Standing For God's Truth in a Changing World (by Pastor Randy Burk)
Throughout history, God's people have often found themselves living in a culture and time whose values, beliefs, and practices were contrary to God's Word. From Babylon to the Roman Empire, and even in our nation today, those who love the Lord have faced the same decision…Will we remain faithful to God and His Word, or will we compromise our convictions to go along with the thinking, morals and practices of the world around us?
There are many examples for us in Scripture. Daniel and his three Hebrew friends were carried away from their home to Babylon. Babylon was filled with false gods and ungodly practices. Yet, even in that environment, they refused to abandon their faith.
Daniel 1:8 says: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…”
Later, when King Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to bow before his golden image and any refusal would be met with a fiery death, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused. They knew to defy the king, could cost them their lives, but they would not compromise their loyalty to God.
Their answer in Daniel 3:17-18 to the king was remarkable: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, But if not... we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
Their convictions were not determined by what was popular, or politically acceptable, or even demanded by the government. Their convictions were determined by the Word of God.
Fast forward to the time of the apostles. Their challenge was similar. When the religious authorities commanded them to stop preaching about Jesus Christ, Peter and the other apostles answered, "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
Throughout church history, faithful Christians have demonstrated that same courage. Martin Luther, standing before religious and political authorities at the Diet of Worms in 1521, refused to deny, recant or withdraw his teachings unless he could be convinced by Scripture that he was wrong. His conscience was bound by the Word of God.
John Bunyan was another example. He spent years in prison because he refused to stop preaching without government authorization. During his imprisonment, he began writing Pilgrim’s Progress, which would become one of Christianity's most loved books.
These examples and many more remind us of an important truth: God never promised that faithfulness to Him would make us popular with the world. He has called us to be faithful, regardless of the cost.
The Lord Jesus in John 15:18 warned His disciples, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
One of the great dangers Christians face is placing too much confidence in political leaders, political parties, or human institutions. Elections come and go. Presidents, governors, legislators, and judges are placed in positions of power and eventually leave. Political movements gain influence and others lose it. Laws change, public opinions shift, and what was once considered wrong may eventually be accepted as right. But God does not change, and neither does the truth of His Word!
Malachi 3:6 declares, "For I am the LORD, I change not..."
Psalm 119:89 reminds us, "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
The Bible repeatedly warns us against putting our ultimate trust in human leaders.
Psalm 146:3, "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."
Psalm 118:8, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
Jeremiah 17:5, "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."
That does not mean Christians should withdraw from public life or refuse to participate in elections. We should pray for our leaders, exercise our responsibilities as citizens, and seek what is good and right for our nation. 1 Timothy 2:1–2 specifically instructs believers to pray for those in authority. But we must never forget that our hope is not found in Washington, Sacramento, Hesperia or for that matter, any other earthly government. Our hope is found in the Lord Jesus Christ!
No politician or president can save our nation spiritually. No political party can change the human heart. No election can accomplish what only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can do.
As I have now lived 7 decades in this world and participated in my civic duty, I have found that every election’s results cause me concern and those results raise serious questions about the spiritual and moral direction of our nation. Elections are about more than who wins or loses. They also give us some indication of the issues people consider important and the direction they want their communities and nation to take. Of course, people vote for different reasons, and we cannot know every voter's heart or motives simply by looking at election results.
However, when candidates and political movements gain support while openly promoting positions that contradict biblical teaching, Christians have good reason to be concerned. The real question is whether the values and policies being promoted are consistent with the moral truths revealed in God's Word.
As Christians, our standard for right and wrong cannot be determined by any politician, our standard must always be the Word of God. Proverbs 14:34 declares: "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." No nation cannot expect God's blessing while continually rejecting His truth and disregarding His moral standards.
Now, having said all this, before we condemn the darkness around us, we should make certain that we are faithfully shining the light of Christ in our own lives. And that brings us to the affirming statement Joshua made. Joshua gathered the people of Israel together and challenged them to make a decision about whom they would serve being surrounded by people who worshiped false gods. The temptation to compromise was real. But Joshua made it clear that he and his family had already settled the matter when he stated, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) A great statement of faith and conviction!
Joshua was essentially saying, You may choose to follow the gods of this world. You may choose to reject the Lord and His commandments. You may choose to go along with the majority. But regardless of what others decide, my family and I have made our choice. We will serve the LORD! That is exactly the kind of conviction I desire and need.
1. Should the Lord delay His coming and if our nation chooses to reject God's standards, we must remain faithful.
2. If our culture celebrates what God condemns, we must remain faithful.
3. If laws are passed that conflict with God's commands, we must obey God rather than men.
4. And if standing for biblical truth makes us unpopular, we must still remain faithful.
5. Our convictions should not change every time the political winds change direction.
In addition, we must remember that biblical faithfulness is not an excuse for anger, hatred, or disrespect toward those who disagree with us. We are called to speak the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15 and to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Oh, and by the way, I refuse to give in to despair! Why? Because God is still on His throne! The same God who protected Daniel in Babylon, delivered the three Hebrew men from the fiery furnace, and gave the apostles courage to preach Christ in the face of opposition is the very same God we serve today.
Daniel 2:21 reminds us that God … .”removeth kings, and setteth up kings.” And Hebrews 13:8 declares "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." Our nation may change, our leaders may change, our laws may change. But our God never changes!
Let me close by reminding us all about our calling…. our calling is greater than winning elections. Our calling is the Great Commission, to win men, women, boys and girls to the Lord Jesus Christ. To make disciples, strengthen our families, by faithfully proclaiming the truth of God's Word. And that same Gospel still has the power to change hearts today!
The Apostle Paul boldly stated in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."
So, regardless of who wins an election, which political party/movement gains influence, or what direction our nation chooses to take, we are called to remain faithful to the Lord. Let us pray for our nation and its leaders, but we must stand firmly upon God's Word. Then, while doing that, remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).
The question for us all is this: Will I remain faithful to the Lord, even if those around me choose another way?
May our answer be the same as Joshua's… "BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD." Joshua 24:15
