Stand Up For What You Believe In

Recently, I was in a situation where my faith and what I believed in was tested. I've been in similar situations before, but this time, instead of just ignoring the situation, I decided that it was time for me to take action and stand up for what I believe.

A couple days ago, I was on facebook and I got a notification about this guy commenting on one of my very good friend's picture. When I saw his comment, I felt angry inside. He decided that he was going to comment on my friend's picture and use God's name in vain. Usually when people use God's name in vain and say "oh my god" or just throwing around God's name in a disrespectful way, I usually just ignore it and not say anything about it. Yes, it would annoy me when people would do that, but I always kept my mouth shut because I thought I would get yelled at by the person saying that (especially since usually people who use God's name in vain aren't Christians and don't think much of it at all.) or they would beat me up or something. This time, when I saw this random guy I don't even know commenting on my friend's picture using God's name in vain, it really just made me mad. I decided that I wanted to be bold and speak my mind, and I asked this kid if he wouldn't use God's name in vain, and I'm sure you could guess what happened next. This guy decided to blow up on me saying that he doesn't believe in God and how he can do whatever he wanted and that he was only trying to compliment her, and he felt like I was trying to shove my beliefs on him. I basically just told him that I wasn't trying to force my beliefs on him at all and I was stating that his comment was offending and he could have said something else to comment on my friend's picture.

You're probably wondering where the hackin' I'm going with this; I do have a point don't worry. In the Bible, there's the Ten Commandments, the basic rules everyone should live by, and one of those rules is "Do not use God's name in vain." What exactly does that mean? It means if you are not saying God's name in a way that is pleasing to Him or if it is disrespectful to Him (ie oh my god, for the love of god, etc.) then you shouldn't be saying it. It is totally offending to God, and to us Christians, we should also be offended when people use God's name in vain. I notice a lot of times Christians do get offended and annoyed when non-Christians use God's name in vain, but they don't speak up. God tells us in the Bible that we are called to stand up for what is right, and we are also supposed to stand up for what we believe in. 

"Stand up for Me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels." ~Luke 12:8 (The Message)


Basically what this verse is saying is if we stand up for God among the people around us, God is going to stand up for us and He will have our backs. I think that God was really testing my faith and seeing if I really am a follower of Him by putting that situation with my friend's facebook picture to see if I would stand up for Him. And you know what? I feel like speaking up and telling that kid how I didn't like how he was using God's name in vain and how he could have said something else was my way of standing up for God and showing Him that I really do want to follow Him and do what's right. Usually I am not that bold and I wouldn't speak that openly about my beliefs. I just keep my thoughts to myself, but I really felt God tugging on my heart that it was time for me to speak up. And God gave me the courage and boldness to stand up for Him, because I never would have spoken up on my own. If it were up to me, I would just keep my mouth shut and not say anything, but God had other plans in mind.




I just want to encourage you, if you are friends with someone, or even just talking to a stranger and they are saying or doing something that you strongly feel isn't right, stand up for what you believe in. Even if they do not agree with what you believe in, they will respect you for taking a stand for what you believe in. And if they don't, then they are just complete fools who really do need Jesus. We are called to be lights of God, and by standing up for what we believe in, people will notice and they will want to know more about what you believe in. Even though we're always so worried about what other people would think of us if we speak up when people are using God's name in vain, it shouldn't matter! Other people's opinions of you shouldn't matter to you. The most important opinion that you should be focusing and worrying about is God's. When I let go of and stopped thinking about others' opinions of me, God was able to use me. I don't care what that fool thought of me when I was speaking up for God, I just know it was the right thing to do and that someday God will bless me for doing the right thing to stand up for Him. Don't be so concerned about what the world thinks of you, and focus on what God thinks of you and what you know is right and wrong.


I would just like to end this post with an encouraging verse for you guys. I just want you to remember, when you stand up for God and for what's right, He will bless you abundantly and it will also strengthen your faith. :)


"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them (other people) a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; He won't leave you." ~Deuteronomy 31:6 (The Message)