Christ’s imminent return are everywhere. One of the obvious indicators is the hatred that we’ll face when we stand in the name of God the Lord and His words, especially for preaching from the pulpit, without concession or apology.

America used to be a nation that valued Christianity and defended the power of the Bible, but these days are long gone. Today the faithful followers and preachers who firmly adhere to the unambiguous teachings of Scripture are demonized, mocked, slammed, and marginalized. Do you think physical violence will be far away? I don’t think so.

What’s the best way to answer this question? Should we alter the message in order to make it more appealing to the world’s sin-sick? Never! If we truly believe in God that we are truly believers, we will stand out and be heard according to:

For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,

because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:11-15

If we remain silent in the face of the scourge of moral decay and social lunacy; did we ever believe in the first place or do we have a diluted understanding of The Truth of God’s Word?

I would like to encourage you to carry on the flag of truth. If we truly believe, we cannot help but speak. Sin always brings guilt, shame, death, and despair, regardless of how many people argue otherwise. The preacher, Adrian Rogers, always stated: “Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it … and right is right, even if no one is doing it.”

God would love us to be vigilant and secure from all wrongdoing and error; this is apparent to those who are familiar with and believe in the Scriptures. The need for vigilance is more urgent than ever before:

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.
Revelation 3:2 NIV

Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.
Revelation 3:2 NLT

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
1 Timothy 6:18-21

We are called to be keepers and guardians of the truth:

Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.
Philippians 1:17 NLT

Some are critical of you for doing this and they’re not paying attention to their self-defeating ways in their criticism of critics; they decide who is right in their judgments, and are vigilant against those who defend the truth and righteousness.

Their cries are that no one is perfect enough to speak of righteousness, but God has left His Word in the hands of imperfect people. Any preacher who is worth his weight must preach this perfect gospel and perfect doctrine of Christ without swaying; even preachers take their lessons from their sermons and have to put themselves in line with the truth:

You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Romans 2:21-22 NIV

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT

Are you against wrongdoing and in favour of the right?
Do you agree with the majority?
We all stand for something, but what exactly do we have to say? Are we going to do nothing to address the problems within the church?

This lesson is applicable to everyone as teachers, preachers, as well as students. If we don’t stand for the truth of God, irrespective of how we feel, we stand for nothing at all!

There’s a song that has been playing on repeat for me; the song is “Firm Foundation” by Cody Carnes and features Chandler Moore of Maverick City Music. The song focuses on the way that the truth about Jesus the foundation of our lives is evident throughout our lives from the storms we face as well as the connections we form.

Let us be loyal to stand up and speak out for the Lord up to the very finish.

This part is just an extension to ask you; hope The truth of God’s Word you are standing up for has not been diluted?

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
Mark 7:8 NIV

For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”
Mark 7:8 NLT

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mark 7:8 KJV

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
1 Peter 1:18 NIV

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Peter 1:18 KJV

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Mark 7:13 KJV

There is something we all should have in our hearts; it’s not enough to have good intentions, it’s not enough to have zeal, it is important that this truth is not diluted not even in the slightest way for whatever reason, I say this because I watched a wonderful video on YouTube between two groups of Christians, both believing they are speaking the truth of God’s but obviously both can not be right.

I don’t think this video primarily tackles the issue of Standing Up for The Truth of God’s Word, but it shows you that even though we claim to mean best, opinions have entered the church, how can we then stand for this truth, if what some of us believe, know and learn has been diluted.

Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
Proverbs 19:2 NIV

Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.
Proverbs 19:2 NLT

Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
Proverbs 19:2 Berean Standard Bible

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
Proverbs 19:2 KJV

That’s one of the many reasons the bible instructed us:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
1 Peter 2:2 NIV

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
1 Peter 2:2 NLT

The Word of God is absolute, sovereign, and incorruptible any other thing even from good intentions may sound like it but it’s not.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:23-25 NIV

The video below should give you more light as to how people can read their own perspectives and intentions into God’s word.

Credit: Collins (Value Faith)

Standing For The Truth Regardless Of How You Feel

Standing Up For the Truth!