Speaking Truth in the Face of Danger!

             I am currently doing a study of the Gospel of John with some friends.  One of the things that has disturbed me as we have read through the first 12 chapters is the number of people who believed but were afraid to say so (John 7: 13).  Especially disturbing is John 12: 42 – 43, which reads, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.  But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (NIV84).

            Today, people all over the world are faced with danger if they confess their allegiance to Christ.  Consider Ahmad whose brother tried to kill him because he left Islam for Christianity.  By standing firm in his belief, Ahmad’s brother also became a Christian.  Ahmad is not alone.  Sei Wang’s husband threw her out of their home because she refused to denounce Christ. Pastor Kabir was kidnapped and beaten but continues to preach Christ despite a ruptured ear drum and a fractured skull.

            The list of Christians who have stood defiantly against the devil’s schemes could go on and on.  Unlike the believers and leaders in John’s gospel, they are fearless.  They know that they may become outcasts, be beaten, thrown in prison, or worse at any moment, but they stand firm in the face of the danger. 

            What about us in America?  We don’t face that kind of danger, but we are confronted with the lies of sin and evil every day.  Why do we need a court in England or a President to tell us that there are only two genders?  God told us that back in Genesis!  Are we going to remain silent because “we love praise from men more than praise from God” or will we learn to speak the Truth in love?

            Leviticus 5: 1 says “If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible” (NIV84).  Did you ever stop to consider that we may be held accountable for not speaking out against sin and evil wherever we find it?  Maybe it’s time we take a lesson from our persecuted brothers and sisters!

John 7: 13 & 12: 42 – 43

Leviticus 5: 1

All references to persecuted Christians are from The Pray for the Persecuted Bible by Tyndale House Publishers.

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