The adage "If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything" is attributed to Alexander Hamilton, Peter Marshall, and others . According to Maurice Saatchi, "If you stand for something you will have people for you and people against you. But if you stand for nothing you will have nobody for you and nobody against you". Saatchi also said "Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything".
I heard this quote by Alexander Hamilton quoted often by Christians, especially in their testimonies. But it's untrue.
This quote caused me to rush into holding strong, controversial Christian beliefs. I was controlled by logic.
"Those who don't apply reason, logic and critical thinking will fall for anything" is a statement I can get behind.
I was reading in Isaiah in my Bible this morning. I read in Chapter 7, verse 9 where it says: “…If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’” My paraphrase of that is the title of this post above , it’s something I say to folks all the time. In other places the Bible speaks of whole societies being “Blown by the wind” and “Swayed easily” and so forth. If you’re not firmly grounded in something in other words, then you’ll be blown around, knocked about by every fad, every disaster, every news event that comes along. Facts are, you’ve become like sheep, subject to every latest “whim” “gossip” or craze that’s happening.
Me, of course, I prefer to be grounded in the Bible. I try to “Stand firm” in my faith, not that I do it perfectly, like Paul, I must continue to seek the prize, run the race, constantly striving for the goal: To be like Christ. Fact is, I’ll never be perfect this side of Heaven, but it’s a worthy goal all the same. The flip side of the coin is this: Without Jesus, I am toast. If I didn’t have Christ in my life, I’d likely be dead, no hope, no life, nothing.
It’s the case for people in countless circumstances all over the globe and across society—Christians included.
Choosing to support what they believe in, or not—the fear of having one’s voice silenced forever and having no more place to speak due to public opinion is a very real concern nowadays.
We live in difficult, often polarizing times. Opinions and ideas are never farther away than the press of a button to open an app, which is fantastic for things like sharing the gospel, spreading good news, connecting with family and friends, passing around great content, and more! But it also means that people can put their opinions on blast in the time it takes to type between 280 and 2,200 characters – and as fast as one can reply to that opinion, controversy can blow up. Sometimes an innocently-intentioned post can change a person’s life forever.
Christianity, sadly, is no different. And far too often lately it seems like we’re treading too softly to make any impact at all. Not necessarily easy questions to answer, huh? Sometimes when we examine ourselves, we realize what we thought was loving, broadminded behavior is actually us safeguarding our own interests—going along to get along, promoting what’s popular or keeping silent on what we truly believe so we don’t stir up trouble, get into debates, or wind up persecuted, mocked, or “canceled”.
But is this how we are called to act as Jesus-followers?
Certainly, we aren’t called to ride roughshod over everyone with whom we disagree. The opposite of being a peacekeeper who lets things slide is a troublemaker who stirs up strife just because their voice needs to be heard, and any collateral in other hearts and lives is excusable to that end. Neither position acts from a place of love, but rather with self-interest, self-surety, and ultimately for personal gain. This is not how Jesus behaved, nor how we’re called to imitate him. But also, we certainly are not called to silence—to completely censor ourselves in order to avoid speaking a truth that might offend.
Ask yourself this: if you were the only person in the world who believed in the truths you know, would you stand up for them? Or would you let them die with you just to keep the peace? It can be so easy to say we’ll let someone else stand up for what we know is right, but what if God is calling us to stand? What if everyone is waiting on everyone else to take up the cause? Would you be willing to do it then, if you were the only one who ever would? That might push you to stand, to say or teach or preach or write about the things that are tough!
But how do you do it effectively? That’s a whole other question, for sure! And it’ll come as no surprise to most, I’m sure, that to stand for truth the way Jesus did, we must do it from a place of love.
First and foremost, let’s address something about love: while it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, it doesn’t let all things slide. Love is not passive, weak, or cowering. In fact, some of the most pertinent confrontations, powerful conversations, and life-changing acts of risk and courage are bound up in the cause of love. It is also not self-seeking, which among other things means that being loving does not equate with avoiding necessary, difficult matters for the sake of either party’s safety and comfort.
Why does all this matter, we may wonder? Why don’t we just let things be and watch everything shake down at the Judgement Seat? Let people deal with God so we don’t have to deal with them?
While it’s true that God will ultimately judge and repay everything, that includes our stuff, too. The things we stood for and what we let slide.
This holds true throughout the records of history; many strong believers, acting in love and the will of God, brought difficult things to light in their day, age, and culture, and in return faced persecution that makes getting “canceled” look positively welcoming by comparison. Yet they were no less called than we are to confront those things in their time. And as God’s people, we need to be no less willing than they to lay aside our comfort to do the loving and right thing.
I have heard—and often repeated (in paraphrase)—the quote “It’s easier to offend the God we can’t see than the people we can”. Yet when we think of the acclaimed heroes of the faith, few were known for how well they kept the boat from rocking. In fact, many lived and died standing for what they believed in, though it went against the very fabric of culture and society at the time; and they were “canceled” in what seemed to be the most ultimate way of the time, often by brutal, horrific execution.
Death is a lot more permanent than a prematurely-ended career. Yet if God can restore the well being of someone like Paul, stoned by his detractors, can’t He also restore your dreams? Many who are silenced by public forum go on to reach hearts and minds through alternate means. Consider our brother and sister Christians in persecuted countries and how they adapt to the silencing actions of their governments and oppressors, finding new, inventive ways to ensure the gospel message is heard!
Truth finds a way. That much is certain. What we must be willing to do is stand as the ones who speak out for truth with love and wisdom, regardless of whether our dividends, relationships, careers, lifestyles or reputations are on the line. When we count the cost honestly, the balance always weighs out that being right with God is better than being right with man; and while we seek to live peaceably no matter what, it’s not at the cost of our conscience or calling to be catalysts of truth, righteousness, and the truth’s spread in this world.
Remember: people tried to cancel Jesus, too. And look how that turned out!
So if you believe, friends, then also stand. Stand for truth, stand for God, and speak with love—and without faltering. What man can cancel, God can make flourish if it’s true to His Word and abides in His will. And no matter what people do to us, God can do exceedingly more to bring about His plans and purposes.
And those will never, ever be canceled.
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