Standing Up for Your Beliefs: Confident Conversation
Paul wrote: I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (—Romans 1:16 NKJV)
In a society that’s founded on the ideals of free speech, free assembly and freedom of religious choice, who would think that standing up for your beliefs would even be an issue?
It is precisely because there are so many different beliefs that you need to know how to stand tall in what you believe. In subtle and not-so-subtle ways, coworkers, friends, neighbors, family members, and the media may challenge your belief.
Today, the chances that you’ll be martyred for your beliefs are slim. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be put into situations where your faith is challenged.
How should you respond?
How can you stand up for your beliefs?
The apostle Paul got his strength from God’s Spirit.
By the power of the Spirit, Paul spoke with conviction about his beliefs. Paul probably wasn’t a big man physically, but his words loomed large because of his inner strength.
Know what you believe.
It’s difficult to stand up for what you believe if you don’t know what that is.
Go to the Bible, talk with Christian friends or church leaders, and come to conclusions about the nonnegotiable aspects of your faith.
Know why you believe what you do. Know when to speak out. There will be times when it’s inappropriate to share what you believe.
There will also be times when the occasion arises for you to tell others what is important to you.
Don’t miss out on opportunities to speak up in defense of your faith.
Understand that there’s a risk involved in standing up for what you believe.
You’ll need to weigh the risks. Is it a good idea to get into a potentially charged discussion with a supervisor over issues of faith?
Is it worth the risk to confront a friend who is making terrible life decisions that could harm others?
Ask God for wisdom to know what is right.
When you do stand up for your beliefs, you may discover you’re not alone.
Others who may have less strength of conviction, but similar beliefs, may gain strength from your resolve. When you speak with conviction, people listen. Some people may disagree with your words, but most will be drawn to your confidence.
Be prepared when you stand up for your beliefs to follow up with those who are intrigued by what you have to say.
Know that God smiles on you when you don’t shy away from your beliefs.
Stand tall and know that God is beside you.
Reverend Calvin Wyatt /email: /calvincosmo30@gmail.com /calvincosmo@facebook.com.
Paul wrote: I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (—Romans 1:16 NKJV)
In a society that’s founded on the ideals of free speech, free assembly and freedom of religious choice, who would think that standing up for your beliefs would even be an issue?
It is precisely because there are so many different beliefs that you need to know how to stand tall in what you believe. In subtle and not-so-subtle ways, coworkers, friends, neighbors, family members, and the media may challenge your belief.
Today, the chances that you’ll be martyred for your beliefs are slim. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be put into situations where your faith is challenged.
How should you respond?
How can you stand up for your beliefs?
The apostle Paul got his strength from God’s Spirit.
By the power of the Spirit, Paul spoke with conviction about his beliefs. Paul probably wasn’t a big man physically, but his words loomed large because of his inner strength.
Know what you believe.
It’s difficult to stand up for what you believe if you don’t know what that is.
Go to the Bible, talk with Christian friends or church leaders, and come to conclusions about the nonnegotiable aspects of your faith.
Know why you believe what you do. Know when to speak out. There will be times when it’s inappropriate to share what you believe.
There will also be times when the occasion arises for you to tell others what is important to you.
Don’t miss out on opportunities to speak up in defense of your faith.
Understand that there’s a risk involved in standing up for what you believe.
You’ll need to weigh the risks. Is it a good idea to get into a potentially charged discussion with a supervisor over issues of faith?
Is it worth the risk to confront a friend who is making terrible life decisions that could harm others?
Ask God for wisdom to know what is right.
When you do stand up for your beliefs, you may discover you’re not alone.
Others who may have less strength of conviction, but similar beliefs, may gain strength from your resolve. When you speak with conviction, people listen. Some people may disagree with your words, but most will be drawn to your confidence.
Be prepared when you stand up for your beliefs to follow up with those who are intrigued by what you have to say.
Know that God smiles on you when you don’t shy away from your beliefs.
Stand tall and know that God is beside you.
Reverend Calvin Wyatt /email: /calvincosmo30@gmail.com /calvincosmo@facebook.com.
EMP0WERMENT
For
Confident Conversation
I Will...
Look to God’s Spirit for inner strength.
Know what I believe.
Know that my faith may be challenged.
Understand that it’s important to be confident in my beliefs.
Recognize that there is risk involved in standing up for my beliefs.
Be prepared to follow up with those who are intrigued by my beliefs.
Gain confidence from the fact that God stands beside me when I stand up for my faith.
▶ Things to Do...
Ask God for confidence and wisdom to live out your faith confidently and without apology.
Write down your personal beliefs and note those that are nonnegotiable.
Read the book of Romans and see what you con learn from Paul’s confidence that con help to build your own resolve.
Invite a group of Christian friends to discuss the challenges and joys of standing up for beliefs.
Read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, or Jesus Freaks by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs, and consider how you might have responded to the situations faced by each martyr.
▶ Things to Remember...
This is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 JOHN 3:23 NKJV
Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
ACTS 28:30–31
NKJV We make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 NKJV
He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
ACTS 10:42 NKJV
I will always sing about the LORDS love; I will tell of his loyalty from now on.
PSALM 89:1 NCV
I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly 1 will praise You.
PSALM 22:22 NKJV
You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.
—C. S. LEWIS
Never, for sake of peace and quiet, deny your own experience or convictions.
—DAG HAMMARSKJOLD
Look to God’s Spirit for inner strength.
Know what I believe.
Know that my faith may be challenged.
Understand that it’s important to be confident in my beliefs.
Recognize that there is risk involved in standing up for my beliefs.
Be prepared to follow up with those who are intrigued by my beliefs.
Gain confidence from the fact that God stands beside me when I stand up for my faith.
▶ Things to Do...
Ask God for confidence and wisdom to live out your faith confidently and without apology.
Write down your personal beliefs and note those that are nonnegotiable.
Read the book of Romans and see what you con learn from Paul’s confidence that con help to build your own resolve.
Invite a group of Christian friends to discuss the challenges and joys of standing up for beliefs.
Read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, or Jesus Freaks by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs, and consider how you might have responded to the situations faced by each martyr.
▶ Things to Remember...
This is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 JOHN 3:23 NKJV
Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
ACTS 28:30–31
NKJV We make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 NKJV
He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
ACTS 10:42 NKJV
I will always sing about the LORDS love; I will tell of his loyalty from now on.
PSALM 89:1 NCV
I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly 1 will praise You.
PSALM 22:22 NKJV
You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.
—C. S. LEWIS
Never, for sake of peace and quiet, deny your own experience or convictions.
—DAG HAMMARSKJOLD