The NIV Study Bible Commentary says, "We should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our lifestyle, or our Christian perspective." Not just our hope but our perspective.
Proverbs 22:20-21
Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you.
Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
Our church recently has told it's congregation that we will have to sign a Ministry Commitment in order to serve within the church. That is not what this post is about but I will make a post in the near future to give you what I believe. However, it is a new topic of conversations and before you hear what I think I would encourage you to search it out for yourself. Do it honestly, looking at it from all sides openly and prayerfully. Not just on this issue, but anytime you are faced with such decisions. If someone asks you why you are doing something or why you believe what you do the following are NOT suitable answers and here is why...
1) My Pastor/Leadership told me to and says that it's okay.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
3) It is required.
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.2) "It's no big deal" or "Every other church does it" or "It's harmless, just do it" or "It's only a small concession" or "It doesn't mean anything".
1 Peter 4:5 (also see Romans 14:12 for a similar verse)
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
These statements are cop outs, no different then the one your parents used when you were a child "If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?". You and only you will be accountable to God for your decisions and actions. He will not accept the above answers and neither should you.
If you look at mainstream ideas (even within the church) and concede it must be okay, you are setting yourself up for deception - just because others do it does not make it right. (See my post on False Teachings and Discernment for more on how we can be deceived and how we can avoid it.)
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:21-23
Not
everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many
will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your
name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Daniel shows us this in the stance he took against King Nebuchadnezzar and resolved not to "defile himself with the royal food and wine". (Daniel 5:8) He stood up to what was mainstream even though he was in a world where no one would have questioned him if he did do it. Only him and his 3 friends stood their ground.
Look at the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11. All of these men and women of faith had to stand at some point against mainstream ideas or do something that was unpopular because it was truth and because God had instructed them to.
Why could they stand alone? Because they were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was God they were following and NOT man.
So again I challenge you that any time you do something you make sure you are able to give a real reason that can be backed up by Scripture and not the words of man. Questions are NEVER bad. If after studying it for yourself, it is still muddled or unclear - WAIT - and ask God for wisdom. Don't just do it.
Romans 14:23
But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Satan will come and deceive many...it's not a matter of if, but when...and the bible is clear that he will come in "Sheep's clothing" and will be hard to recognize and that we need to be on guard for those times.
Matthew 7:15
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.I will continue to challenge you on what you believe and you need to own it for yourself, even in the little things. Those "little things", "harmless things" are practice for the big things. Otherwise, when things get tough, you won't know how to stand.
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
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