Stand For Something       by John Henry

 

Someone has said, “Those who stand for nothing usually fall for anything.” In the present turning point among churches of the Lord, there are those who pride themselves in “not taking sides.” Not taking sides in personality clashes and matters that are purely in the realm of human judgment is certainly a fair and reasonable attitude, and one worthy of commendation. On the other hand, “not taking sides” in matters that have to do with the worship, work, and organization of the Lord’s church, that are dividing churches right and left, is simply another way of “standing for nothing.”

What might surprise a lot of people is that there is no middle ground (Mt. 12:30). We are on one side or the other. God calls on us to take a stand for truth and right, and to fight to the end. So, we either stand with God and for truth or we stand with Satan and for nothing! Which?

Those who stand on the Lord’s side are determined by obedience to God! And nothing else! The Lord’s side is the safe side. “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” (Mt. 12:30). Whose side are you on? Are you for sin and Satan or the Lord and righteousness?

When the Israelites worshipped the golden calf at the foot of Mt. Sinai, Moses challenged them: “Whoever is on the LORD’S side, come to me.” (Ex. 32:26). Elijah challenged God’s people who had gathered to worship Baal on Mt. Carmel: “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1 Kings 18:2 1). Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Mt. 6:24). Peter says, “Add to your faith virtue” (2 Pet. 1:5). Virtue is moral courage — the internal fortitude to stand for truth and right under all circumstances. Hosea describes a tribe of ancient Israel as follows:

“Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned” (Hos. 7:8). “A cake unturned” is a cake half-baked. There are too many half-baked servants of the Lord — men who “mix among the people;” men without conviction or the moral courage to stand for divine principles.

“Let every man be for the Bible, or against it; on the Lord’s side, or against him; for Christianity, or nothing; for heaven, or hell. We want no man who stands in doubt. If a man cannot define his position, so that all can tell which side he is on, we have no use for him. We count no man whose position is doubtful. All men whose position is doubtful, are really on the enemy’s side, and would surrender any post we have, if the opportunity would offer. We are not to be gulfed by these, nor induced to depend on them. We would greatly prefer that they stand where they belong so that all would know where to find them.”

                                                               (Benjamin Franklin, gospel preacher)