LovingKindness Ministries

In a culture driven by popularity measured by ‘favorites’, ‘likes’ and shares, it is hard to stand alone with an unpopular opinion, but the reward can be eternal.

Have you ever been in a situation where there’s a discussion swirling around you and suddenly realize that you’re the only one with a different opinion? You haven’t actually said anything yet, and now you feel paralyzed to open your mouth?

So, what do you do? Walk away? Speak your mind? Change the topic?  Interject some laughter?

I’ve done all the above depending on the situation. There are times when defending your opinion (or the Lord) is absolutely the right thing to do. But, other times not.  We need to be tuned into the Holy Spirit to know what to do:

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak—(Ecclesiastes 3:7b, ESV).

When prompted to speak, and especially when we are speaking truth into a controversial discussion, we need to be sure to do so in love, praying that our words would instruct and not tear down.

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect—(1 Peter 3:15, ESV).

We should also know that many will not agree:

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions—(2 Timothy 4:3, ESV).

Standing on the Word and defending what we believe is not easy–nor was it supposed to be. Jesus himself warned us:

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you—(John 15:18-19, ESV).

In a culture driven by popularity measured by ‘favorites’, ‘likes’ and shares, it is hard to stand alone with an unpopular opinion, but the reward can be eternal.  Regardless of the consequences, we should not run away from opportunities to shine the light. We need to keep the cross ever before us, reminding us of the price He paid and that He was hated first. We are not standing alone, He is with us.